A recent report from UKIE (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment) has found that the UK video games market continues to grow reaching a value of £7.82bn in 2023. But what does the video games industry look like for writers? What skills are needed and what creative opportunities are on offer? How are writers contracted and how are they paid? What of the importance of collective voice in this sector, of inclusivity and diversity concerns and what of the need for cross-industry participation and collaboration? And what of the tech and what of the future? Join SoA Advisory Clinic hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones for this end-of-series bonus-double-episode-special as they speak to a number of leading writers and UKIE itself, for an illuminating exploration of the issues at play. Featuring writers Stark Holborn, Brian Baglow, Prof Mata Haggis-Burridge and Dom Shaw from UKIE.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Mata Haggis-Burridge — BUas Research Portal 

Mata Haggis-Burridge Profile / X 

Brian Baglow - Edinburgh, United Kingdom, DIGIT.FYI, Napier University | about.me 

Brian Baglow (@flackboy) / X 

STARK HOLBORN 

Stark Holborn Profile / X 

Ukie Homepage 

Dom Shaw https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicshaw94/ [email protected]  

About - Ukie 

2023 Video Game Industry Valuation Ukie 

UK Games Map - Ukie 

Shadows of Doubt on Steam (steampowered.com) 

GTA Games in Order (imdb.com) 

The Scottish Games Network - Scotland's Games Ecosystem Cluster 

Scottish Games Week | Save The Date 

Homepage | Pact 

Bectu 

Writers' Guild of Great Britain | WGGB (writersguild.org.uk) 

Videogames guidelines - Writers' Guild of Great Britain (writersguild.org.uk) 

The Other Side - Twisted animations by Mata - Suggested for mature viewers (matazone.co.uk) 

Buy Burnout™ Paradise Remastered - Electronic Arts (ea.com) 

Rebellion | Official Rebellion website 

Aliens vs. Predator 3 (Video Game 2010) - IMDb 

Fragments of Him 

Ask an advisor - The Society of Authors 

GoldenEye 007: the beloved classic that reshaped video games | Games | The Guardian 

The Last of Us™ Part I (playstation.com) 

The Witcher Universe | Action-Adventure RPGs   

Assassin's Creed Franchise | Ubisoft (EU / UK) 

NDA Blogs | The Society of Authors 

Hogwarts Legacy - Home 

Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital (mobiusdigitalgames.com) 

ink - inkle's narrative scripting language (inklestudios.com) 

Twine / An open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories (twinery.org) 

Articy 

The Ren'Py Visual Novel Engine (renpy.org) 

Save 20% on The Baby In Yellow on Steam (steampowered.com) 

Home - Warhammer 

App Store - Apple (UK) 

Resident Evil Resistance | CAPCOM 

#RaiseTheGame –  Homepage (raisethegame.com)  

Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition - EA Official Site 

Empower Up (empower-up.com)  

Chapter One UK | It all starts with literacy

Autistica Play – We're working with the video games industry | Autistica  

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors 

The UK’s copyright laws protect writers by handing them exclusive rights in relation their original creative work. But how can writers best protect themselves and what does a writer need to do before using the work of others? In the event of an apparent infringement, how can a creator ensure they have a clear and unambiguous claim and what steps can they take? What efforts are being made more widely to combat pirates engaged in widespread infringements and what action against AI companies allegedly training their systems on copyright-protected works without consent? Join SoA Advisory clinic hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones as they guide you through the issues, and bring you exclusive contributions from Jack Newton, Head of Enforcement at the Publishers’ Association and Umair Kazi, Director of Public Policy Affairs at the Authors’ Guild in the US.

Show notes:

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership.

Staff pages Contracts and advice – The Society of Authors

About the Contracts & Advisory team Advice - The Society of Authors

Guides available from the Society of Authors Guides - The Society of Authors

About the Internet Archive and copyright infringement Internet Archive - The Society of Authors 

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

Holy Blood, Holy Grail a book by Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, and Richard Leigh (bookshop.org)

The Spear of Destiny: The Occult Power Behind the Spear Which Pierced the Side of Christ a book by Trevor Ravenscroft (bookshop.org)

The Spear by James Herbert - Pan Macmillan

What is a DMCA Takedown?

