Product Description

The bestselling guide to markets in all areas of the media, completely revised and updated, and this year in its 102nd edition. New articles include: Foreword by Kate Mosse Notes from a successful mind, body and spirit author - William Bloom Notes from a successful cross genre writer - Neil Gaiman Notes from a passionate poet - Benjamin Zephaniah Writing for soaps - Mary Cutler Ebooks - Stephen Cole Books published from blogs - Scott Pack Contains information on a huge range of topics including copyright, finance, submitting a manuscript, e-publishing, prizes and awards. 'Never give up, never become discouraged, and set right to it, with the Yearbook your shining armour, your sword!' Alexander McCall Smith 'Even established writers can feel as though they're climbing a mountain. Think of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook as your sherpa' - Ian Rankin 'Full of useful stuff. It answered my every question' - JK Rowling

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63590 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 832 pages

Review
"The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2009 is a must-have publication for anyone wanting to break into the publishing industry" Birmingham Post, July 2008 "What makes the book an outstandingly good buy is the many articles about every aspect of getting published... Highly recommended for all writers and artists, this really is an essential companion for all writers." Writersservices.com (24th September 2008) ' Essential for research ' Press Gazette (Jan 2009)

Ian Rankin
Even established writers can feel as though they're climbing a mountain. Think of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook as your sherpa.

JK Rowling
Full of useful stuff. It answered my every question'

Customer Reviews

Excellent guide - informative and comprehensive
"The Writers' and Artist's Yearbook" (W&AY), published by A&C Black, has a long-standing reputation as a 'must-have' for any writer looking to get into publication. While a number of similar books now exist - including "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), published by Macmillan, and "Writer's Market" (WM), published by David & Charles Ltd - W&AY remains the original font of knowledge, and for me, the premier choice.

All of these books contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, producers etc, and in truth there is little to choose between them. Indeed the competition is gradually catching up, and it is notable that TWH has undergone a major facelift for this year. Of course a lot will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the different books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better.

What makes the W&AY stand out is the wealth of advice it contains (nearly 200 pages' worth) from professional writers, publishers, agents and producers. In separate articles, famous authors such as Joanna Trollope, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell and J.K. Rowling address various aspects of the writing process and discuss a wide variety of genres. Many other highly informative pieces cover diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing your book, writing for TV, radio and theatre, the electronic world of websites and e-publishing, and financial aspects such as tax. This makes the W&AY more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing. Much overlooked is of course the fact that this is a yearbook for artists too. Correspondingly there are sections for the budding illustrator and photographer in the W&AY which are not to be found in the other guides.

There is much that is new for 2009, too. Although a couple of articles have been dropped, 7 new ones have been added, as well as a fresh foreword by Kate Mosse (author of "Labyrinth" and "Sepulchre", among other works). These new articles cover a range of topics, including: mind, body and spirit writing; e-books; and books published from blogs. There are also new pieces from Neil Gaiman, celebrated poet Benjamin Zephaniah, and Radio 4's "The Archers" scriptwriter Mary Cutler. Is it worth upgrading to the 2009 edition, then? For the articles alone - fascinating though they are - probably not. On the other hand, the advantage of having fully up-to-date listings counts for a great deal, especially if you are already looking for an agent or publisher. And at the price it is currently being offered by Amazon, it is surely a worthwhile investment.

All in all, this is an excellent and comprehensive guide. Definitely recommended for the aspiring writer or artist.

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook Has Come a Long Way
Back in the nineties this book was half the size it is now. To people who aspire to create for a living, the revised hefty tome is probably the bible you need by your bedside. Every time I pick it up it gives me a buzz, because I feel the key to a new and exciting career is right here at my fingertips. So much info! The tips from established authors are like gold dust.

An Invaluable guide
This book is a compendium of information. It provided details of publishing houses, literary agents, magazines and also provides essays from well known names to help you achieve success. The listings are easy to navigate and relevant information is included so that those trying to place their work don't waste time contacting people who don't deal with their line of work. I have used this book practically when trying to place work and it has helped me to match my work with the right people. A must buy.