Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

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Science Fiction Writers of America, or SFWA (pronounced "siff-wah" or "seff-wah"), was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight. The organization has since changed its name to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., but continues to use the acronym SFWA after a very brief flirtation with the acronym SFFWA.

SFWA is a non-profit association of science fiction and fantasy writers, mostly though not entirely in the United States. Membership is limited to professionally published authors; the minimum qualification is the sale of one novel or dramatic script, or three short stories to venues with certain minimum circulations or pay rates. The "America" in the organization's title refers to the fact that authors (regardless of nationality or residence) must be published in the U.S.A. in order to qualify as SFWA members. SFWA boasts approximately 1,200 members as of 2001.

SFWA awards the Nebula award each year for the best short story, novelette, novella, novel, and script. It also awards the Andre Norton award each year for Best Young Adult novel, the Bradbury award for best screenplay, the Author Emeritus award to a senior writer who is publishing little or whose work is overlooked, and the Grand Master Award for a lifetime's achievement in science fiction or fantasy.

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