Recently someone asked me, “How do you become a Promising Author?”

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how to respond, but like any good English major, I did my research.

First I found a whole piece on how to become a Hosted Author.

Hosted Authors must have

1. an existing body of quality writing AND
   
2. an established reader base.
   

In addition, Hosted Authors are encouraged

1. to be active participants in the GA community,
   
2. to cross-promote and link back to GA when posting stories elsewhere, and
   
3. to encourage their readers to join the GA community.
   

To request consideration to become a Hosted Author, please contact Talonrider by PM.

Which is really nice to learn about, but not what I was searching for. I mean I am a Promising Author, so I should know how it came to be. So back to digging through the information to pass to the one who asked it.

Finally I got an answer to my question with this information.

Criteria for Promising Authors

Promising status’ purpose is to help develop writers who have already shown initiative in improving their writing and promoting themselves; to give up-and-coming writers exposure and help them build a fan base. It is like an intermediate step between Author and full Hosted. Promising Authors do receive their own forum, as well.

- demonstrates a basic level of writing ability

- is actively seeking and accepting assistance to improve their writing

- uses editor and beta readers, or is seeking same

- number of completed stories

- series vs. short stories

- participates in and contributes to the GA community; is actively involved in building and improving the site; shows an interest in all parts of the site, not just their own

- promotes the GA site (ex. if they post elsewhere, they link back to GA as their main site)

- shows initiative in promoting their work and growing their reader base, and/or is open to learning how

- if they have a reader base established, that can be taken into account but is less necessary than for Hosted Authors

One major component of receiving Promising Status is the author’s willingness to agree to a 60 day exclusivity to any new material that is being posted on and off-site, with an exception made only for personal sites such as off-site blogs or webpages. Nominations for promotion can be made by other site members, notice from WST/site staff members, or by contacting the WST Deputy Lead.

To request consideration for Promising Author at this time please contact Cia.