WHOIS Search, Domain Name, Website, and IP Tools - Who.is

Jack Newton About us - Publishers Association

Copyright Infringement Portal - Publishers Association

Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) | City of London Police

Publishers Association statement on Z-Library  - Publishers Association

Avengers | Members, Villains, Powers, & More | Marvel

Amazon - Report infringement

Intellectual Property Enterprise Court - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homepage - The Authors Guild

Umair Kazi Staff Directory - The Authors Guild

New Authors Guild AI Survey Reveals That Authors Overwhelmingly Want Consent and Compensation for Use of Their Works - The Authors Guild

Publishers demand that tech companies seek consent before using copyright-protected works to develop AI systems - The Society of Authors

The Society of Authors holds a renowned and important role in advocating for rights of authors everywhere and at all stages of their career. But what do its policy and public affairs efforts look like in practice? How does it work to maximise the impact of those efforts to affect real and lasting change? And how can writers become involved? Senior Contracts Advisor and Public Policy Manager at the Society of Authors, Ambre Morvan, talks exclusively to Advisory Clinic host, Theo Jones, to discuss all these questions and more.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Policy and campaigns - The Society of Authors 

International Authors Forum – A forum for Authors' Organisations 

Home - BCC (britishcopyright.org) 

Creators' Rights Alliance (creatorsrightsalliance.org) 

HOME - EWC - European Writers Council 

Home - CEATL 

Public Lending Right (PLR) - The Society of Authors 

Advice - The Society of Authors 

Prizes - The Society of Authors 

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk) 

Trade bodies write to Government on ‘pressing issue of copyright exhaustion’ - The Society of Authors 

Save Our Books 

CREATOR – campaign for fair contract terms - The Society of Authors 

Artificial Intelligence - The Society of Authors 

Sustainability in publishing - The Society of Authors 

Tree to Me - The Society of Authors 

#TranslatorsOnTheCover – sign the open letter - The Society of Authors 

#PicturesMeanBusiness - Give Illustrators Credit 

About | Axe the Reading Tax 

Pay the Creator — creators' rights alliance (creatorsrightsalliance.org) 

Spotify streaming deal – send a letter to your publisher - The Society of Authors 

SoA survey reveals a third of translators and quarter of illustrators losing work to AI - The Society of Authors 

The Write Share – A campaign from the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) to address industry-wide challenges faced by writers and promote solutions to support our world-class talent and protect the future of the UK’s creative industries. 

ALCS | Take our survey on AI 

Intellectual Property Office - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

House of Lords - Large language models and generative AI - Communications and Digital Committee (parliament.uk) 

SoA welcomes cross-party parliamentary report on creator remuneration - The Society of Authors 

Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 11 of 2023–24 - House of Lords Library (parliament.uk) 

EGM – resolutions and next steps - The Society of Authors 

National Writers Conference 2024 - Writing West Midlands 

EU Artificial Intelligence Act | Up-to-date developments and analyses of the EU AI Act 

The UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators - The Society of Authors 

Groups - The Society of Authors 

Collecting societies play a crucial and celebrated role for authors, both through licensing works at scale and ensuring creators receive their fair share, but also through advocacy for authors’ rights and support through charitable funding. But how do so-called collective management organisations actually work in practice and what does an author need to know? How do they fit into the publishing ecology and what value do they bring? And what of their advocacy, power of collective bargaining and their role as we look to the future? Join SoA Advisory Clinic hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones discuss all this and more, featuring contributions from Richard Combes from the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and Harry Boughton, from the Copyright Licensing Agency.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Licensing bodies and collective management organisations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society ALCS 

Intellectual Property Office - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

The Copyright Licensing Agency https://cla.co.uk/ 

ALCS | Our heritage 

Public Lending Right (PLR): Eligibility & Registration - The British Library 

ALCS | Why writers are at a loss for words 

A profession struggling to sustain itself - The Society of Authors 

ALCS | Become a Member 

ALCS | Royalty Search 

ALCS | Our team 

ALCS | Terms and Conditions of Membership 

Publishers' Licensing Services (PLS). 

DACS, the Design & Artists Copyright Society is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to championing, protecting and managing the rights of artists, and maximising their royalties. - DACS 

Book Aid International https://bookaid.org/ 

Copyright Licensing Agency | Not-For-Profit Organisation | CLA 

The Write Share – A campaign from the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) to address industry-wide challenges faced by writers and promote solutions to support our world-class talent and protect the future of the UK’s creative industries. 

