Writer's Market

[katiemac]

I'm finally going to purchase my own copy of the Writer's Market. The 2006 edition becomes available in one month, on August 10th. Amazon.com is booking the price at 34% off, the cheapest I've seen yet.

I'm curious if it's worth buying this edition or purchasing the 2005 version. The price is bound to drop after the new one is released. Right now, they stand at the same price. Even still, the 2004 version is only $12.00.

Since I haven't seen them on a year-to-year basis like some of you may have, I don't know how much changes between printings. I can't imagine much does, but I also can't find older copies to compare.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Inspired]

Active writers say that the paper copy is outdated as soon as it's printed. They tend to subscribe to the online version.

[brinkett]

You can find a lot of what's in Writer's Market on the web, and it's more up to date. There may be a site dedicated to your genre with a list of markets. You might want to google.

[James D. Macdonald]

If you're going to get WM, get the 2006 edition. What you'd save by getting 2005 wouldn't be worth it.

Always check on markets using multiple sources. The best is reading the book lines yourself, and writing to the publisher for current guidelines yourself.

[Jamesaritchie]

I'm finally going to purchase my own copy of the Writer's Market. The 2006 edition becomes available in one month, on August 10th. Amazon.com is booking the price at 34% off, the cheapest I've seen yet.

I'm curious if it's worth buying this edition or purchasing the 2005 version. The price is bound to drop after the new one is released. Right now, they stand at the same price. Even still, the 2004 version is only $12.00.

Since I haven't seen them on a year-to-year basis like some of you may have, I don't know how much changes between printings. I can't imagine much does, but I also can't find older copies to compare.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

WM online is probably the best bet, though I like having both. I haven't found Writer's Market to date nearly as much as many claim. And it's much less of a problem now than it used to be, simply because darned near every magazine and book publisher out there has a website. BUt it's still best to buy the latest edition possible.

Whether using the hardcover or the online version, a market's website should still be visited. WM sometimes makes really strange mistakes in the listings or guidelines.

[katiemac]

Whether using the hardcover or the online version, a market's website should still be visited. WM sometimes makes really strange mistakes in the listings or guidelines.

Always check on markets using multiple sources. The best is reading the book lines yourself, and writing to the publisher for current guidelines yourself.

In the past, I've used a library or loaned copy of WM to look at agents/pubs, then visited the websites of those who look promising. I figured owning a copy would make my life simpler in the next few months, but now it sounds like it's not necessary -- especially if it's going to change in another year.

[LightShadow]

I have Writer's Market, but I use it less than the web. It makes for great TP, though. They don't research what they put in there, so even after pulling names out of the book you still have to research them to avoid getting a wolf. The web has a number of sites available for that. Preditors and Editors and Writer Beware are the best out there to check potential slugging mates against.