When I started down this path a mentor suggested that I start following The Author's Guild, and I have. I'm just a bystander at this point, but it seems they have been doing a lot of the work that most of us would want a professional organization to do - all but collective bargaining - and they've been at it since 1912. Am I wrong in thinking they have a voice that makes a difference? FWIW, Architects have been intermittently having this same conversation for decades. I think the goal of being properly compensated for creative work is common across the art world.
I truly don't know enough about them, but I do know that they have done some good work in the past. It seems this is DEFINITELY a common conversation in the states. One of the things I forgot to put in here is that writers' unions are pretty common in other countries (whether they have successfully changed working conditions in them, I do not know). I also ended up reading all about the history of the guild that became the WGA -- I fear a big part of the challenge would be reaching any sort of numbers that would force publishers to the table. (As big as Hollywood is, it feels like making books is much more accessible and that far, far more are produced by far, far more publishers? At least, that's how it feels from where I'm sitting!) Also, I discovered a friend was involved in the original union founding here (who went on to lead the WGA), which is so cool!
Fascinating.
RIGHT?
When I started down this path a mentor suggested that I start following The Author's Guild, and I have. I'm just a bystander at this point, but it seems they have been doing a lot of the work that most of us would want a professional organization to do - all but collective bargaining - and they've been at it since 1912. Am I wrong in thinking they have a voice that makes a difference? FWIW, Architects have been intermittently having this same conversation for decades. I think the goal of being properly compensated for creative work is common across the art world.
I truly don't know enough about them, but I do know that they have done some good work in the past. It seems this is DEFINITELY a common conversation in the states. One of the things I forgot to put in here is that writers' unions are pretty common in other countries (whether they have successfully changed working conditions in them, I do not know). I also ended up reading all about the history of the guild that became the WGA -- I fear a big part of the challenge would be reaching any sort of numbers that would force publishers to the table. (As big as Hollywood is, it feels like making books is much more accessible and that far, far more are produced by far, far more publishers? At least, that's how it feels from where I'm sitting!) Also, I discovered a friend was involved in the original union founding here (who went on to lead the WGA), which is so cool!