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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
For better or worse, an essential resource, December 28, 2001
I have to admit that I've always had mixed feelings about the various market guides put out by Writer's Digest. While the information and market listings within were (and are) indispensable, it always annoyed me how the editors broke down their listings into so many seperate -- and at times rather costly books. (Or at least at the time, when I was first trying to survive on occasionally selling a short story for five cents a word, they seemed overpriced for a set of books targeted exclusively at aspiring writers.) However, all that aside, these annual books are probably the most valuable tools that any writer -- especially one who is just starting to send his work out -- can purchase. Not only are the listings remarkably varied and thorough but the advise within is usually very helpful, realistic, and straight forward. It was the Writer's Market that taught me how to write a convincing cover letter and it was also in the Writer's Market that I found the first magazine to ever accept one of my short stories. Plus, this year, with the online edition, the book offers the most up-to-date listings possible which cuts down on my least favorite occupational risk, waiting five months for a reply that simply reads, "We're sorry but The Monthly Quarterly Review Of Words, Comma, and Stuff has temporarily suspended publication." One warning, however. Most of the information in the listings is provided by the magazines themselves and often, they will be deliberately vague when describing the type of writing they're looking for. Though the writer's market is an excellent way to find potential leads, most writers will still save themselves a lot of time and frustration by mailing off a few bucks and getting a sample issue. That may sound like a given but its still good advice to hear. (And I say that as the former fresh-faced young writer who once had six short stories rejected by a magazine before finally spending a few bucks for a sample copy and discovering that I'd been trying to get my nostalgic tales of growing up in Texas published in a hardcore porno mag.)
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Writers: You Need This Book/CD, November 26, 2000
This review is from: 2001 Writer's Market: The Internet Edition (Paperback)
As the editor of Demensions, a sci-fi/fantasy webzine devoted to showcasing up and coming authors, I highly recommend this package. While the book, as other reviewers have mentioned, is basically just a reference tool, the CD gives you a year's free access to WritersMarket.com, the book's website, which is always being updated and has a great number of tools to help the fledgling, or even professional, author. If you are trying to get published, regardless of genre, you need to purchase this set. It's worth the combo price, as well as the time, to get yourself set up on the website. Obviously, if you're thinking of getting this book and CD, you are a writer who's serious about being published. To you, I give a hearty "Good luck!"
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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource, September 9, 2000
This review is from: 2001 Writer's Market: The Internet Edition (Paperback)
An excellent resource for any writer. You get the book, plus a one-year subscription to the web site which is constantly updated. Despite what other reviewers might mention, there is no extra fee at the web site. You _can_ subscribe at the site without buying the book. But if you buy the book, you get access to the site with no additional fees, according to Barbara Kuroff, speaking at the Columbus Writer's Conference 9/9/00.
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