What NSNC Membership Offers Writers and How to Join or Renew

Updated

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC) is an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium. If you write a recurring opinion, humor, or feature column—or a blog in a similar voice—NSNC is the professional community built around that work. You can join or renew through the membership section of columnists.com, and members get access to NSNC's online programming, including conversations with working columnists and opinion editors.

Who NSNC is for

NSNC describes itself as an organization for columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers, in any medium. That scope is broader than the name suggests:

  • Newspaper and digital columnists
  • Bloggers and newsletter writers who publish a recurring essay or opinion piece
  • Writers of serial essays in any medium

If your work depends on a consistent voice and a regular publishing rhythm, the organization's focus matches your practice.

What membership gives you

Access to NSNC events and programming

NSNC runs online sessions that connect members with working columnists and editors. A current example from the site is "Opinionated" with Clay Wirestone, opinion editor at the Kansas City Reflector, discussing his work and his debut book Opinionated. The session includes a talk followed by a Q&A.

Pricing for that event is listed as $25 for NSNC members and $35 for non-members, or attendees can make a donation. This is a useful signal about the practical value of membership: member pricing on NSNC programming is lower than non-member pricing, so regular attendees recoup part of the cost.

A professional community

The site also highlights member recognition—for example, Derrick Jackson being honored with awards this season—and community events such as the NSNC Fall Mixer. These are the kinds of connections that matter for freelance and staff columnists alike: peers who understand the craft and the business of sustaining a regular column.

How to join or renew

The site's membership call to action is straightforward: "NSNC Membership – Join or renew today!" The membership section of columnists.com is the entry point for both new members and renewals.

A practical sequence:

  1. Go to columnists.com and open the membership section.
  2. Choose join (new member) or renew (existing member).
  3. Complete the form and payment through the process provided there.
  4. Once active, register for member-priced events—such as the "Opinionated" session—through the links NSNC publishes.

The site does not publish membership dues figures in the material available here, so check the membership page for current rates rather than assuming a price.

Is it worth joining?

Consider membership if you publish a recurring column or serial essay and want:

  • Lower event pricing. Member tickets are $25 versus $35 for non-members on the "Opinionated" session—a $10 difference per event.
  • Craft and career conversations. Sessions with opinion editors and columnists address the work itself, not just networking.
  • A defined professional identity. NSNC's stated scope explicitly includes bloggers and writers in any medium, so digital-first writers are not an afterthought.

If you only occasionally read opinion writing and don't publish a serial essay, the non-member event option ($35, or a donation) lets you sample the programming without committing to membership.

Common questions

Do I need to work at a newspaper? No. NSNC's description explicitly includes bloggers and writers in any medium.

Can I attend events without joining? Yes—the "Opinionated" session lists a non-member price of $35 or a donation option.

How do I renew? Use the same membership section on columnists.com; the site presents join and renew as one action.

Where do I register for events? NSNC publishes registration links with each event announcement; the "Opinionated" session, for example, links to an Eventbrite registration page.

For current dues, event dates, and registration details, the membership and events sections of columnists.com are the authoritative sources.