In consultation with poets, as well as publishers and organisations who commission poetry, poetry performances, and visits to educational institutions, the ASA has conducted a review of its recommended rates of pay for poetry. This consultation was supplemented by information from the ASA’s Rates Tracker, a feedback form on our website enabling authors to anonymously let us know what they are paid for appearances and writing and illustrating work. These rates have been established to provide creators with authority and confidence in their negotiations with employers and are a guide for both writers and organisations to use as a framework. However some writers may quote at higher rates, and we ask organisations to consider that the work of being a poet includes factors in addition to creating the work. 

We found that while many organisations wish to pay the ASA recommended rates, their own funding opportunities have decreased. This, along with the declining number of literary publications accepting poetry (for example, the unexpected closure of Meanjin), means there are fewer opportunities for poets and increased pressures on publishers to lower payments to authors. Feedback also showed that despite poets feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis, many felt compelled to publish work for a reduced fee. We know that writers are generous and concerned about the difficult funding environment, but poets should consider not accepting rates below our minimum recommendations, including feeling pressured to donate fees back to an organisation. This advice is particularly salient for new or early career poets who may not feel they have the bargaining power of more established writers.

Another finding was that very few poets surveyed were paid for recordings of their work and public appearances. The ASA encourages poets to check contract arrangements where events and performances are being recorded. Your voice, thoughts, and words are your intellectual property and as such, you must be able to both share in the rewards derived from using these and understand how they might be stored and used in the future. This is particularly important as the ASA continues to monitor the development of AI and the materials being used to train these systems.  

These rates represent minimum recommended rates or ranges, irrespective of experience. For those poets who may consider themselves less experienced, we encourage you to set your rates within ASA’s recommended ranges.

Following this review, the recommended rates of pay for poetry have not been adjusted since the annual WPI increase was applied in July 2025.

Our warm thanks to the poets and industry professionals who contributed to the consultation; your feedback is greatly appreciated.