Writers organisations

The Society of AuthorsThe British authors’ organization, with a membership of over 7,000 writers. Membership is open to those who have had a book published, or who have an offer to publish (without subsidy by the author). Offers individual specialist advice and a range of publications to its members. Has also campaigned successfully on behalf of authors in general for improved terms and established a minimum terms agreement with many publishers. Recently campaigned to get the Public Lending Right fund increased from £5 million to £7 million for the year 2002/2003. Regularly uses input from members to produce comparative surveys of publishers’ royalty payment systems. http://www.societyofauthors.org/ has issued a call for unity among its members and says it has investigated allegations it failed to support gender critical members but has found no basis for complaint. The development followed a second open letter issued by critics of SoA chair Joanne Harris.  Read more

A bitter feud pitting thousands of movie and television screenwriters against the major Hollywood talent agencies came to an end on Friday, nearly two years after it had begun.

William Morris Endeavor became the last of the major agencies to reach a new franchise agreement with the two Writers Guild of AmericaAssociation of writers in motion picture, broadcast, cable and new media.  http://www.wga.org unions, saying it had done so on Friday afternoon.

The new website of the Crime Readers’ Association – a place for crime and thriller fans to keep up with their favourite authors. The CRA is run by the Crime Writers’ Association – the UK organisation for professional crime writers.