I received my new 2012 Writer’s Market this week. It sure has a different look. There are a lot more pages of instruction and guidance, which is nice for many who will pick this book up. In fact, the help material would fill a regular size book. It encompasses over 200 pages.
There are new symbols to get used to—a plus sign instead of an N signifying new to this edition publishers and magazines, an arrow showing an online opportunity and a little comment balloon dealy that is supposed to indicate comments from the editor of Writer’s Market. At least some of these, however, actually note comments from the publisher or editor of the listing.
The print for magazine titles and publisher names is lighter and the format different than I am used to. I’m not sure I like it, but I will get used to it.
I soooo miss the Book Publishers Subject Index. Do you remember this in the 2010 and a few earlier editions of the Writer’s Market? I thought this was a most useful tool for authors who were seeking publishers of children’s books, mysteries, western stories, self-help and so forth.
It was also the 2010 edition whose page numbers were askew. The Subject Index listing might say the publisher was on page 285, but it was actually on 286. This was a problem throughout this section.
The Writer’s Market has been informing and guiding authors and writers for ninety-one years. I’ve been purchasing Writer’s Market for thirty-nine years. And boy do I use it. I used it probably daily when I was supporting myself through magazine article-writing, especially before the advent of the Internet, which didn’t come into my life until around 1996. And I use it still on behalf of clients and students who are seeking a publisher or an appropriate magazine to send something to. I use it as a research tool while compiling the SPAWN Market Update. I refer to it often when I am writing certain articles and books and I recommend it frequently to anyone who is seeking a publisher or an appropriate magazine.
For those of you who are new to the world of publishing and freelance article/story writing, Writer’s Market lists publishers who are seeking manuscripts. You’ll find contact information, the type of material they are looking for, tips for submitting to each particular publishing house and website listings where you can locate additional information. You’ll also find consumer and trade magazine listings in all categories—literary, juvenile, regional, business, fashion, association, management, health, auto, animals, general interest and so forth.
While there is a whole lot of information contained in each listing, I always recommend that you do not approach a publisher or a magazine editor until you have studied that particular publisher or magazine Submission Guidelines. Generally, you’ll find these at the publisher’s or magazine’s website. If they are not there, email the editor and ask for a copy.
Sometimes it is difficult to locate submission guidelines on a publisher’s website. In my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, on page 24, I give fairly detailed instructions for locating submission guidelines when they are not obvious. And there are a whole lot of publishers who seem to do their best to conceal these guidelines. What are they thinking?
Order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book at a discount here: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Get your copy of the 2012 Writer’s Market at http://www.writersmarket.com or at your local bookstore or through Amazon.com
I don’t think there’s a more useful book for beginning writers. I don’t pick it up every year, but the ones I have bought I have kept.