Customer Reviews

Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, 2002-2003 (with CD-ROM): Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over!

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This is a great tool. I have been using it for years. But I take exception to one particular statement in the book. The author claims it is much easier to get an agent to look at your work than an editor. In my experience, this is totally false. In fact, I have found it is 10 times easier to get an editor to read my stuff than an agent. I guess the author is biased in this respect, since he himself is also an agent.

This is a huge and expensive book. It's also, for my purposes, terribly out of date. Several of the agents I've contacted have moved or are longer in the business. It has some very good features such as the advice section but I could've gotten the same advice for free from the internet. As other reviewers have noted there is an easier and cheaper way to get writing information. Pick up a book that is similar to the stuff that you write. Go to the dedication or thanks page and read it. Many authors thanks their agents and editors. Write down those names and track them down. It takes more time but it's easier on your pocketbook and will probably be more accurate.

Next year I will by the Writer's Market book instead.

When I marketed work for Writers' Showplace I always used Jeff Herman's book as a reference. Now that Writers' Showplace has closed its door I've opened another business, The Writer's Guide.Com and I still have Mr. Herman's book close at hand.

First off the CD only works in PCs not Macs -- this information is not provided. Second, you are given the impression you will get a usable database from the CD, but there is no such thing... save your money and go out to dinner and a movie you'll learn a lot more