Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
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Copyright © 2012 The Office of Letters and Light :: All posted novel excerpts remain copyright their authors.
Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I have to admit that I've bumped heads with some creative guilds/leagues/unions in the past over some things I feel are damaging to arts and cultures ability to be ubiquitous and pervasive and also digging a bit deep into the artists share of income made on their skills.
But I think in writing, either novels or scripts, that it may well be something worth conscidering. Mainly because it's such a small target with a lot of inside knowledge to know in order to succeed.
I'm wondering what others thoughts on this are?
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
The only creative guild I've ever been in was the Songwriters Guild of America. I never really got anything out of it, probably because I don't live in New York, LA or Nashville.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
One of my longer term goals is to qualify for membership with SFWA (Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers of America). I've been to two Nebula Awards weekends, and have found everyone there to be incredibly supportive and encouraging. Any organization is going to have its share of [deleted] who are more into enforcing their version of Robert's Rules of Order, but SFWA seems to have a lot of support for its members.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I would love to be able to join the SFWA. Since my interests are both SF & fantasy, it would be a good fit.
Besides, if I'm a member of the SFWA, I could be a 'pro' at the local SF&F conventions.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
If you get a chance to attend a Nebula Awards weekend, I'd highly recommend it, especially as a newbie. There's a lot of great information to be had, and I've found that the more talented the published authors are, the more friendly and supportive they are. There's also usually at least some representation by various publishers at the weekend.
Fun bit of trivia: when Lord of the Rings was initially published in the US, the paperback rights weren't secured, so DAW published an unauthorized version of it in paperback. SFWA did a little heavy leaning and convinced DAW that even if there wasn't a legal obligation to pay Tolkien, there was a moral one.
Another perk to being in SFWA: all those Nebula nominations come from somewhere. Yes, indeed, just as members of the Academy nominate the Oscars, SFWAns nominate the Nebula Awards. Yes, that means exactly what you're thinking it means. Your SFWA membership will likely pay for itself in books that are sent for your nomination consideration.
I'd say that if you're heavily into the creative side of writing, and maybe not so strong on the business side of things, a good writer's guild like SFWA can be an enormous resource.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
As Tolkien's dead, who gets his royalties?
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
His estate and his heirs.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I thought it went to the publishing house that holds copyright? Or do some "heirs" retain copyright after the author has died?
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
At least in the States, the copyright is held by the author's heirs (the publishers have no more or fewer rights to it than before their death) as long as they renew it, for, I believe, up to seventy years after the author's death. Then the work becomes public domain and no one has any legal claim to it anymore.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I think the DAW publication happened while Tolkien was still alive. I've seen that edition of LOTR, and it was quite possibly printed well before 1973. But I think the Tolkien estate is pretty actively involved in protecting the copyrights now. Which may explain some of the "Lost Tales" publications.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
Usually, the author retains their own copyright. Publishing houses purchase licenses to print... they don't own the copyright, they just own the rights to print it. So if I publish a novel tomorrow, what I'm selling is NOT the copyright... it's the license. If the publishing house for some reason relinquishes that right (as happens occasionally with low-selling authors with long backlists) then I recover those rights... but I've never lost my copyright to the publishing house.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
Oh ok - thanks for explaining that, everyone. It's a bit of a complicated area, isn't it? lol!
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I'm another long timer- looking to get into the HWA- Horror Writers Association. They have a big community and a lot of services for their members. I'm spending time looking around and thinking about joining or no.
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
Moving to Life After NaNo
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
I have been looking into Mystery Writers Association-MWA. After I read through all of the material, I want to make sure that I understand something.
Can we submit an application any time? It looks like the organizatin only inducts new mwmbers once a year. Do I understand this correctly?
Re: Writers/authors guilds, worth it?
Nevermind, I think I get it.