In the wake of the US general election and the long campaign season (about 600 days), many are eager for clarity about the results. The problem, of course, is that we have few answers as to how the incoming administration’s plans and programs might affect life and work.
The Authors Guild is in the camp of early prognosticators, with an assessment of what might be key points for authors to keep in mind going forward. For the record, we take no position on the Guild’s essay. We do think it’s important, however, for professional authors to be aware of prominent industry viewpoints—in any political climate, not just our current transition—which then can be tested over time as things play out.
While the essay at the Guild’s site includes such practical questions as how changes in the Affordable Care Act might affect the organization’s own potential offer of insurance for members, the core concern listed by the Guild is the protection of free speech. “Expect to see an uptick in our advocacy in this area,” the Guild staff writes. The frontline of concern in this regard is journalism, and the Guild’s membership includes working journalists as well as book authors. Some of the other issues the Guild discusses:
- The tech sector: How will Google’s relationship with the government change?
- Net neutrality: Will all internet traffic continue to be treated equally?
- Intellectual property: Will greater enforcement be on the horizon?
Bottom line: It’s too early for initial concerns to be evaluated in a changing governmental context, but the American election’s outcome signals adjustments ahead, of course. A watchful stance will be taken by many industry advocacy groups like the Authors Guild, not just in publishing but across the commercial spectrum. Whatever your political position, we recommend staying abreast of these perspectives and remaining mindful of the social and political environment that inevitably affects every author’s career.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
