2008 Writer's Market
by Robert Brewer
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Book Reviews of 2008 Writer's Market
Book Review: A rich and valuable resource for the aspiring professional writer
Summary: 5 Stars
This annual publication is a treasure of very valuable information for anyone interested in writing for money. There is also a Deluxe Edition that provides online access to their active database with even more entries than the more than 3,500 provided here. The 2008 edition is the 87th annual version and the cover notes that more than 5 million copies have been sold. So, if you write and want to get paid you should get this book.
The first thing you want to do is get familiar with the list of symbols they used to convey how much the publication pays, how they identify key markets for the book, if it is an online opportunity, and point out key information. These explanations are inside the front and back covers as well as book mark you can cut off an advertisement letting you know you can get a 30-day free trial to the online version.
The book starts with some useful articles for the new professional writer. Some of these articles are perennials and others are new to this edition. You get information on how to freelance, how to write for newspapers, publish poetry, how to structure a query letter, how to sell a book, how to approach an agent, how to develop a career as a freelance writer for magazines, and the markets for literary agents, book publishers, Canadian book publishers, and the small presses.
The bulk of the book provides information on consumer magazines, trade journals, newspapers, screenwriting, playwriting, greeting cards, and how to approach contests and awards.
You also get good info on professional organizations for writers.
The book also provides a glossary for the terms it uses and provides an index of publishers, subject, fiction, and nonfiction as well as a general index.
I found the book interesting in its own right let alone its value as a resource.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
Book Review: Writer's Market 2008: Something every writer should own
Summary: 5 Stars
Having used previous editions of The Writer's Market in years past, I must say the 2008 edition is arguably the best to date.
The common misconception that many authors have these days is that, once they feel they have "cornered their market", they don't think they need a book that tells them about hundreds of markets for subjects they've never considered writing about. Quite to the contrary, this book is an invaluable source of information for writers of EVERY level of career success. By flipping though its pages, untapped ideas and resources for markets that many wouldn't think to look for in the first place are made easily accessible, and almost at random, providing an excellent source of creative stimulation. In my own experience (and on many occasions), I have found myself wondering "why haven't I tried writing about (insert new subject here) sooner?"
Aside from being resourceful to writers seeking new markets, there are detailed listings of agents, publishers, and even standard suggested rates of pay for various freelance jobs. Lastly, beginning and intermediate writers will no doubt find the opening commentaries from established writers both enjoyable and invaluable.
Altogether, any writer who suggests that they've got all their bases covered already might still consider picking up a copy of this book. A writer should write; this book helps you find ways to spend more time doing just that, and less time trying to figure out what to write about, where to sell it, and who could possibly help you land the next contract.
Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 1 Stars
The Writers' Market has long been the place I have gone to research small literary magazines in the U.S. It has been the backbone of such information for me. However, this year I am very disappointed with the Market. I went to it looking to find out if a certain literary review was still up and running, and what I found was that Writers' Market no longer has a section for small magazines. If America is bent on killing its small magazines and dealing the final death blow to the poetry market, I am sorry to say the Writers' Market has its hand swinging the axe. A flippant introductory essay by a woman whose last name--I think--is Breen advises poets to get "a reality check" because since there is no money to be made in poetry, evidently, it's not worth anybody's time (or space in the Writers' Market 2008). She also advises poets to make like Emily Dickenson and write poems for the sake "of writing good poems" and forget about publishing books of poetry. She admonishes the public in general, and poets in specific, for not spending their money on works of poetry. Those may be her views, and such may be the case in America, but there are still poets in our nation. Poetry and poetry writing is still being taught in our educational institutions, small magazines still exist in America, writers still publish in them, readers still read them, and poetry is still one of humanity's most basic, most intimate forms of communication. I hope the editors will rethink their position in the next editions. Bring back the support of America's small magazines.
Book Review: Helped me to get my publisher
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought 5 books to help me find an agent or publisher, and Writers Market ended up being the book that helped me find my publisher because of the online features. The fact that it had my publisher in it helped too! I was able to track my submissions for many months, which was good, since it took my publisher one year to finally call me up and tell me they wanted to publish my young adult fantasy book, Paraworld Zero. So if you're going to buy this book, I suggest you also use the online service from Writer's Market.
All of the books I bought were basically in the same format, but Writers Market had way more in it. However, if you're just looking for a specific function, like agents, then you might want to buy a book specifically on that, since you'll get more articles and tips on that subject... and you'll probably save some money. Writers Market has helpful articles, but since the book covers so many areas, they might not have enough articles on your topic.
One tip I'll suggest is to ALWAYS go to the publisher or agent's website before submitting, since the info you read in Writer's Market might be old. For example, Writers Market (the 2004 version) said that my publisher didn't do children's books, but if you go to my publisher's site, half of their books are children's books! Publishers and agents often will give you additional instructions on their sites that will help better your chances of not getting rejected by them.
Book Review: YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED
Summary: 4 Stars
Back in 1991, I was studying creative writing under a published author. The one thing we learned was to expect an average 70 rejections no matter if were beginners or seasoned pros. So if you write something, and you send it to be published, and it is rejected...DON'T GIVE UP!!!
With that in mind let me say that this book is one of, if not THE most, respected publications in its field. There are literally over 1000 different publishers of various types of material in this huge book. Publishers of both fiction and nonfiction, publishers of books as well as magazine publishers, complete with addresses and in some cases, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites.
This huge publication houses some of the most respected names in writing, which is another bonus of this book. You get "THE BIG BOYS", plus you get smaller publishers. Publishers of religious material, porn, poetry, short stories, novels, history, sports, hobbies, and much much more. Another bonus of this fine publication, is that it has tips for how to increase your chances of being published as well as notes some of the legal aspects of the art.
My first two articles I had printed and PAID for, were the result of sending my material to publishers in this handy guide.
So if you're looking for an publication that will greatly increase your chances of getting published, you need this long time established tool.