Do you have questions about the action brought by a number of authors in the U.S. against Anthropic? What does the settlement mean for UK authors? What are the implications of the settlement for the other actions being brought in the U.S. against AI companies? #AnthropicSettlement

Don't miss The Big Conversation, on 17 November, 11am to Noon. Join us for a week of activities focused on Author Care. We kick off with our #SoAatHome Big Conversation, chaired by SoA’s Chief Executive, Anna Ganley.

We are delighted to announce the judging panel for the 2025 Translation Prizes. Literary and translation experts from a wide variety of fields and, with a huge number of accolades between them, gather to judge works by translators.

Members of the Society of Authors have newly elected four of their peers to represent authors’ views on the Management Committee (the Board). SoA members @ajwestauthor.bsky.social, @iangiles.bsky.social, @pollyrowena.bsky.social, and @lucindahawksley.bsky.social now join the committee.

DATE FOR THE DIARY We're taking our Podcast on the road for a live recording at the offices of top accountancy firm HW Fisher, in this special collaboration dedicated to the financial issues of being an author.

If you have your heart set on glory, don't miss the deadline for our 2026 SoA Awards. The deadline is 31 October The annual Society of Authors’ Awards recognises the best and most promising literary voices of the year. Over £100,000 awarded annually for poetry, fiction, non-fiction and illustration

We are delighted to welcome Tracy Chevalier to our Bedford Row building as host of our Winter Coffee & Chat. Hot drinks and cakes will be served, and places are strictly limited, so make sure you book early. societyofauthors.org/event/soa-in... #SoAInPerson

Halloween is nearly upon us, and we are standing up for ghosts, a better recognition of the contribution and role of ghostwriters in celebrity-authored children’s fiction. We have published new Guidelines to ensure the role of the ghostwriter is more visible and recognised.

Available now! If you are a poet or spoken word artist, check out these brand-new resources. Designed by the SoA’s Poetry and Spoken Word Group (PSWG), these free digital resources aim to help poets and spoken word artists at all stages of their careers.

Our AGM week 2025 is dedicated to Author Care. With discussions around transparency, support and inclusion, communication and self-care, we ask how authors and publishing professionals can work better together and how authors can find support if needed.

CALLING ALL YOUNG POETS The deadline for entries to the Eric Gregory Awards is 31 October. It is awarded for a collection by poets under the age of 30. Winners of the Eric Gregory Awards are invited to a free solo week residency at Thomas Cottage.

We are receiving a lot of queries about emails claiming to offer tickets to the SoA AGM for a large fee. Our online AGM is free to attend for all members. There is no fee to attend and booking can be made on our website. We have not been hacked, nor has there been a data protection leak.

LAST CHANCE Once you have written your story, you need to sell it. We're delighted to present these two Professional Development Sessions from expert marketeer, Olivia Chapman. TOMORROW (21 October) - Pitching Workshop 4 November - Writing a synopsis

We are delighted to reveal that @onewomanwalks is the winner of the inaugural #TheIlseSchwepckePrize for her book, ONE WOMAN WALKS EUROPE. A huge congratulations to Ursula, and to all shortlisted authors @theilseschwepckeprize #literaryprize #womentravellers #travelwriting #bookstagram

Wherever your nearest post box may be, make sure you don't forget to vote. Only a few days left to return your ballot paper for the four places available on the SoA Management Committee. Voting closes on 22 October, and you can only vote by post.

LAST CHANCE Our How I Write series continues this Thursday with crime writer @vaseemkhanuk.bsky.social, in conversation with @radiomukhers.bsky.social. They'll be delving into Vaseem's work and career, and offer a glimpse into his creative routine.

What a wonderful day on Saturday at our Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group Conference. A full day of speakers, panel discussions and networking with our fabulous CWIG members. And a quiz!

Today is Bookshop Day, a day to celebrate ALL bookshops on our high streets. Bookshops are an integral part of an author's livelihood, and we celebrate all the talented booksellers who share their guidance and expertise. Visit your local bookshop today and show them your support. #bookshopday

Let's do lunch. Come along to our Bedford Row building on Wednesday (15) for our Autumn Members’ Lunch. It's your chance to meet and mingle with SoA staff and fellow members. Places are limited and subject to availability, so book your place. societyofauthors.org/event/soa-in...

You have just over a week left to return your ballot paper for the four places available on the SoA Management Committee. Voting closes on 22 October, and you can only vote by post. Please post your completed ballot paper by Friday, 17 October, or earlier if you live abroad.

Our board member @venusbushfires is here to remind you to post your SoA ballot papers, if you haven't already. Ballots must be returned by 22 October, so make sure you've posted them by Friday 17. There are 4 places available, so 4 votes to cast.

Everyone at the SoA was saddened to learn of the death of Dame Jilly Cooper. She brought joy through her work and earned a special place in our hearts with her unique voice. She certainly succeeded in her aim. We send our best wishes to her family.

A searchable works list has been released to identify the authors’ works that were stolen by US Corporation Anthropic, to train its AI models. It includes UK authors whose works were copied without their permission or payment.

Happy National Poetry Day. This year's theme is Play. We are proud to hold the Literary Estates for many wonderful poets including Walter De La Mare. Here is one of our favourites. This edition of The Ride-By-Nights is published by Faber with beautiful illustrations from Carolina Rabei

A love of reading in childhood can last a lifetime. Teacher resource site Twinkl has published this insightful blog on how to encourage kids to read. Abie Longstaff, Chair of The SofA’s Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group shares her top tips. www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/how-to-...

LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING Join Ronke Lawal at our London office for our In-Person Professional Development session, 'Speaking with presence and poise: confident communication for authors' Book your place here societyofauthors.org/event/soa-in...

ONE WEEK LEFT During our recent Industry Insider event, SWG Committee member Imogen Church reminded everyone to submit their entries to the BBC Audio Drama awards. The deadline for entries is midnight on 5 October, so don't delay. societyofauthors.org/prizes/audio...

📣We're delighted with the Court’s decision yesterday. It's a win for authors and rightsholders, and a step in the right direction towards compensation for the unlawful use of copyright-protected works. Big Tech is not above the law and creators’ rights cannot be ignored. ✊ tinyurl.com/4db9u2fn

Our chair, Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin (also known as Sam Blake), has a busy international schedule, but can still find the time to remind you to vote in our upcoming board elections. the post. This year, nine candidates are standing for election for four places on the SoA board.

Our #SoAatHome programme of online webinars is designed to give support on the business of authorship. From dealing with publishers and marketing your book, through to the nitty-gritty details of pensions and finance, these sessions provide valuable knowledge, insight, and reassurance.

The shortlist for the Ilse Schwepcke Prize has now been announced. Congratulations to Kapka Kassabova, Ursula Martin, Viv Groskop (@vivgroskop) and Victoria Whitworth, It is an annual award, administered by the SoA, for women’s travel writing in the English language.

Robyn Law, our head of Fundraising, Grants and Prizes has been talking to Penny Wincer on the Not Too Busy To Write podcast. They take a deep dive into how to apply for grants to help support you while you write. open.spotify.com/episode/2NsZ...

Our #SoAatHome programme returns on Friday for its Autumn/Winter season. We kick off with Feel Good Friday – Breaking free of overwhelm. Overwhelm can happen to us all. That sense that there is just too much to do, that you don’t know where to start. 🧵

We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from members regarding suspicious emails and phone calls that seem too good to be true. It's easy for spammers to sound informed and convincing. We've put together our latest advice to keep you on your guard societyofauthors.org/2025/09/16/a...

Being an author can be an isolating business, especially trying to navigate an industry that is not familiar. Our Author Care toolkit provides helpful advice on what to expect in terms of transparency. support and inclusion, and respectful communication. societyofauthors.org/resource/aut...

By now, if you're a full member, you will have received your ballot paper in the post. This is your chance to have your say - don't waste it by forgetting to vote. Return your completed ballot to us by 22 October. #SoAElection

We promised you that we would keep you up to date on the Anthropic case in the US. Read the latest developments in our news piece. societyofauthors.org/2025/09/11/a...

Today marks the birthday of the late Lady Lavinia, Dowager Marchioness of Cholmondeley, born on this day in 1921. She founded the Cholmondeley Awards for Poets in 1966 to recognise the achievement and distinction of individual poets. 🧵

The Comics Cultural Impact Collective, the Association of Illustrators and the Society of Authors are pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 National Survey of Comics Creators. 🧵 societyofauthors.org/2025/09/04/s...

BREAKING NEWS Anthropic agree to pay $1.5 billion to settle claims that it downloaded pirated books to train its AI systems. This is the largest U.S. copyright settlement in history. The settlement is still subject to the judge's approval. 🧵 authorsguild.org/news/what-au...

The literary world is an exciting place to be at the moment, and we're delighted to be at the heart of it. At our glittering Awards Ceremony this year, past McKitterick Prize winner and 2025 judge Anietie Isong talked to us about what thrills him most about the industry at the moment. 🧵

Our awards submissions are now open. If you're wondering what it would feel like to be a winner, here's Charlotte Shevchenko Knight, one of our 2025 Somerset Maugham Award winners, to tell you.

Our #SoAatHome autumn season kicks off in earnest on 19 September, with our Feel Good Friday session, Breaking Free of Overwhelm. Overwhelm can happen to us all. That sense that there is just too much to do that you don’t know where to start. Often what happens next is we freeze and do nothing. 🧵

Submissions are now open for the Eric Gregory Awards, for a collection by poets under the age of 30. The Eric Gregory Awards were founded in 1960 by the late Dr Eric Gregory for the encouragement of young poets. 🧵

We have not one, but two fantastic opportunities to join us. As a progressive and ethical not-for-profit organisation, we offer a range of benefits to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. We’re a London Living Wage Accredited Employer and we’re Disability Confident – Committed

And our 2026 awards are officially open! Our website has all you need to know about our individual prizes, criteria and how to enter. If you are in need of inspiration, take a look at this year's ceremony. Next year, this could be you. societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-s...

Tomorrow, our 2026 Society of Authors' Awards open for submissions. If you were in any doubt as to why these awards are so important, our Board member Helen Epega @thevenusbushfires.bsky.social explains. 🧵

Our awards aren't just a pat on the back. Jasbinder Bilan @jasinbath, 2025's winner of one of our Travelling Scholarships, told us why these awards are so important to authors. Submissions for our awards opens on Monday (1 September) so stand by. Video: Lilly Brend-Fish and Theo Jones

The SoA in Scotland (SoAiS) is deeply disappointed to hear of the closure of the Scottish Book Trust’s Ignite Fellowship. The Fellowship’s loss also highlights the concerning trend of a clear decline in funding for arts and culture across Scotland Full article societyofauthors.org/2025/08/27/i...