Writer's Market / writersmarket.com

M.R.J. Le Blanc said:

I think places like Writer's Digest don't really screen things like this. That's why it's always so important to do lots of cross-checking. Even the Writer's Guide that comes out every year isn't a 100% reliable source.

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I can understand it might be difficult to vet everything that comes across their desks but when they regularly include xlibris, iUniverse, and Publish America as potential publishers, something's not right.

Well I'm looking for work. They could hire me to check out the background of the people who submit themselves to their list

Well, considering what I write is on most of their DO NOT WANT lists, I can't see how any of them want my work.

writersmarket.com (merged into existing BR&BC thread)

I'm not trying to do a commercial for them or anything, but does anyone recommend using writermarket.com? It has a monthly fee, but according to my google searches its the best way to get an agent.

Should i give them my $

The best way to get an agent is to write a really good book then submit it to the most appropriate agencies.

Writers' Market might help you identify those appropriate agencies, but there are other similar listings and services which will do the job for you for free. Look for agents who represent the sort of books you write (perhaps by finding out who represents authors who write like you), and agents who have a history of making solid sales for their author-clients.

Good, free way to do that: go to Amazon or Smashwords. Look up recently published authors you like (or envy, or both) in your genre. Select the 'see inside' or 'view sample' sections. Look at the first few pages of the book - author dedications often cite agents.

Publishers' Marketplace often has good info in the free browsing sections, but I dream of the day I can afford to buy a subscription.

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/

Abra-ca-necro!

I'm just looking around, trying to get a feel for good ways to start the query process. I ran into the writersmarket.com web page, and I'm just wondering if anyone has any more recent commentary on them, or if maybe anyone has a subscription?

WritersMarket: the book vs. The website

Quick question.

To find a good publishers list, is the WritersMarket book the right way to go or should I become a member of their site and access their up to date list on the site?

or is there another and beter option.

thank you all!

I'd suggest using an on-line source rather than a print one. Checking out an old copy will give you a place to start, but you're going to have to research the current state of the publisher on-line anyway.

The (Submission) Grinder might be another place to check out. I just did an advanced search looking for places that accept novels, and it brought up 198 results, from the smallest of the small to Baen and Avon. Again, once you have the list you're going to have to vet the publishers yourself.