Am I eligible?

Illustration © Andrey / Adobe Stock

Our membership covers all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators at every stage of their careers. From journalists to webcomic artists, scriptwriters to bloggers, novelists to games writers, and translators to performance poets, our members work in a wide range of disciplines.

Career hasn’t yet taken off? Think you might benefit from our events, training and resources? Emerging writers who are serious about building a career can join as Associates for all the same benefits!

ACADEMIC WRITERS . BIOGRAPHERS . CHILDREN’S WRITERS . COMIC CREATORS . CRIME WRITERS . DRAMATISTS . EDUCATIONAL WRITERS . GAMES WRITERS . GHOSTWRITERS . GRAPHIC NOVELISTS . HEALTH WRITERS . HISTORIANS . ILLUSTRATORS . INDIE AUTHORS . JOURNALISTS . MEDICAL WRITERS . MEMOIRISTS . NATURE WRITERS . NON-FICTION WRITERS . NOVELISTS . POETS . PHOTOGRAPHERS . PLAYWRIGHTS . SCRIPTWRITERS . SELF-PUBLISHERS . SHORT STORY WRITERS . SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS . TRANSLATORS . TRAVEL WRITERS . YA WRITERS

When we say ‘author’, we mean anyone who creates work for publication, broadcast or performance. We advise, support and campaign for all types of creators, from novelists to translators, playwrights to children’s book illustrators, performance poets to comics creators, academics to ghostwriters, and many more.

If you are interested in becoming a member, but you are unsure if it applies to you, feel free to ask us.

Check your eligibility below. If you have any queries or if you aren’t sure how these criteria apply to you, email [email protected].


Criteria for Full Membership (including literary estates)

  • I have had a full-length work traditionally published (not at my own expense and not only as print-on-demand or e-book), broadcast or commercially performed.
  • I have had an equivalent body of recognised professional work (including articles, short stories, poems, items in other media), published, broadcast or performed, in any format.
  • I am self-published or have had a work published only as print-on-demand or e-book, and have within a 12-month period sold 300+ copies of a single title in print form or 500+ copies of a single title in electronic / digitised form.
  • I am the owner or administrator of a deceased author’s estate.

Criteria for Associate Membership

  • I am a student on a course that will help me develop a career as an author. The course lasts at least one academic year.
  • I have been offered a contract to have a work published, broadcast or performed, in any format.
  • I have had work published, broadcast or performed, in any format, but do not yet meet the ‘equivalent body of work’ criteria for full membership.
  • I have received an agreement from a UK agent.
  • I have self-published, or published only as print-on-demand or e-book, but do not yet meet the sales criteria for full membership.
  • I am undertaking or have undertaken a course or courses (of any length) that will help me develop my writing or career.

If you have any questions about your eligibility that are not answered on this page, email our membership team – [email protected] – or call 020 3880 2230.