Customer Reviews

2002 Writer's Market: 8,000 Editors Who Buy What You Write

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I did learn one or two things from this book, so I don't wholly regret purchasing it, but I do NOT use it as a market guide. I have found that it is not nearly as up-to-date as the editors would like you to think; to be truly up-to-date, it would need to be a monthly or at least quarterly publication. Frankly, it is much easier (and cheaper) to find current short fiction market information on-line. For example, Writer's Digest's website maintains a free catalog of market guidelines.
So, if you are a short fiction writer looking for market information, don't buy this book, but if you are looking for information on how the publishing world thinks and works, this may provide some general insights.

As one of several freelance writers throughout the country contacted recently to do a professional review of this book for the publisher, I expected to find some changes from last's years version. The primary question I was ready to ask was if those changes being made in this version were made simply for the sake of making this edition different from its predecessor, or would there be enough real, viable, beneficial additions to an already outstanding book to make a hard-working, penny-pinching freelance writer buy a new copy. The answer was rather quickly answered as I thoroughly examined the book, and I was most pleasantly surprised at the changes actually made in this edition. Somehow Senior Editor Kirsten Holm (and the obvious multitude of others who worked on this edition) managed to find a number of subtle and not-so-subtle ways to improve a book that is almost beyond improvement. Writers Market has been, and still is, THE basic reference volume for any writer working in the magazine market, and it is an excellent resource book for any writer need information on publishers in the U.S. or Canada. This year's version now includes the addition of a section on literary agents, and although I'm not sure about its inclusion, like the rest of the book it too is well done (I have a personal problem with the rather large number of books in the writing marketplace that don't include many of the hard-working smaller agents - mine included). That said, this year's Writer's Market is worth a serious look, especially if your last year's version is as dog-earred, yellow-lined and worn as it should be if you are using it properly. Final comments? I feel so strongly about this year's version that even before I was contacted about reviewing the book, I had already purchased one. And the sample provided me for review? It now resides in our local library's reference section so the many "new" writers in my area can have access to a major reference book until they decide they need one of their own.

At over 1000 pages, Writer's Market is one of the most comprehensive resources you can buy on writing. It provides contact information and guidelines for thousands of publishing opportunities, contests, agents, contacts of all kinds. It's an invaluable resource when it comes to selling your writing. As other reviewers have said, you probably already know about this book if you're an established writer. But if not, how do you know if the Writer's Market is going to provide you with what you need to get published?

What some new writers don't know is that there are multiple versions of Writer's Market out there. I bought my first copy years ago, only to get it home and find that it wasn't going to be much help in selling my short stories. I needed a different version. Naively, I assumed that "Writer's Market" meant that it covers markets for all types of writers. That's not necessarily true. Here's what it does cover:

Literary agents - Writer's Digest Books also offers a separate book entitled "Guide to Literary Agents."

Book publishers - Writer's Digest Books also offers a separate book entitled "Novel and Short Story Writer's Market."

Consumer and trade magazines - The most comprehensive listing I've found to date.

Playwriting and scriptwriting - Although the entries here are far from comprehensive. There are specific books on play and screenplay markets that I've found to be much more useful. There just wasn't enough information here.

Greeting card and gift ideas

If you're writing in another niche, you may find these books helpful:

Poet's Market
Novel and Short Story Writer's Market
Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market

I used to purchase Writer's Market every year because it is such a handsome book and I wanted to imagine myself a writer. When I finally got serious and decided to write, I sat down with my WM and found everything I needed to get my book published. From WM I found a small house that published the kind of books I was trying to write. I put together a manuscript, cover letter and marketing plan with the very details I found in WM. My book, "I'll Carry the Fork! Recovering a Life After Brain Injury" was published in 1999. Please believe that, when you add Writer's Market to a dream and a commitment to hard work and determination, you have all the tools to find yourself a published author. It's the real deal. Don't pass up this gift to yourself.

Writer's Market is a must for any beginning, established, or student writer who wants to be published.

It is a required text for my Freelance Writing students. They utilize Writer's Market's essays to improve their manuscripts, and they use its resources to research and place their work.

Last year, a student submitted her piece on Wednesday, revised it and mailed Friday, and received an acceptance Monday. Others placed theirs quickly as well.

When they follow the advice of Writer's Market, students learn marketable writing skills.

I did, they do, you can, too, when you purchase Writer's Market.

When Writer's Market was first recommended to me years ago as a necessary tool in the quest for publication, I reluctantly paid my money, expecting another dry reference manual that would occupy space on my shelf and do little for me. Boy, was I wrong! I have since bought each new edition, and the 2001 version is the best yet.

This book is loaded with articles that go beyond helpful to the point of inspiring. It contains complete instructions on manuscript formatting. Beginning writers often have no appreciation for the stiff odds they face in getting published--even with a perfectly formatted manuscript. Submissions that don't follow the guidelines laid out so clearly in Writer's Market simply scream "amateur," and wipe out what little chance you had.

