Becoming a Full Member

Full membership in PEN USA is open to professional writers, journalists, editors and translators who have a professionally published body of work.

Anyone interested in becoming a Full member must submit an application in addition to a résumé of published work and the Full membership fee of $79. The membership committee meets to determine whether the writer is eligible for Full membership. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Full membership form

PEN USA consists of over eight hundred published authors (Full members), as well as a number of burgeoning writers (Associate members), and students who support our mission (Student members). All members share a commitment to the betterment of the literary community and advocacy of the freedom of expression both internationally and domestically. The annual dues of membership, which vary by type, provide significant financial support that allows our members to carry out the work of PEN USA.