WP NOW

Become a Member of the Writers’ Program Network of Writers.

Join a Welcoming Community

Writers thrive when they immerse themselves in a community of people who share their passion. That’s why so many people fondly remember their Writers’ Program classes for years after—the connections they make with other students and instructors end up being the fuel they need to keep going.

Stay immersed in the Writers' Program community with the Writers’ Program Network of Writers (WP NOW), a membership program that offers exclusive access to an exceptional roster of discounts and benefits, including members-only networking and professional development opportunities, for one low annual fee.

Keep your education and professional development going strong outside the classroom. Membership begins the quarter you join and lasts for one full year.

Exclusive Offers

writing students sitting at a long table

10% off Writers' Program Courses*
Receive an unlimited enrollment discount on most Writers' Program courses for a full year.

10% off Writers' Program Manuscript Consultations
Receive a 10% discount on our one-on-one manuscript consultation services.

Software Discounts
Access the tools professionals use with software discounts on Final Draft and Scrivener.

*Course enrollment discount excludes Master Classes, Pro-Series, and other multi-quarter workshops.

Expand Your Network

Exclusive Writers' Program Events
Be invited to attend exclusive members-only events hosted by the Writers' Program throughout the year—including networking opportunities, panels with industry professionals, and lectures on thriving in the writing life.

Monthly Member Meetings
Join us the second Friday of each month for an opportunity to connect over Zoom with other members, develop your writing community, and learn from dynamic guest speakers.

Quarterly Writers-in-Residence
Each quarter, two instructors serve as our official Writers-in-Residence, hosting 8 informal discussions and craft lectures over Zoom.

Special Invitations from Partner Organizations
Access professional development events, networking opportunities, craft talks, and other special learning and growing opportunities provided by partners including Antioch University, Writers Guild Foundation, PEN America, and more.

Members-Only Online Community
WP NOW members have access to a private, online community to connect with other writers, form groups, and ask for help.

Join Professional Associations

With reciprocal memberships in some of the region and the nation’s most significant associations for writers, you’ll have access to more knowledge, resources, and opportunities than ever before.

As part of your WP NOW membership, you can choose to receive a free one-year membership to Film Independent or choose to join two of the following: The American Film Institute, Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), New Filmmakers LA, Independent Writers of Southern California, PEN America, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators with full access to their benefits.

Film Independent

Film Independent provides membership to filmmakers, film industry professionals and film lovers that share a passion for artist-driven visual storytelling.

Free Member Benefits:

Exclusive Film Independent Spirit Awards Voting privileges
Access to watch nearly all (upwards of 50 titles) Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated films and TV shows online each year, during voting consideration
Invitation to Film Independent Presents, a monthly free preview screening series, featuring both in-person and online content, including Q&A with cast or crew—totaling upwards of 70 screenings a year
Invitation to monthly filmmaker education workshops, Q&A events and networking experiences
Access to the On Demand online library featuring 100+ hours of previously recorded Q&A events, discussions and more

Member Rated Benefits:

30% off all Artist Development program applications, with a 2-week extended deadline to apply
20% off all paid filmmaker education classes or seminars
Members-only opportunity to apply for Fiscal Sponsorship
Member Deals, offering 20% off (or comparable in-kind) on film community-friendly services
See a full list of Member benefits

Learn more about Film Independent

American Film Institute

The American Film Institute (AFI) champions the future of the moving image as an art form. We believe in the revolutionary power of visual storytelling to share diverse perspectives, inspire empathy and drive culture forward.

We are dedicated to celebrating excellence in the art form and to creating national education initiatives that inspire artists and audiences alike.

Your AFI Star Membership benefits include:

Monthly Member News e-newsletter
Invitation to exclusive preview event for AFI DOCS and AFI FEST
20% discount off tickets and passes to AFI DOCS and AFI FEST
Curated streaming access to films on Kanopy
10% discount off AFI merchandise
Access to specially-priced tickets to the AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute

Learn more about the American Film Institute

Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)

AWP provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to nearly 50,000 writers, 550 college and university creative writing programs, and 150 writers’ conferences and centers. Their mission is to foster literary achievement, advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing.

