I think that's probaly true, but I'm not sure quite how they'd define it - you could always ring them up and ask!

Emma

<Added>

From the website - either of the criteria I've emboldened might cover self-publishing:

Membership is open to

writers, illustrators and translators who have had a full-length work published (not at the author's expense), broadcast, or performed commercially
those who have had at least a dozen occasional items (eg. articles or short stories) published or broadcast
those who have published their own work, themselves, as a profit-making enterprise

If you have not had any work published yet but fall into one of the following categories, Associate membership may be offered as an alternative to Full membership (where appropriate) for one year initially:

those who have received an offer to publish or broadcast a full-length work (without subsidy by the author)
those who have received an agreement from an agent but have had no work published
those who have been offered a contract which asks for a contribution towards the costs of publication

How was it Emma. Sorry, I failed on both counts. To join. And to turn up. It has been a bit of a month, day-job-wise.

Roger, it was excellent, as usual. I was a bit late and missed the boring AGM-y bit, but I don't think anything startling was said. The panel discussion was great fun and interesting: Clare Alexander (Gillon Aitken), Andrew Franklin (Profile Books) and a busy adult and children's author (200 books) whose name - cringe - I've forgotten, all chaired by Helen Dunmore. All discussing 'How to get the best out of Agents and Publishers.

I didn't take notes, but some of the things I remember were:

Author - be prompt, be friendly, be professional, recognise that publishers in particular have a different perspective from you, so be realistic about what you can expect. But in being realistic, you can also be firm about what you do expect. Join the Society of Authors, especially if you don't have an agent, but also if you do. On the other hand he has a friend who was taken on by a publisher who said, 'If I'd known X was your agent, I'd never have taken you on'. Publishers want to feel you're loyal to them, but won't be allowed by the accountants to be loyal to you.

Clare - (okay, admission of interest, she's my agent) the agent-author relationship is like a marriage, you have to have the same needs and desires for the book, and to trust each other. KEEP COMMUNICATING. She said the thing that makes something an instant rejection from her is an author who says 'What's the market?' because that shows they have the wrong priorities. What she cares about is the quality of the writing, first and last, and doesn't know or care about the 'marketability' of the book or the author when she's deciding whether to take them on. She gets 3,000 scripts a year, and probably takes on 3 new clients. There's no reason not to divorce your agent if the marriage doesn't work, though don't forget you'll be leaving some of the babies behind, and with someone whose priority will be elsewhere once you've jumped ship. (Though a new agent should also keep an eye on what happens to your backlist). An agent may have more clout with your publisher than you would if they have other clients with that publisher. (Comment from the floor: or they may not want to jeopardise their relationship with that publisher by being stroppy enough on your behalf).

Andrew Franklin - be realistic, be professional, either friendly and helpful or Difficult Author - it's vacillating between the two that's hard for a publisher to deal with. You don't have to be prompt, but if you need an extension, keep communicating so the publisher knows what's happening and can adjust schedules accordingly. Independent publishers can back their hunches without the committee interfering: this extends to cover-art as well acquisitions: Canongate have two books in the Booker Shortlist, for example. Just occasionally remember that your publisher works for you too, and take him out to lunch. There are a few (about 3) agents he won't deal with, because they're too much trouble. Independent publishers do want to be loyal to authors - he was almost spitting about Lionel Shriver decamping from Serpent's Tail after 6(?) not-terribly-successful-novels because after Kevin she was offered a huge deal ST couldn't possibly match by one of the big boys.

That's what I can remember - sorry it's a bit incoherent. And I met Smudger over nice food.

I also met Alison Baverstock again. She's just published Have You Got A Book In You, and she's working on another one, about authors' experiences of marketing their work. Should be good, and I'm sure she'd be interested in anyone with tales to tell.

Emma

<Added>

Posting elsewhere has just reminded me: there was also discussion of the fact - often forgotten by writers - that when publishers talk about 'customers' they don't mean readers, but bookshops/Amazon/wholesalers. Which is why their buying decisions are the thing publishers spend most of the their time worrying about. In one sense, publishers have no day-to-day contact with readers at all, except in as much as they're readers themselves.

Wow, great report. Thank you. I promise to join before next year's. Though I probably said that last year!

Interesting what the publisher said about the writer taking the publisher out to lunch too! I'll have to remember that.

They'll have to pay me more before I can afford their kind of lunch...

But the point's worth making. I did send the nicest hampers I could find/afford to my agent, and to also my publicist and editor on publication day, as a present that could also be shared round to all the people whose names I don't know, but who have a lot to do with whether it's a success or not.

Tony and I recruited at least one member of the Soc of A to WW while we were there - didn't see you Jim, were you there? - so if you join, Roger, we could have a proper little meeting next year, maybe enough to persuade the northern members it's worth coming down?

Emma

There’s an Authors North meeting in glorious Harrogate on October 14th… why don’t some of you softie southerners venture up here? We really know how to entertain…

Dee

Dee - Authors North? Whereabouts?

Jim

<Added>

Err, Harrogate, I guess! Sorry, too much Ovaltine.

Jim

Jim,

It’s at the Old Swan Hotel. Are you up for it? You can sign my copy of HJTC.

I think you’ll have to be quick to get a place, though…

Dee

Dee - I see it's an SoA event. I didn't get it together last month to join the SoA, because I couldn't spare the money (strewth ... ). Everyone billed me at once ... or I thought they had ... the other stiffs billed me this morning (weary sigh), so it looks like another month of scrimping. Still, I suppose this isn't the place to go into a whinge about UK punitive tax regimes.
So what with one thing and another, I'll have to pass. Shame, because I do like Northern hospitality. So we'll have to have a signing some other time - when I hope TWH will have found a 'taker'.

Jim

That’s a shame, Jim. It would be good to meet up.

Dee

Dee - it would indeed be good to meet up, and natter over a half-decent bottle of claret (although why stint ourselves, let's make it a decent bottle when the time comes). This would have been a great opportunity. Still, there will be other opportunities, I trust, inshallah and all that ...

Jim

Sorry Emma, just noticed the question ... No, I wasn't there unfortunately. See previous correspondence for pathetic details.

Jim

One of these days...

...we'll share that bottle of claret.

Jim

Can I grab a glass and join in? If we're joining up North and South, somewhere about Rugby Station ought to be about right!

Emma