Tom Chatfield – Website of the author and tech philosopher 

ALCS | ALCS launches the Write Share campaign 

ALCS | Take our survey on AI 

ALCS | ALCS welcomes Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill 

ALCS | AI and authors: What comes next 

What does the landscape for works in translation look like and what role does the Translators Association play? What of the challenges and what of the campaigns? What do translators need to know and how can the Society of Authors help? And what of the metaphorical cake?  Senior Contracts Advisor and co-host of the SoA Advisory Clinic Johanna Clarke sits down with co-coordinator of the Translators Association at the Society of Authors, Catherine Fuller, to discuss all this and more.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Catherine Fuller - The Society of Authors 

British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT) - Groups and Centres (uea.ac.uk) 

Translators Association - The Society of Authors 

The SoA Awards - The Society of Authors 

Summer School at British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT) - Groups and Centres (uea.ac.uk) 

Groups - The Society of Authors 

Industry Insider - Poetry in translation on Vimeo 

PEN Translates - English PEN 

Afternoon Tea with Frank Wynne https://vimeo.com/768918710 

Afternoon Tea with Sarah Death https://vimeo.com/883904746  

Industry Insider – Disability, Neurodiversity and Translation https://vimeo.com/766829099  

Seminar Programme | The London Book Fair 

LBF Does Go On...Volcano and All (publishersweekly.com) 

National Centre for Writing | NCW | Celebrating the Power of Words and Ideas 

Translators on The Cover News | The Society of Authors 

Name the Translator Credit | The Society of Authors 

Mark Haddon | mark haddon 

Shining a Spotlight on the Art of Translation - The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

The International Booker Prize 2024 | The Booker Prizes 

SoA survey reveals a third of translators and quarter of illustrators losing work to AI - The Society of Authors 

Guides - The Society of Authors 

Rates and fees - The Society of Authors 

Generation TF: who is really reading translated fiction in the UK | The Booker Prizes 

Out of the Wings Festival (ootwfestival.com) 

On Reader’s Reports The wrong way in - The Society of Authors 

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors 

Contributor: Catherine Fuller 

Join SoA Advisory Clinic hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones as they bring you another catch to enjoy an event originally presented as part of the SoA@Home Festival of online events on the topic of poetry and spoken word at festivals. How do festival organisers find their acts and what considerations are at play? How does a writer evaluate the terms of a booking offered to them? How can writers and organisers ensure that questions of accessibility and inclusivity are front and centre of the industry? Ian Duhig chairs this highly insightful conversation with Liv Torc, Clare Shaw and Jane Yeh.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Poetry and Spoken Word Group AGM - The Society of Authors 

Industry Insider – Poetry and spoken word at festivals - The Society of Authors 

Ian Duhig | Poetry Foundation 

Home - Liv Torc 

Clare Shaw - poet, performer, tutor, trainer 

Jane Yeh | Poet, Writer, Lecturer (janeyeh3.com) 

WOMAD Festival 

About (festivalasform.org) 

Michael Rosen | Official Website 

The Royal Literary Fund (rlf.org.uk) 

Homepage | Writers & Artists (writersandartists.co.uk) 

Homepage (artscouncil.org.uk) 

Kendal Poetry Festival on X https://x.com/kendalpoetry?lang=en&mx=2 

Oxford Real Farming Conference 🌾 9 - 10 Jan 2025 (orfc.org.uk) 

Home | Oxford Farming Conference (ofc.org.uk) 

Nafeesa Hamid – Verve Poetry Press 

Contributors: Ian Duhig, Liv Torc, Clare Shaw and Jane Yeh 

Literary festivals and live speaking events play a unique, important, and celebrated role in an author’s career, offering writers a chance to supplement their book writing income, raise their literary profile and develop their community. But what of the business side to the arrangement? What should the paperwork look like and how can you be sure that your interests are protected? How can you be confident that you are getting the deal that works best for you? Join SoA Advisory Clinic hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones as they dive into the detail to explore all this and more in this timely episode from the Society of Authors.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

EGM – resolutions and next steps - The Society of Authors 

Industry Insider – Poetry and spoken word at festivals - The Society of Authors 

Poetry and Spoken Word Group AGM - The Society of Authors 

Inklusion (inklusionguide.org) 

