It existed from 1975 until about 2011, when, due to dwindling membership and financial problems, it went out of business.
[1] By 1987, WIW was the largest regional writers' group in the country.
[3] Originally WIW provided services including "a monthly newsletter, Job Bank, social activities, directory of members, legal services program, health insurance access, grievance procedures, medical insurance, and a continuing round of workshops and seminars.
[4]"[1] By the 1980s, these had expanded to include political activism,[2] and legal support and fundraising, most famously for founding member Kitty Kelley from 1983 to 1984, when she was sued by Frank Sinatra in an attempt to stop her publication of his unauthorized biography, His Way.
[5][3][6][7] The group changed its name to American Independent Writers on July 1, 2008, to open up more opportunities for grants and donations.