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Somerset, PA 15501
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HomePublished Penns Criteria/Speaker Request

Published Penns Criteria and Speaker Request


Request a Speaker!


Do you need a writer to speak at your next event? Fill out the Published Penns Request Form, and our Author Advocate, Jim Rada, will contact you.

Published Penns Speaker Request

Guidelines for How to Achieve Pennwriters Published Author Status

After you are published according to the criteria provided below, you may apply for Pennwriters published author status using the electronic form at the bottom of this page. There is no additional cost to become a Published Pennwriter, and the author advocacy program provides special events exclusively for Published Pennwriters. After reviewing the criteria for published author status, complete the form to submit your information to Ayleen Gontz, author advocacy coordinator, for review and approval.

Criteria for Published Author Status

You must be a member of Pennwriters in good standing at the time of the request for published status, however, the published content does not have to have been completed while you were a member.

Book Length, Fiction or Nonfiction

Traditionally Published


One work of book-length fiction or nonfiction must be accepted by a publisher with an advance of at least $1,000. Collaborations for two or more writers count for your portion of the normal credits for each writer (i.e., two writers, half credit each; three writer, one-third credit each, etc.). Submit the following information on the application form below:  title of book and ISBN, publisher’s name, amount of advance.

Self Published

Work must be paid sales totaling at least $1000 in the first calendar year after release. Both fiction and non-fiction will count equally. You must be a member in good standing of Pennwriters, Inc. at the time of request for Published Status, however, the published content does not have to have been completed while you were a member. Collaborations for two or more writers count for your portion of the normal credits for each writer (I.e. two writers- you get half credit, three writers, one third credit, etc.).

Submit the following information on the application form below:  appropriate proof of paid sales for the initial year following release.

Small Press

One work of fiction or nonfiction must be accepted by a publisher with paid royalties totaling at least $1000 in the first calendar year after release. Collaborations for two or more writers count for your proportion of the normal credits for each writer (I.e. two writers- you get half credit, three writers, one third credit, etc.).

Submit the following information on the application form below:  appropriate proof of paid royalties for the initial year following release.

eBook

Books published with some e-publishers may qualify for approval under Pennwriters guidelines. If you have an ebook published and believe you many qualify, contact the Published Penns Approval Director. If you would qualify under SFWA and/or MWA guidelines, you may qualify under Pennwriters guidelines as well. Be specific when sending in your information.

Submit the following information on the application form below:  title of book and ISBN, publisher’s name, amount of advance.

Short Works

To be eligible for listing as a Pennwriters published author, you must have received monetary compensation of no less than $0.05 per word for at least three pieces of work with a minimum of 7,500 words total in fiction or nonfiction. Poetry must be paid at a rate of at least $1.00 per line for a total of three poems. Newspaper and magazine article authors also qualify with monetary compensation of no less than $0.05 per word for at least three pieces of work. Total words may be combined from several forms of writing. Collaborations for two or more writers count for your portion of the normal credits for each writer (i.e., two writers, half credit each; three writer, one-third credit each, etc.). Many types of writing can qualify as short works, including song lyrics. Please query the Author Advocate with questions.

Submit the following information on the application form below:

 - Short works (fiction or nonfiction)—Title of story, place of publication, date of publication, amount paid per word.
 - Poetry—Title of poem, place of publication, date of publication, amount paid per line.
 - Newspaper and magazine articles—Title of article, place of publication, date of publication, amount paid per word.

Business Writers

This category shall include but not be limited to writers working full time and whose job description specifically requires written text on a stated schedule in the following areas of business or academia: journalists for newspapers or magazines or other new media services; public relations, advertising, corporate communications; corporate training, medical/pharmaceutical writers, or academic writing. All applicants must have been employed full time and are eligible for review for published author status after one year of employment. This list is not inclusive due to the changing requirements of many corporate positions. Any writer who feels his or her job description is similar to the list stated in this category may submit information for review by the author advocate. Those individuals included in this category are writers whose written work may or may not reach public view but by the nature of their specific job descriptions are required to produce written media on a regular basis as a major part of their full-time employment. Full-time freelance writers who also produce written text in any of the above categories would also be included in this description subject to confirmation of their ongoing production.

The Pubbed Penn application form will ask you for the following:  a copy of the job description for the full-time position showing writing duties making up at least 50 percent of the position (freelance writers, submit a copy of proposals for one year’s worth of completed contracts); appropriate proof of one year of employment. Note: Personal financial information is not required and will not be requested and confidentiality rules of employment and freelance workers will be respected. Appropriate proof shall be at the discretion of the published approval director and the author advocate.

Works That Do Not Count Toward Published Credits

 - Publications from vanity presses or subsidy presses
 - Works that you have edited only
 - Translations
 - Writing in relation to teaching positions (subject to review in special cases)

How to Apply for Pennwriters Published Status

Proof of eligibility should be submitted to Jim Rada, via the form below. Other questions and comments should be submitted to Jim Rada, Author Advocate. “Appropriate proof” shall be at the discretion of the author advocate.

Petition

Any Pennwriters member who is unable to reach agreement with the the Author Advocate after appropriate discussion may submit a petition to the Board of Directors for review. The decision of a majority of the board shall be final.

Pubbed Penns Application

To apply for Published Penns status, please click the button below, and fill out the form using the above criteria. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email Jim Rada.

Published Penns Application