Need advice on tax, copyright or software, or an expert to vet a contract? Try these well-recommended sites.
The Society of Authors
For quick guides to contracts, copyright, and a service that includes contract-checking. To join, you have to have been published or have been offered a publishing contract. Administers a large number of annual competitions, bursaries and awards as well as organising networking events and advisory services. The website includes FAQs for new writers, diary of events, membership details, links to publishers’ and other societies’ websites.
Writers’ Guild of Great Britain
For a wide range of advice, including on rates of pay, plus articles on topics such as copyright, news, writers’ resources and industry regulations.
The HTML Writers Guild
US organisation offering resources, support, representation and education for web authors.
Copyright Licensing Agency
Licenses organisations to photocopy and scan from magazines, books, journals and digital publications on behalf of authors, publishers and visual creators – and then sends you a cheque if you register your work.
Authors Licensing and Collectors Society - Collects fees for use of your material abroad and in photocopying and sends authors a yearly cheque.
Public Lending Right – register for an annual cheque to reflect lending fees.
Society for Editors & Proofreaders
Information about the Society, including online directory of members.
Booktrust
Guide to prizes and awards, links to other book organisations, fact-sheets for writers and information on publishers.
Freelance UK
For freelancers in design and creative industries. Includes information on invoicing and accounting, marketing yourself, forming a company, tax and legal stuff.
Writers Technology
The ‘Tech-savvy guide for non-tech-savvy writers’. Includes how to set up a blog, podcast, get noticed by Google, and reviews of software for writers.