And there is no other place to find such a complete and well organized listing of agents and publishers. It tells you who they are, what they are looking for, how to submit your proposal, and where to send it.

I believe my book would never have been published had I not used Writer's Market. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

If you want to start selling your writing, or to get published you need this book.

I wrote that sentence with the new writer in mind because it's hard to imagine an experienced writer who does not know about this book.

I've been buying Writer's Market for over 24 years. About 24 years ago, I sold my first freelance article to a national magazine. It was directly due to Writer's Market-- due to the solid nuts and bolts information you get, updated each year.

The book lists thousands of magazines, publishers and agents and the key info you need to intelligently contact them. You get chapter/articles which advise you on how to research a publisher before making contact, and then, how to submit your writing queries. Then, it lists thousands of magazines, categorizing them by demographics, subject matter, regions, etc. They give you the pay rates, lengths of the articles or stories, they seek, topics they are extra interested in, who to contact, how to get a sample copy and writer's guidelines. They tell you whether the publication accepts simultaneous submissions or e-mail proposals, and if they want S.A.S.E.s And if you don't understand all those terms, they provide a glossary of writer's terminology.

Since I started buying Writer's Market, (and the monthly magazine also published by the same company, Writer's Digest) I have had articles published in Success, OMNI (10 articles in OMNI alone) Family Health, and cover articles in Writer's Digest (on coming up with article ideas) and the National Enquirer (on arthritis pain relief and on vitamins)

Since I write on topics that grab my interest, it's important that I have a fast way to access info which publications cover which topics. This book does the job.

The publishing world changes so fast you need to keep up with current information. This is one book that you should not save your pennies on by buying an older used edition of an earlier year.

A common sob story of the writing business is you start with an editor who loves your work, only to submit your finished assignment to a new editor who has replaced the editor you signed on with. This book keeps you much more up-to-date on contact info.

For many years Writer's Market was a tremendous resource for me, both as an aspiring novelist and a free lancer. Much of my writing has been for government agencies and Writer's Market gave me a lot of crucial information regarding writing proposals, keeping track of expenses and submissions. Writers market encouraged me to join writer's groups, take classes and attend conferences. Now as a publisher Writer's Market is a resource for us as we put out a call to authors. Writer's Market opened a new world for me as an author, and is helping us become known in the world of publishing.

If you want to get published, or find new markets for your writing, you need this book.

I've been buying Writer's Market for over 22 years. About 22 years ago, I sold my first freelance article to a national magazine. It was directly due to Writer's Market-- due to the solid nuts and bolts information you get, updated each year.

The book lists thousands of magazines, publishers and agents and the key info you need to intelligently contact them. You get chapter/articles which advise you on how to research a publisher before making contact, and then, how to submit your writing queries. Then, it lists thousands of magazines, categorizing them by demographics, subject matter, regions, etc. They give you the pay rates, lengths of the articles or stories, they seek, topics they are extra interested in, who to contact, how to get a sample copy and writer's guidelines. They tell you whether the publication accepts simultaneous submissions or e-mail proposals, and if they want S.A.S.E.s And if you don't understand all those terms, they provide a glossary of writer's terminology.

Since I started buying Writer's Market, (and the monthly magazine also published by the same company, Writer's Digest) I have had articles published in Success, OMNI (10 articles in OMNI alone) Family Health, and cover articles in Writer's Digest (on coming up with article ideas) and the National Enquirer (on arthritis pain relief and on vitamins)

Since I write on topics that grab my interst, it's important that I have a fast way to access info which publications cover which topics. This book does the job. I've recently begun writing poetry, so it was only natural that I got the same publisher's counterpart publication on Poetry. It was a fun read and helped me find a website that accepted two of my poems right away, plus, it reminded me of a publication I subscribe to, which I didn't think of for submitting poetry to.

Writers of all experience levels have been relying on the yearly edition of Writer's Market since 1921. This guide to editors and publishers has been considered the bible for every type of writer. The 2002 Writer's Market is no exception.

Romance writers. Poets. Nonfiction writers. Whether you're looking to publish the next bestseller, sell your screenplay or a magazine article, you'll find complete contact information and updated editorial needs within the updated version.

This year's guide contains:

* 75 Literary Agents
* Over 1,000 New Publishing Opportunities
* More Than 1,900 Magazines
* 700+ Contests
* 6,500 Telephone and Fax Numbers
* 6,500 Email Addresses and Web Sites

But it's not just a book filled with editors looking for your work. Articles on point of view, novel proposals, the instructive query letter clinic and much more give you the extra edge in getting published. This year, there's a special focus on electronic outlets. You'll find articles on e-query etiquette, protecting your rights and online markets looking for your work.

Finding a publisher couldn't be easier. From small presses to major publishing houses, everything you need to achieve your publishing dreams is right at your fingertips. With over 1,000 pages of vital information, 100 percent updated, the 2002 Writer's Market is the best edition yet.