Regular Membership. You may qualify on the basis of being a book author or freelance writer.
Book authors must be published by an established American publisher. While decisions on membership eligibility are made on a case-by-case basis, generally book contracts are expected to include a royalty clause and a significant advance, and must allow the author to retain copyright. Exceptions to these requirements are sometimes made in the case of small literary presses of national reputation. Self-published works and works published by subsidy presses do not qualify an author for membership. Works published by foreign publishers are not accepted as a basis for membership.
Co-authors are eligible for membership on the same basis provided that their name appears on the book credited as an author. Contributors to collections published by established American publishers can qualify if they have published at least three contributions within the past eighteen months. Translators can qualify on the same basis as authors. Editors generally are not accepted if their role is strictly editorial. Ghostwriters and other collaborators can qualify if the book in question qualifies and they submit a copy of their collaboration agreement.
Freelance writers must have published three works, fiction or non-fiction, by a periodical of general circulation within the last eighteen months. Periodicals of general circulation are those found on newsstands nationwide. Publication in trade and professional journals is generally not accepted. Online publication at the same rate (at least three works within the past eighteen months) can qualify an author for membership if the website has substantial traffic, editorial oversight, and if the author is paid significant compensation for the work. As in the case of books, exceptions to these requirements are sometimes made in the case of periodicals or websites of national literary reputation.
Dues: first year dues are $90. (After the first year, dues are charged on a sliding scale, depending on your writing income, but most members continue to pay $90.)
Application form.
Associate Membership.
You may join as an associate member if you have a contract with an established American publisher for a work not yet published. The same requirements apply to publication as for regular members. Associate members are eligible for the same benefits and services as regular members with the exception that they cannot vote in Guild elections. Once an associate member's book is published they can become a regular member.
Dues: first year dues are $90. (After the first year, dues are charged on a sliding scale, depending on your writing income, but most members continue to pay $90.)
Application form.
Membership-at-Large
Membership-at-large is available to literary agents who have placed work with established American publishers (defined by the requirements for authors outlined above). This is a non-voting membership category. Membership-at-large is also available to widows or widowers or other heirs, trustees or executors of the estates of deceased members, and attorneys and accountants representing authors.
Dues: $90 per year.
Application Form.
