
The society was founded over 100 years ago and now has more than 8,500 members. Through its professional staff (including solicitors) it offers a comprehensive service on all the various aspects of authorship, such as:
- providing info about agents, publishers and broadcasting;
- advising on negotiations of agreements and the vetting of contracts;
- helping with writing related queries, royalties and fees;
- pursuing legal action of breach of contract or copyright infringement.
It also produces a wide range of publications (free to members) including its Quick Guides, covering most aspects of authorship and writing.
The society is in close contact with many related associations including the Association of Authors' Agents, the Booksellers Association, the Publishers' Association, the British Council, and, of course, the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.
It frequently helps to secure improved conditions and better returns for its members. So much so, it's common for members to report that, through the help and facilities offered, they have saved more (sometimes a lot more) than their annual subscription to the society.
Interested in joining? Membership is only open to authors who have had a work published, broadcast or performed commercially in the UK, and to those who've had a full-length work accepted for publication but not yet published.
It costs (at time of blogging) £90 to join, although there are special rates available for some.
So, if you need help or advice you know the place to find it!
Warm wishes, Jo
Jo Herbert on July 30, 2009
Hello Shankut, yes there is - the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Either take a look at the feature in the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook for more details or contact them direct. You can only benefit from being a member. Kind regards, Jo
Shankut Somaiya on July 30, 2009
Thank you for the article.
This will infuse the new writer to get published before joining. Is there any writers' body where an unpublished writer to be can join?
Regards
Shankut
Katie MacQueen on July 29, 2009
I completely agree.