Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, 2000-2001: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! (Paperback)

~ Jeff Herman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are those who assume that Jeff Herman's Writer's Guide is interchangeable with Kirsten C. Holm's Writer's Market. The two resource books are similar in size, heft, and appearance, but they are actually quite different beasts indeed. While Writer's Market includes listings for publishers, magazines, journals (trade, technical, and professional), and scriptwriting markets, Writer's Guide focuses exclusively on book publishers and literary agents (Writer's Digest, publisher of Writer's Market--confused yet?--puts out a separate book for literary agents, conveniently called Guide to Literary Agents). Whether you prefer one or the other depends on what you're looking for. Because his focus is narrower, Herman--a literary agent himself--is able to give his listings more depth and a larger point size. He's got room for a nice-sized entry for each publisher, describing the company and what it publishes, and listing its top acquisitions editors. In addition, Herman's listings of members of the Association of Author Representatives and a few well-chosen other agents are both thorough and personal; one gets a sense not only of what an agent does and doesn't look for in a client but also of what he or she likes to do after work. (Also available with CD-ROM.) --Jane Steinberg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The Book Author's Bible -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 984 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (October 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2877189953
• ISBN-13: 978-0761519614
• ASIN: 0761519610
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,437,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Many of the agents are considered suspect, December 20, 1999

By A Customer

Herman claims he included AAR members and a few other "good literary agents." Not all that many of those he lists are AAR members. Many are not listed in the comprehensive listing at the Preditors and Editors literary agent site. More than ten of those he lists have earned a "not recommended" ranking from the Preditors and Editors site because they charge fees or allegedly engage in other unsavory practices. Although there are enough good agents listed in the book to make the non-CD-rom version of the book worth the money, be sure to check the listings against the P&E list and the list of the Association of Author's Representatives (which is also available online). And remember: the listings that seem too good to be true -- those that say they're really open to unpublished authors and really want to see books that can be made into movies, etc. -- are too good to be true.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I did it, so can you., January 11, 2001

By	Bonnie Ramthun (Erie, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, 2001-2002: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over (Paperback)

I'm the author of two novels (Ground Zero and Earthquake Games, publisher G.P. Putnam, order them today!) and I sold my first novel using the information from Mr. Herman's book. I sold my novel unagented after many years and countless rejections. How? The same way any novelist gets published; a darned good book and a steely resolve not to give up, ever.

Do you think the corporate book world is cold, unfeeling, and unwilling to take a risk? Of course it is. But all the same every editor is desperate to find the next Clancy. You must convince them that you are a worthwhile investment. It is possible, so don't give up. And best of luck!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Writer's Guide makes writers look like pros, February 26, 1999

By	Earl H. Roberts [e-mail] "talewins" (Noble, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, 1999-2000 : Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! (Paperback)

This is my most used book for reaching the major publishing editors. Knowing editors by name is a must for writer or agent. Agents study every letter from a publisher to see who actually handled a writer's manuscript. If they don't understand why it went to that editor instead of where it was sent, they ask. That's the kind of esoteric knowledge Mr. Herman delivers into your hands.

Knowing an editor's specialty areas by reading Writer's Guide practically rolls out the red carpet for the writers I represent. It gives me the facts I need on the editors I want and provides experienced wisdom besides.

Other directories repeat or simply rearrange what the publisher spokesman offers to say. Quite often that information came from someone in marketing, someone more interested in selling books to you than BUYING books from you, not an editor. Reading their "press release" entries to discover what they really mean is almost an art form. Mr. Herman's book reveals his professional opinion, giving a profound weight to every entry. Best of all, the editors names are in the index so I can look them up when (90% of the time) they E-Me back with nothing but their name in the letter.

The only complaint I have with Writer's Guide is that it only deals with the upper echelon of publishers.