Blogs

15 May 2018

Before You Sign | Option Clauses

Option Clauses give a publisher the right to get a first look at your future work. This month we asked the advisors for a rundown.

24 April 2018

The cure for many ills, by Sarah Waights

Author Sarah Waights shares her experience of an Arvon writing retreat, and how she got together the money to fund it.

24 April 2018

Event Report: Performance Skills Workshop with Cat Weatherill, by Claire Fayers

Find out how a pair of socks and an egg helped Claire Fayers become a stronger performer.

18 April 2018

Before You Sign | Obtaining Permissions

Many contracts make the author responsible for obtaining permission for the use of any material from other sources, and for paying permission fees.

16 April 2018

Calling authors earning less than £6205 a year: how will National Insurance changes affect you?

If you earn less than £6205 a year, proposed changes mean that you could see a fivefold increase in your National Insurance Contributions.

05 April 2018

Talking points in Arts Council England’s ‘conversation’ – what we’ve said so far

The Society of Authors has responded to Arts Council England’s ‘conversation’ about its plans for the next ten years. This is the first stage of ACE’s consultation on its...

14 March 2018

Before You Sign | Over-Reaching Contracts

Keep in mind that some contracts can affect your writing life far beyond the confines of the work you're being contracted for. Our experts point out the terms to watch out for.

13 March 2018

The Truth About Truth | EA Wheal

As a new survey reveals that fake news travels faster and convinces more people than real news, Elizabeth-Anne Wheal offers a perspective on truth in the age of information warfare.

12 March 2018

History in Pictures, March 2018

We've been active since 1884. Have a peek into the SoA's history with our #HistoryInPictures roundups.

16 February 2018

Before You Sign | Getting your rights back

For February we went to the advisors for tips on how to get your rights back from publishers, and what to watch out for at the end of contracts.

07 February 2018

Five rules on how not to write a biography | Jon Collins

Jon Collins lays out his five rules for avoiding disaster when writing biography.

30 January 2018

Jumping through hoops | Patrick Humphries

Writing for radio can be enormously satisfying... provided you can jump through all the right hoops - broadcaster Patrick Humphries writes.

18 January 2018

Before You Sign | Money from unexpected sources

This month we asked the advisors about collective licensing - a way for authors to quickly and easily boost their income.

05 January 2018

Listening, closely... | Alice Lutyens

Print publishers’ assumption that audio rights should be bundled with print is not directly beneficial to authors, argues Alice Lutyens.

13 December 2017

DIY PR | Dan Tyte

Dan Tyte shares his best tips for running your own book publicity.

12 December 2017

Before You Sign | Rights and Characters

Thinking about using someone else's character? Concerned someone's using yours? This month we got the advisors to explain how copyright applies to fictional characters, and what you need to...

28 November 2017

5 Skills for Self-Publishers | Ignaty Dyakov

Educational author Ignaty Dyakov shares his 5 tips for self-published authors.

17 November 2017

Before You Sign | Prizes and Competitions

This month we asked the advisors what you should look out for when entering prizes and competitions.

15 November 2017

Abuse and the poison of silence | EA Wheal

Last Friday, in response to the waves of allegations surfacing in the film industry, The Bookseller published the results of an anonymous survey into sexual harassment in the publishing industry...

20 October 2017

What's in a Word? | Jamila Gavin

Children's author Jamila Gavin writes on language, diversity and the power of words.

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