NWU Bay Area Book Authors Group

The NWU's National Book Division focuses on changing publishing industry practices through a combination of member education and direct pressure. San Francisco Bay Area authors draw on many of the resources developed at the national level.

• Preferred Agent Agreement, Guide to Book Contracts
• Bay Area Seminars and Events
• Author Network
• Book Authors Discussion List
• Someday soon, royalty statements you can actually understand

Preferred Literary Agent Agreement, Guide to Book Contracts

Our two most-requested documents. They are only available to members. You will need to know the member password to gain access to them:

• Preferred Literary Agent Guide
• Guide to Book Contracts

Visit the National Book Division page for other member-only documents, FAQ's, and guides, and for our list of agencies engaging in questionable practices. Some documents are available to non-members as well, such as our guide to copyright.

Bay Area Seminars and Events

The Union holds seminars that educate authors on how to get more equitable contracts with agents and publishers. The seminars cover a plethora of good, bad, and indifferent contract clauses, explaining which language is standard or unusually bad or good in specific situations. In addition to these trainings, the Union is developing tip sheets covering specialized areas of book publishing, and is finalizing a "How to Self-Market Your Book" guide (see also the Writer As Publisher site). As always, members confronted with a tough contract can always call on an NWU book contract advisor for help.

The Bay Area Local Chapter has organized popular "How to Write a Book Proposal" and "Make the Media Work For You" seminars by well-known Bay-Area literary agents and publicists. Check back here for updates on future events.

Author Network

Coast to coast, the National Writers Union is working on creating an Author Network. What does the Author Network do? The Author Network is one way of ensuring that books by Union authors don't just sit on the shelf (or in the warehouse). The Author Network will help member authors promote their books by:

1. Creating current lists of area bookstores that sponsor readings and similar promotional events;
2. Creating current lists of area media that feature books and authors; and, especially;
3. Lining up members willing to house touring NWU authors.

While the National Office helps coordinate the bed-and-breakfast aspect, the heart of the Author Network is in the locals.

Book Authors Discussion List

Are you new to the world of book publishing and have questions you'd love to be able to ask other experienced writers? Encountering a new situation in your career as a writer and need input from other writers who've been there and done that? Union members who wish to participate in online discussions about book-related issues are encouraged to subscribe to nwu-book, the book authors' email list.

This list is restricted to members only. To subscribe to the list send an email to: nwu-book-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

You will receive a response from the list moderator asking your full name and local. This will be checked against the NWU database. Once you reply to that email, you should be subscribed within a day or two.

Royalty Statements You Can Understand?

The NWU has always called for intelligible royalty statements. It is our long-range plan to achieve them. We are now collecting royalty statements from a wide range of authors, both members and non-members.

If you get royalty statements (or have gotten them in the past), please send copies of the statement and that portion of the book contract that covers royalties to:

National Writers Union
113 University Pl. 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10003

And yes, it's okay to white out your name. The collected statements will be used to:

• Write a handbook on how to understand and interpret your royalty statement.
• Evaluate publishers.

Contact

For more information contact the Bay Area Local Chapter at @nwu