Your digital membership benefits include:

Four annual digital issues of The Writer’s Chronicle. Each issue features essays on the art of writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction; interviews with accomplished writers; and listings of opportunities for grants, awards, and publication. Members also have free access to the Chronicle app.

Access to the members-only content on the AWP website, including:

The Job List, which offers listings of academic and nonacademic jobs and internships for writers. Every other month, we publish an informative article that provides advice and information on your career options. Job listings are updated weekly.
The Writer’s Calendar, which features information on literary events, publishing opportunities, grants, and awards.
Advice on how to conduct your job search.
A searchable archive of more than 1,200 articles from The Writer’s Chronicle.
Comprehensive information about writing programs, conferences, festivals, centers, retreats, and residencies.
Documents useful to teachers and administrators of writing programs.
A listing in its Directory of Members, a venue for promoting your work.
Discount on AWP Award Series entry fees.
Discount on registration to AWP’s Annual Conference & Bookfair.
Eligibility to participate in AWP’s Writer to Writer Mentorship Program, a free service that pairs new and established writers.

Learn more about AWP

Independent Writers of Southern California

Independent Writers of Southern California—one of LA’s longest-running professional writers’ organizations—welcomes writers of all levels and genres for networking and professional development.

Your student membership benefits include:

Access to free and discounted networking events related to writing and publishing
Some events are livestreamed or available through webinars

Learn more about Independent Writers of Southern California

New Filmmakers LA

New Filmmakers LA (NFMLA) provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their projects and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production, acquisition and representation.

Your student membership benefits include:

Tickets to over 36 film programs a year
Complimentary drinks during ALL NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Monthly Film Festivals
VIP access to after parties, private screenings, special events and industry panels
Free casting space for filmmakers at Hollywood Casting and Film (located in Hollywood)
Complimentary VIP Access to the annual Documentary Film Program (DocuSlate)
15% submission fee discount–NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Monthly Film Festival

Learn more about New Filmmakers LA

PEN America

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. They champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Their mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Founded in 1922, PEN America is the largest of the more than 100 centers worldwide that make up the PEN International network. PEN America works to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others.

PEN America's strength is their Membership—a nationwide community of novelists and nonfiction authors, journalists, editors, poets, screenwriters, essayists, playwrights, publishers, translators, agents, and other literary professionals, and an even larger network of devoted readers and supporters who join with them to carry out PEN America’s mission.

As a PEN America Member, you would have a unique part to play in the defense of free expression, celebration of literary excellence, amplification of marginalized voices, and the fostering of dialogue across political and ideological boundaries. We need your voices and support now more than ever. Working together, we will defend our most precious freedoms.

PEN America Members commit themselves to:

Celebrate literary excellence
Defend free expression
Protect persecuted writers

Learn more about PEN America

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is the only professional organization specifically for aspiring and published individuals who write and illustrate for children and young adults. Membership in SCBWI is open to anyone with an active interest in children’s literature, from picture books to young adult novels.

Your student membership benefits include:

Digital versions of member content, including The Bulletin and The Essential Guide to Children’s Publishing
Member discount for Los Angeles and New York national conference tuition
Additional discount on all SCBWI regional conference tuition
Student grants and awards
Online discussion group
Display space in online Illustrator Gallery
SCBWI BookStop promotion page

Learn more about SCBWI

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Get Incredible Value with WP NOW

When you join WP NOW for one low annual fee, you'll enjoy many exclusive benefits for a full year.

Membership Benefit	Value
10% off unlimited Writers' Program course enrollments*	$66+
10% off Writers' Program manuscript consultations	$50+
Scrivener software discount	$15
Final Draft software discount	up to $70
Film Independent membership**	$95
American Film Institute membership**	$60
Association of Writers and Writing Programs membership**	$49
Independent Writers of Southern California membership**	$25
New Filmmakers LA membership**	$50
PEN America membership**	$50
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators membership**	$55
Total Value (approx.) WP NOW Membership Fee**	$255+ $139
Your Savings	Over $115!

*Course enrollment discount is applicable to most open-enrollment Writers' Program courses, excluding Master Classes, Pro-Series, and other multi-quarter workshops.

