Should You Join an Authors’ Association or Society
Not all indie authors feel the need to join an organisation and are quite happy to beaver away at their keyboards without the backup of a paid membership which offers them advice and many other membership benefits. Perhaps benefits is the wrong word to describe what these organisations offer. Is having access to a members’ forum, for example, a benefit to the member, or a distraction from actual writing. But for scribes who feel the need to be part of a community, then perhaps these organisations offer a sense of belonging. It’s worth noting at this juncture that joining an organisation for authors will not suddenly make you a better writer, or bring your books to prominence on the many book-selling platforms out there on the interweb.
As part of the membership fee these organisations will offer many services, but the big one for the indie author is “Contract Appraisal”. Let’s say that you have been approached by a media company who would like to turn your novel into TV series for example and offer you a contract. A specialist lawyer’s fee would be a lot higher than the annual subscription to an authors’ association so it would make sense to sign up and have your contracted looked at and advised on at an affordable price.
The two of the more popular associations are: The Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors(ALLi)
The Society of Authors has been around for a long time. In fact, it has been empowering authors since 1884. Not my words, theirs. They describe themselves as a UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators with a membership of 12,500. I got the distinct impression a few years ago that this organisation was a bit snooty towards the indie author, as was the main stream publication industry, when their world was transformed with the introduction of the hugely successful online book publishing platforms. But they do allow indie authors into their organisation now, but this comes with a couple of conditions. To become a full member the indie author must comply with the following requirements:
I am self-published or have had a work published only as print-on-demand or e-book, and have within a 12-month period sold 300+ copies of a single title in print form or 500+ copies of a single title in electronic / digitised form. This was taken from their website so this organisation is not for everybody.
“Publish and sell your books with confidence,” is the final sentence of the introductory blurb on the home page of The Alliance of Independent Authors(ALLi). The organisation has a global membership of indie authors since its inception in 2012 and offers a variety of services to enable the success of its members. They also go on to say that as well as joining an association, you are becoming part of a movement. For £89.00 a year you get the following benefits:
Author members receive:
Advisory team – all questions answered
Free author advice guides
Private moderated member’s forum
All discounts for author services
Affiliate earnings program
Approved Services directory
Online advice conference
Daily blog, twice-weekly podcast
Author member website badge
Public author-publisher profile
Book listing
Contract vetting
General legal advice
Blogging opportunities
Speaker opportunities
Interview opportunities
ALLi is definitely the place to be if you’re an indie author and feel the need to belong to an organisation of like minded people. I personally haven’t felt the need to join any organisation as yet; but if I did, this one would probably tick all the boxes for me. But as I mentioned earlier, before you part with your hard-earned cash, membership will not make you a better writer or increase your book sales. And my personal preference for ALLi is exactly that. I am not knocking or demeaning the Society of Authors in any way shape or form. It’s a big world out there, and there is plenty of room for everyone. SD