Morrison’s award was presented by her longtime editor Robert Gottlieb—an author in his own right—who offered that Morrison has “made an indelible impression on everyone who has been writing in the last 40 years.” Morrison took the stage to a standing ovation. After accepting the award, she recalled her and Gottlieb’s trenchant but good-natured struggles over comma placement, and spoke of the importance of the Guild’s work providing community for authors. “The truth is, an author’s work is not merely competitive,” she said. “As strong as competition is, it is not nearly as strong or as needed as community.”

Toni Morrison Award Speech at Authors Guild Gala

Authors Guild