We publish a wide range of guides and articles to help you help yourself. All are available to members free of charge.
We provide observed rates and guidelines to help you negotiate fees.
All members receive free, unlimited, confidential advice on all business aspects of the profession. This includes the vetting of any contract. If you’re a member you can contact us if you have a query.
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Advisory sessions
The SoA offers advisory sessions as part of our support for writing development programmes, initiatives, and university courses. These sessions cover the basics for emerging writers such as types of publishing deals, contracts, agents and making a living. If you are interested in us supporting your organisation or would like an advisor to speak at your event, please read our How can the SoA support you? document and contact Emma Boniwell our interim Outreach Lead.
The SoA Advisory Clinic podcast
The SoA Advisory Clinic is a podcast brought to you by the advisory team at the Society of Authors, covering key industry topics, issues and challenges affecting authors today. To listen and subscribe search ‘SoA Sounds’ wherever you find your podcasts. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon and more.
SoA Vimeo channel
Recordings of all the SoA Advisory Team’s Professional Development and Industry Insider SoAatHome online events are available to watch on our Vimeo channel.
Always obtain professional advice before you sign any contract. Members are always welcome to consult the SoA.
If you receive an offer from a publisher or agent out of the blue – particularly if the offer comes from the USA – It may well be a scam, and you might find it extremely difficult to extricate yourself. Download our guidance on scams below.
As we explain in our paper Is It a Steal?, If you contribute towards the cost of publication to a publisher who also takes rights in your work, you may well end up disappointed and badly out of pocket. Again, it might be extremely difficult to extricate yourself. One author-contribute publisher about which we regularly receive complaints and concerns is LR Price. We strongly suggest that you contact us (member or not) before entering into a deal.
Members are reporting receiving emails with an invitation to buy a mailing list of authors, which includes them and other members of the SoA. These lists have been compiled from all the email addresses members have included on their online profiles and is not a data breach. There is little that can be done to stop them, especially as they change their URLs frequently.
However, if you wish to take action, you can log in via the Members’ area, edit your profile and remove your email address. If you have a website with a contact form, people with genuine offers of work will still be able to get in touch with you direct. Otherwise, you can amend your record and ask to be contacted via the SoA and we will forward the request to you. Anyone who needs support to make this change should get in touch with us for help.
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Frequently asked questions
From joining the SoA to using our advice — your questions answered
Guides
Information and practical guidance for authors
Rates and fees
Observed rates and links to resources to help you negotiate payments