**The approximate "total value" is based on estimated cost savings. Individual "savings" will vary. WP NOW members are able to choose to to join a reciprocal membership with either Film Independent or two of the six other professional writing associations; therefore, the "total value" above includes an averaged amount.

Why Wait?

Join WP NOW Today!

Become a Member

$139 Annual Fee. Membership begins the quarter you join and lasts for one full year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I redeem my partner membership(s)?

At the time of enrollment in WP NOW, you will indicate which two organizational partner memberships you want to redeem. You may select from 2 of the following: Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), New Filmmakers LA, Independent Writers of Southern California, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Choose carefully as these cannot be changed until you renew your WP NOW membership. Writers’ Program staff will then send your information to the partner organization to activate your membership in 2-4 weeks. You will hear directly from the partner organization when your membership has been activated.

How do I get my software discounts(s)?

You can redeem the Final Draft and Scrivener discounts by logging into the WP NOW Online Community in Canvas and browsing to the “3. Explore Your WP Now Member Benefits” module. This module becomes visible after you read and agree to the WP NOW Community Guidelines.

How do I get my course discount(s)?

Course discounts are automatically activated within your UCLA Extension student account. To access them, you must be logged into the UCLA Extension Student Portal with the same student account you used to purchase your WP NOW membership.

Once you are logged in, add one or more eligible classes to your cart by clicking the “Enroll” button near the bottom of the course page. Once the course is in your cart, the button will change to “Checkout.” Click on “Checkout” to be redirected to view the courses in your cart.

On this screen, you will see a dropdown menu next to every course eligible for WP NOW discounts. Choose the 10% Course Discount for all courses to which you want to apply the discount. You may also choose “100% Discount” for one eligible 3-hour one-day course per year.

You should see the reduced enrollment fee reflected in your cart.

Can I get a Bruin Card/UCLA Library Card/other UCLA resource with WP NOW?

At this time, only active candidates for UCLA Extension Certificate Programs are eligible to purchase a Bruin Card.

Do I have to be in a Certificate Program to join WP NOW?

No, any continuing student, program alum, or new student who has never taken a course in the Writers’ Program can enroll in WP NOW. You do not need to be an active Certificate Program student to enroll in WP NOW.

Do I have to take classes to join WP NOW?

No. Anyone can join WP NOW whether or not they are an active student with us. WP NOW is a great opportunity for students seeking professional development to transition into a career in the entertainment or publishing industries, or for people who would like access to a writing community and a free annual course without the expense of enrolling in longer courses. There is plenty of value for WP NOW members beyond the 10% course enrollment discount.

It is our hope this membership program will extend the reach of the Writers’ Program to people who aren’t sure if writing classes are right for them, to people for whom our enrollment fees may be out of reach, and to people who want to make sure the Writers’ Program community is a group in which they feel comfortable participating.

I am a UCLA Extension student/alumni from another program/discipline, but interested in writing. Can I sign up for WP NOW?

Yes. WP NOW is a good, low-cost way to see if writing education is right for you. However, please note that course discounts only apply to courses with the WRITING X and SCRIPT X discipline codes, and will not apply to courses in any other discipline at UCLA Extension or UCLA.

Can I get a refund for my WP NOW membership?

Refunds of your WP NOW Membership fee are available up until you complete one of the following:

Paid for a course enrollment using your 10% discount, or have redeemed the 100% discount on a 3-hour class
Paid for a consultation service using your 10% discount
Submitted the WP NOW Professional Membership Sign Up form

After one or all of these steps have been completed, no refunds will be approved or processed.

The Writers’ Program Network of Writers (WP NOW) is a paid membership program. Membership begins the quarter you join and lasts for one full year. "Writers' Program" course disciplines include Creative Writing, Screenwriting, and Editing & Publishing. WP NOW membership is not required to enroll in Writers' Program open-enrollment courses and programs; however, select seminars, workshops and events may be restricted to WP NOW members. Fees and membership benefits are subject to change.

three students in a writers' program class

The Writers' Program

The Writers’ Program is one of the most prestigious creative writing and screenwriting continuing education programs in the nation. Our open admissions policy and supportive community ensure that all students are inspired and guided to do their best work. Our curriculum includes 400 annual writing courses, offered both onsite and online, taught by a diverse corps of 200 published and produced professionals.