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新加坡作家协会宗旨如下：
（一）促进文学创作及文学理论研究，以提高我国的文学水平；
（二）联系本地作家，以促进本国的文学发展；
（三）联系其他国家的作家，以得知和了解他国的文学活动；及
（四）保障会员的权益及照顾他们的福利。
新加坡作家协会正式成立于1970年8月1日。出席成立大会的作家共有14位，即：连士升、苗秀、赵戎、柳北岸、姚紫、李廷辉、杜红、周粲、苗芒、黄孟文（孟毅）、陈凡、钟祺、谢克与麦青。
大会选出第一届理事如下：主席团：李廷辉、苗秀、柳北岸；秘书：黄孟文与黄应良；财政：洛萍与黄应良；出版：谢克与陈凡；图书：赵戎与谢克；翻译：杜红与周粲；总务：麦青与苗芒；理事：李星可与姚紫；候补理事：钟祺与李建；查帐：李汝琳；顾问：连士升。（过后不久，李星可、李汝琳与黄应良辞去理事会的职位。）
1975年由于黄孟文、田流、谢克、范北羚、林北等人的努力与奔走，成功改组协会，并于1976年5月2日举行理事会议，选出新理事会。会长：黄孟文博士；副会长周粲与杜红；秘书：韦西与丁之屏；出版：麦青与宋雅；财政：林北与冷若冰；总务：田流与易梵；图书：尤今与刘维新；翻译：廖裕芳与李廷辉；顾问：柳北岸、李汝琳、苗秀。从这天起，协会正式易名为“新加坡写作人协会”（除去“作家”之名以避免争论，并且得以广收会员），英文名则依然是“Singapore Association of Writers”。
1983年，黄孟文博士因商务繁忙而卸任，会长职务暂由郑亚本（杜红）接任。
从1984年至1989年，王润华博士被选为会长，他领导作协继续向前迈进，成为国际性的作家协会。
鉴于当时国际文学交流频繁，加上会员的质与量的提升，大家信心陡增，作品在国内外受到认可与推崇，全体会员于1987年初，议决恢复旧名，即“新加坡作家协会”，使会务的发展更上一层楼。
1989年，王润华博士请假一年，前往国外进修与讲学。会长职务暂由副会长田流代理。
1990年，黄孟文博士重返文坛，再度被选为会长，1998年退休。
1998年至2002年，会长由王润华教授担任。2003年王润华教授到台湾讲学，艾禺任代会长。
2004年作协理事会改选，由希尼尔出任会长，领导作协12年。
2016年，希尼尔卸任，改任荣誉会长，新一任会长职由诗人林得楠接任。
2024年3月，原副会长刘瑞金从林得楠手中接过棒子，成为第五任会长。四位前会长仍以荣誉会长的身份，为新时代的领导班子提供咨询与助力。
作协从成立到现在已经有近50年的历史，为我国华文文学的发展作出了一定的贡献，并获得了国内外文坛的肯定。2018年，作协获得新加坡华族文化中心所颁发的第二届新加坡华族文化贡献奖，而作协的旗舰刊物《新华文学》也在国内外逐渐受人重视，作协的理事、会员屡获各项文学大奖（例如新加坡文化奖、东南亚文学奖、金狮奖及金笔奖等），或屡次受邀担任国内外团体征文、演讲比赛的评审等。
The Singapore Association of Writers (SAW) or 新加坡作家协会 was officially formed on 1 August 1970. It is the longest existing as well as the largest registered Chinese literary association in Singapore, actively promotes creative literature works and research in literature theory, so as to enhance the literary standard of Singapore. It serves as an established network for the writers in Singapore and to provide a platform for unity in accelerating the development of new talents with quality literary works. The Association is consistently interacting with writers, scholars and researchers from other countries, to promote the home-grown literary products (fiction, poetry and prose) with the Southeast Asia characteristic and gained recognition internationally.
With the leadership and effort made by the former presidents, The Association has achieved significant progress and obtained its international standing. With the increasing number of activities and memberships, the Association was allocated to 13B, Smith Street, Singapore, under the Art-Housing programme by the National Arts Council in 1999. For the last nearly 40 years, the Association has organized and participated a series of activities with the main events noted as follows:
1. Publication of “Singapore Chinese Literature” （《新华文学》） - 1978-2018
First publication in 1978, it is one of the oldest Chinese literary magazines in Asia published continuously without interruption, for 40 years. As of 2018, 89 volumes have been published and circulated.
2. Publication of “Mini-Fiction Quarterly” （《微型小说季刊》） - 1992-1998
First publication in 1992, it is the only Chinese Mini-Fiction journal regularly published in Southeast Asia for that period of time. A total of 22 issues were published, it has integrated into the “Singapore Chinese Literature” in 1998.
3. Organised the international conference: “2nd Commonwealth Chinese Literature International Conference - Southeast Asia Chinese Literature”（第2届华文文学大同世界国际会议：东南亚华文文学） - 1988
4. Organised the international conference: “the 1st World Chinese Mini-Fiction Conference”（第2届世界华文微型小说研讨会） - 1994
5. Organised the international conference: “The 2nd World Chinese Writers Conference”（第2届世界华文作家会员代表大会） - 1995
6. Organised the international conference: “Man and Nature: Literature on the Environment”（“人与自然——环境文学”国际研讨会） - 1999
7. Organised the international conference on Chinese Literature in Southeast Asia: “Contemporary Literature and Human Ecology”（2003年东南亚华文文学国际研讨会 – “当代文学与人文生态”） - 2003
8. Organised the international conference: "Children Literature and Chinese Language Learning & Teaching"（国际儿童文学与华语文教学研讨会） - 2004
9. Delegations to visit other countries（文化交流与访问） - 1976–2016
The Association has sent delegations to visit other countries in order to foster cultural exchange and co-operation. For the past 46 years, countries visited include Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, USA, Japan and China.
10. Publication of Chinese writers literary works（出版作家作品专集及选集）
More than 100 volumes of literary books (novel, fiction, mini-fiction, poetry, prose, critics) had published through the Association.
11. Conducting literature Workshop, seminar and competition for the public and young writers（主办文学讲座、训练班与创作比赛）
Numerous workshops, seminars and literary competitions were held to promote the local literature. These activities have led to a better literary-orientated and cultural ecological environment in Singapore.
Despite being a non-profitable organisation with limited project resources, the Singapore Association of Writers has made significant contribution to the development of Chinese-language literature in Singapore. In 2018, the Association won the 2nd Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Award presented by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Our publication, Singapore Chinese Literature, has also been recognised by the literary world both within and outside the nation, as evidenced by the increased attention, research and study made on the publication. The Association has committed to continue its voluntary duty, service and contribution to the country, together with the devoted young generation of writers/leader in the new millennium.
2018 | 
