Customer Reviews

2002 Writer's Market Online

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.)

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!"

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.

This book is exactly what it's title says -- and no more. It IS a reference book to an internet tool. The good thing is that by using the updated internet database, the information can be kept current. The advantages of this book (website) are accessible without buying the book. If You are looking for an improved version of the electronic versions of 1999 & 2000, do not look here. You cannot do offline tasks like submission tracking, market lists and reports, you cannot, in fact, (unless you count holding the book on your lap and reading it)use it unless you are on the net -- where you don't need it! I feel let down. I was looking forward to the 2001 electronic edition; I was looking forward to the updating that I would be able to do to supplement my offline work. Now, I am at the mercy of old telephone lines, slow ISPs and occassionally gridlocked nets. What took twenty minutes in the earlier version can take over an hour now. More thought should have gone into this, a lot more. The net functions are fine but they through out a lot of very helpful features when they through out the electronic edition.

There are few events in life that I look forward to more than receiving my shiny new Writer's Market each year. Once again, the good people at Writer's Digest Books have outdone themselves. This exhaustively researched book contains more than 8,000 places to sell your work-- what more could you ask for? Oh! How about pricing guidelines, expert advice, info about agents, writing contests, syndicates, organizations for writers...

I mean it most earnestly when I tell you I wouldn't have a career without this book. And ever since I got the online version, I'm not sure how I lived without it. I use it every day to keep track of my submissions. It even tells me when it's time to follow up on a query, and allows me to record notes about different markets-- I can punch in my deadlines, payment info, contact names, etc.

Of all the books in the world, this is the only one that I can say with full confidence is an absolute necessity to those who want to make a career of their writing. The price is meager compared to its benefits. No matter what you write, you'll find markets for it here.

--Jenna Glatzer, Editor-in-Chief, AbsoluteWrite.com

If you're looking for a powerful extension to the yearly guide to publishers and editors, look no further than the "2002 Writer's Market Online." The online edition is a direct link to your writing career. Not only do you get everything contained in the standard print edition, but you also get access to a feature-filled site.

You can search a database of over 4,000 publishers and agents looking for your work. Listings are always up-to-date with the latest submission guidelines, contact info and current needs.

The Submission Tracker is an excellent tool for recording your submissions, tracking responses and even gauging yearly income and taxes. The Tips Library is full of industry help for the seasoned professional as well as the aspiring writer. Tips on agents, queries, manuscripts and more are all covered by leading publishing experts.

One of the most helpful features is Your Writer's Market. Once you register, you're asked to fill out a personal profile. When changes are made to the publisher and agent listings that are in your specified niche, you'll be notified so you can stay on top of your writing game.

Any writer, especially a freelancer, who constantly sends out queries and manuscripts, needs to have the "2002 Writer's Market Online." The tools offered are invaluable and can help save you both time and money.

To many people writing is a hobby, a special interest, an expression of deep thought, and to others a profession - and a paycheck. Whatever oneswriting endeavors are intended for, there are many ways to express oneself and many avenues to getting work seen by others. 2002 Writer's Market Online edited by Kirsten Holm and published by Writer's Digest is one of the most exhaustive printed resources available today for getting work published, to get your name out, and to get paid for doing it!

This mammoth 1112-page book features thousands of publishing opportunities - the names, contact information, and publishing guidelines for book and magazine publishers, literary agents, and companies accepting business and education writing, greeting card writing, playwriting, and screenwriting works. National and regional publications cover topics such as beauty, business, entertainment, finance, health, history, hobbies, journalism, music, nature, parental guidance, pets, religion, romance, science fiction, sports, technology, and the travel industry. Readers will also learn about hundreds of literary contests and awards that will bring in money and create name recognition that's important and often necessary to launch and maintain writing careers.

Readers also have at their fingertips solid writing advice that will help them get their work noticed. Contributors to this fine work offer guidance on handling contracts and agreements, major copyright concerns, setting writing fees, writing query letters, manuscript formatting, submitting manuscripts, finding online and offline markets, syndicating columns, writing for the online market, and publishing on the Web. Special insider reports sprinkled throughout the book offer readers additional insight on other topics important to writers.

2002 Writer's Market Online features full access to Writer's Digest's www.WritersMarket.com Website that features the full electronic edition of the printed book, additional listings, updated listings, an electronic newsletter, and additional writing helps and tools able to enhance anyone's writing career. Persons buying the book receive a full one-year subscription to this very helpful online service. This book and the accompanying Website are indispensable reference works for members of the freelance writing profession. These two resources provide up-to-date information about the people they need to know to powerfully advance their writing careers. They are highly recommended reading!

A must-have for working and aspiring writers alike. Beginners will find the articles helpful, working pros need the listings.

FYI: The listings makes side-by-side comparisons practically impossible, so I recommend inputting the information on your computer, then formatting it as a table. Pricing guidelines are sometimes inconsistent (average pay is listed as above-average and vice versa) and some small sections look as if they went directly to press without proofreading. Online updates more than compensate for such minor considerations.

Each year, Writer's Market has improved the electronic version, making it an even better tool. While the book is great, the CD makes searching, databasing and planning much, much easier. For a working writer, there is no better tool than Writer's Market, especially the CD version.

This book covers everything you need to know as a freelance writer. The layout of the book is excellent, and organized so that anyone can quickly find what they are looking for. Every question that you have will be answered within the 1,112 pages of this book. Using this resource, you will not only learn what to do to sell your work but you will also learn what you should not do. Yes, this book has an incredible listing of markets but it also teaches you how to effectively prepare and submit your work to these markets.