Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #137736 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-05
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 864 pages

Synopsis
Completely revised and updated with newly commissioned articles, "The Writer's Handbook 2006" is an indispensible companion for everyone in the writing profession. Packed full of provocative articles, useful advice, key contacts, hints and discussion, this practical, straightforward guide provides full details on the key markets. This book contains all you need to know about book publishing in the UK and US, agents, newspapers and magazines, screenwriting, TV and radio, film and video, theatre and poetry, writers' courses and circles, festivals, grants and prizes, alongside comprehensive, up-to-date information on taxation, copyright, contracts and much more. This is rounded off with two helpful indexes. New topics include: pitching and selling your ideas; the thriving market in non-fiction; the boom in comics and illustrated fiction; and a year in the life of a TV sitcom writer. 'This is the book no writer should be without' - "The Times". 'A wise and witty book, packed with useful information' - The Society of Authors.

Customer Reviews

Just to clarify....
I'd like to point out that this book is not a self-help book for amateur writers and neophytes. I was allowed the impression that this book would afford this. I should have known better; this book is an annual event which serves to throw names, numbers and addresses at those who already have work to submit. But, ne'ermind. It is comprehensive and extremely detailed. It's the business side of writing that writers generally don't want to waste their energy researching. So here it all is: publishers, agents, prizes, organisations, courses and much more. This book will most certainly save you time and energy, and possibly money and sanity too. For the tenner that I paid, it beats a crate of Red Bull and a box of Prozac.

Essential reference work for writers
The Writer's Handbook provides the comprehensive listings writers need, including publishers, literary agents, writers' courses and prizes. These are interspersed with useful essays, eg about tax and the writer. Much of this information is invaluable; a couple of hours' research on, for example, literary agents or publishers may save you months of wasted effort submitting work to unsuitable recipients. If you're serious about getting published, you need either this or the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook".

Which is better? Personally, I prefer the Writer's Handbook . But in terms of content, there's not a great deal between them. If you're unsure, check out both in a bookstore and see which layout and style you prefer.

Useful reference book
I am turning to this book regularly so it has already earned its keep.