Empowering creators
since 1884

The Society of Authors is the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators.

We help you at all stages of your career, with:

• Professional advice
• Professional development
• Community of authors (online and at events)
• Exclusive offers (including insurance and discounts on books)
• Campaigning and lobbying
• And more.

Why join?

We speak out for the profession and advise individuals from the very start of their careers. We support emerging and professional creators of all kinds, from illustrators and scriptwriters to novelists and poets, and from literary translators and travel writers to graphic novelists and journalists.

As a member, whether you are learning your craft or already established, we’ll help you with unlimited advice, contract vetting, helplines and professional training, discounts on books, insurance and more.

You’ll also become part of our growing community of professional authors, with year-round opportunities to network with your peers both online and at our events and workshops across the UK.

Above all, we’re here to support you throughout your career, whether that’s with career guidance, finances, contractual issues or health and wellbeing. We can help point you in the right direction.

Why should I join both the SoA and the AOI?

The AOI and SOA work together on many campaigning issues. This approach strengthens our voice, gives more weight and cashes in on specific experience, contacts and knowledge. To speak robustly with publishers, we need to speak on behalf of many – not just a couple who could be brushed aside as anomalies. Therefore, we propose that the Book Designers network on Facebook must number at least 25 to give us authority to action our campaign.

This joint membership will enable the organisations to work together to specifically seek to address the needs of freelance book designers. Both organisations are funded by membership fees, and receive no government funding. The fees allow resource to be allocated to a specific need.

In authors’ words

Here’s what some of our 11,000 members say about us

“A subscription to the Society is the greatest investment a writer can make.” Philip Pullman, President of the SoA

“The Society of Authors has been an invaluable source of support for me … offering opportunities for professional development, contact with other writers and – no less crucially – a sense of community.” Helen Mort

“The moment I knew that I had grown up as a writer was when I joined the SoA” Philip Gross

“The Society of Authors works SO hard on our behalf. Any authors who aren’t yet members, this is why you should be!” Lucinda Hawksley

“What you provide goes far beyond a ‘service’ – you are someone the author can talk to when s/he feels badly let down by the publishers.” Manuela Cook

“The Society of Authors has taught me everything I know about the publishing business and made me a lot of friends along the way.” Shoo Rayner

To find out more, visit: www.societyofauthors.org