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Inside the Cover Book Review Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
2006 Writer's Market Kathryn S. Brogan, ed. Writer's Digest Books 2005 1184 pp. Writing reference
A perennial publication now in its 85th year, Writer's Market remains a solid workhorse on the desk of almost any freelance writer, novelist or author looking to sell her work. The stylish, classic-looking cover of the 2006 edition boasts 4,000 listings, more than 600 of them new. From book publishers and literary agents to consumer and trade publications, Writer's Market is well-worth the $30 investment, especially for writers early in their careers.
Writer's Market, in addition to its famous listings, also includes brief articles and interviews on the craft and business of writing. Beginning writers can use their Writer's Market as a writing primer-- how to write a query letter, how to write a book proposal, rights information, and e-mail etiquette. More experienced writers will turn to the book for tips on finding time to write, successful book signings, writer's block, conducting online PR, and a handy chart of the going rate for just about any kind of writing assignment imaginable (from speechwriting to business film scripts, anthology editing to corporate histories, grant writing to gag writing, and more). Contests and awards are also included.
Listings for publishers, agents, and publications are readily indexed, both at the back of the book and with tabbed pages. The format of each listing is clean and easy-to-use, providing writers with the essential information they'll need to decide if a market is worth pursuing. In addition to the expected contact information, pay rates or advances, query instructions, and the percentage of freelance material used, listings often give the reader an idea a good idea of the publication's tone and style, including tips on how to break into a particular market.
Writer's Market is heavily oriented toward U.S. publishers and magazines. Canadian and other international book publishers are listed in a separate section; Canadian and other international magazines are not listed separately, nor are they indexed separately; they are however, marked with a special symbol to differentiate them from the other listings. Subsidy publishers are not included; Writer's Market specifically warns writers against any publisher that expects writers to pay for any part of the costs associated with publishing the book (i.e., editing services, printing, advertising, etc.).
Writer's Market is a wonderful resource for writers, but for experienced freelancers, novelists, and authors with an established niche, it may be of more limited usefulness. For example, if you know you have no interest in writing a book, then there's a whole 200+ page section of the book you'll never use. If your professional specialty is writing for trade publications, keeping a book on your desk in which it's unlikely that you'll refer to the one-quarter of it or more may not be worth it. Playwrights and screenwriters will find even fewer listings of use to them. However for writers with broad writing goals, Writer's Market is an invaluable, time-saving tool for targeting submissions to the appropriate agent, publisher, or editor.
Amy Brozio-Andrews is a freelance writer and book reviewer. She brings more than five years' experience as a readers' advisory librarian to her work, which is regularly published by Library Journal, The Imperfect Parent, and Absolute Write. Her reviews have also been published by The Absinthe Literary Review, ForeWord Magazine, January Magazine, and Melt Magazine. Amy is also the managing editor and an international markets columnist for Absolute Write. Visit her online at http://www.amyba.com.
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