Authors Guild

The Authors Guild has been helping to protect author’s interest in copyright, fair contracts, and free expression since 1912.

Our mission is to support working writers. We advocate for the rights of writers by supporting free speech, fair contracts, and copyright. We create community and we fight for a living wage.

Our members include novelists in all genres and categories, nonfiction writers, journalists, historians, poets, and translators. The Guild welcomes traditionally published authors as well as self-published, independent authors.

What we do

We are a guild in the traditional sense of the term—a group of artisans who have come together to create an association of authority and influence. We give authors—who belong to an often lonely profession—a sense of community and belonging, with opportunities for sharing, networking, and conviviality.

• The Guild defends and promotes the rights of all authors to write without interference or threat, and to receive fair compensation for that work.
• We advocate for authors on issues of copyright—a right enshrined in Article 1 of the Constitution, guaranteeing authors the right to own and profit from their work.
• We fight for fair contracts.
• We work with Congress to make sure authors are treated fairly in tax law.
• We educate and advise Congress on legislation that would help—or harm—authors. We develop and shepherd legislation.
• We fight piracy.
• We push back against the “information wants to be free philosophy” that would impoverish authors in the name of free digital content.
• When necessary, the Guild takes to court those corporations and other malefactors who have trampled on the rights of authors or taken their work without permission, winning millions in compensation.

Membership

Professional Membership
US$135/year or $12/month
(Annual commitment required)

There are two tiers of professional membership:

• Regular Membership
  For traditionally published authors and illustrators with at least 1 published book in the U.S., self-published authors who have made at least $5,000 in the past 18 months from their writing, and freelance writers who have published 3+ pieces or made $5,000 in the past 18 months.
• Associate Membership
  Writers and illustrators who have received a contract offer from a traditional U.S. publisher or an offer of representation from a U.S. literary agent, self-published authors or freelance writers who have made at least $500 in the past 18 months from their writing.

Benefits include

• contract reviews,
• publishing industry updates and advice,
• legal advice and forms,
• marketing and social media advice,
• website building and hosting,
• access to members-only workshops, seminars, and events,
• a print and digital subscription to the Authors Guild Bulletin, our quarterly publication of publishing and legislative news,
• discounted media liability insurance,
• listing in our member profiles,
• exclusive discounts on services and goods designed to help you with your writing business,
• discounts on hotels, car rentals, and more.
• More info on Regular Membership Benefits
• More info on Associate Membership Benefits

 

Emerging Writer Membership
US$100/month or $9/month
(Annual commitment required)

For dedicated writers who are actively seeking to publish their work, but have not yet published a book or do not meet the income thresholds for professional membership.

• Benefits include most of the ones listed above
• This category does not include legal help at this time
• More info on Emerging Writer Membership benefits

 

Student Membership
$35/year

For college and graduate students interested in pursuing writing professionally in the future.

• See info on Student Writer Membership benefits
• This category does not include legal help or web services at this time.

 

At-Large Membership
$135/year or $12/month)
(Annual commitment required)

For established literary agents and editors; heirs, executors or trustees of the estates of deceased authors; or attorneys and accountants representing authors; or publicists or other publishing professionals.

Benefits include

• publishing industry updates and advice,
• legal advice,
• website building and hosting,
• access to member-only workshops, seminars, and events,
• a print and digital subscription to the Authors Guild Bulletin,
• listing in our member profiles,
• exclusive discounts on hotels,
• car rentals, and more.