Pay the Creator — creators' rights alliance (creatorsrightsalliance.org) 

Freelance Day Rate Guide 2023 — creators' rights alliance (creatorsrightsalliance.org) 

How much should writers charge for events? – Nicola Morgan 

Rates and fees - The Society of Authors 

Tax and insurance - The Society of Authors 

Event terms and conditions - The Society of Authors 

Preparing for school visits, incl. DBS checks via the SoA 

Input and feedback from an engaged, supportive and – at times - critical community is essential for any author writing today. But what form can such a community take? How can it help? What steps can you take as a writer to broaden your community should you need to? Join SoA Advisory Clinic host Johanna Clarke as she joins this brilliant and engaging conversation originally delivered as part of the London Book Fair’s Writers’ Summit, chaired by SoA Management Committee Member, Abie Longstaff and featuring SoA Scriptwriters’ Group Committee Member, Trish Cooke as well as Davina Hamilton and Yvonne Battle-Felton.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Industry Insider – Making the most of London Book Fair - The Society of Authors 

Writers With Faces (sylviabishopbooks.com) 

abielongstaff.com 

Welcome to the Trish Cooke World of Stories! 

Rhyming Children’s Books | Riley Can Be Anything |Davina Hamilton 

Yvonne Battle-Felton Writer (yvonnebattlefelton.com) 

Groups - The Society of Authors 

Prizes - The Society of Authors 

Grants - The Society of Authors 

Advice - The Society of Authors 

Local groups - The Society of Authors 

Save the Children UK | International Children's Charity 

The Global Community for Children’s Book Creators – SCBWI 

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors 

Contributors: Davina Hamilton, Trish Cooke, Yvonne Battle-Felton, Abie Longstaff, Johanna Clarke (as panellist) 

Everyone knows that the various paths to publication are paved with obstacles and challenges, but what do those routes actually look like? What challenges and opportunities do they pose? How can you prepare yourself for the bumpy ride and what support is out there for you? Join Johanna as she chairs a panel of writers, all with differing experiences, discussing all of  this and more in this latest episode from the Advisory Clinic team at the Society of Authors in an event originally delivered as part of the London Book Fair 2024. Featuring Alice McIlroy, Tabitha Rayne, Josh Fletcher and Hazel Mead.

Show notes: 

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

The Business of Working with Literary Agents https://vimeo.com/760225290 

The London Book Fair | Defining the Future of Creative Content 

The London Book Fair Unveils Author HQ and Writers’ Summit Line-up | The Hub by The London Book Fair | Publishing News 

Industry Insider – Making the most of London Book Fair - The Society of Authors 

Illustration | artist (hazelmead.com) 

WHY AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?! (penguin.co.uk) 

Home - Tabitha Rayne 

Erotic Magazine For Couples & Women Blog - FrolicMe 

alicemcilroy.com

Alice McIlroy - Instagram

Alice McIlroy - X

McIlroy, Alice | RCW Literary Agency (rcwlitagency.com) 

The Glass Woman a book by Alice McIlroy. (bookshop.org) 

School Of Anxiety | Anxiety Help 

And How Does That Make You Feel? by Joshua Fletcher | Hachette UK 

Neuralink's first human patient able to control mouse through thinking, Musk says | Reuters 

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors 

Contributors: Hazel Mead, Tabitha Rayne, Joshua Fletcher, Alice McIlroy, Johanna Clarke (as chair) 

The role of the literary agent occupies a unique position in the publishing industry, representing for many a key link in the chain between publishers and their authors. But what does an agent actually do and can you get by without one? What do the contracts look like and what are the commonly observed terms of business? What of the legal duties and industry codes? Join SoA Advisory Clinic hosts Johanna and Theo as they discuss all these issues and more in this next episode in the Advisory Clinic series.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year’s membership. 

Show notes: 

Professional Development - The Business of Working with Literary Agents on Vimeo 

PSWG @ Home: Industry Insider – The Role of Agents in Poetry on Vimeo 

The role of a literary agent with Charlotte Seymour on Vimeo 

Guides - The Society of Authors 

Home | Association of Authors' Agents (agentsassoc.co.uk) 

Code of Practice | Association of Authors' Agents (agentsassoc.co.uk) 

Industry Insider - May your works survive you: wills, estates, and your manuscripts on Vimeo 

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors