The Authors Guild is opening its membership to non-professional writers, a first for the organization that was founded in 1912.
The move comes in response to the popularity of self-publishing which has come about in the Internet era. The guild will now advocate on behalf of these authors through the “Emerging Writers” membership. This membership category is open to any writer actively seeking to be published but does not require applicants to fulfill the existing publication and financial qualifications previously required for membership.
“The Authors Guild exists to help working writers. But it’s hard to get established; we know that as well as anyone. With the new Emerging Writers membership, we’re now able to give writers support as they enter the professional world, even before they’ve published a first book,” stated Roxana Robinson, President of the Authors Guild.