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Writers & Artists 09 | Reviews

The Writer's Handbook 2009

A & C BlackClick for A & C Black Publishers Publishers References listing, Paperback 832 pages

£14.99

 
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'But what makes the book an outstandingly good buy is the many articles about every aspect of getting published.'

 

'Just dipping into the book reveals its riches'

 

 

'Highly recommended for all writers and artists, this really is an essential companion for all writers.'

 

The new edition of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook does its usual thorough job of listing every conceivable useful thing for writers and artists. The listings are thoroughly updated every year and provide an invaluable source of information about publishers and writers, with overseas listings, as well as British, of publishers and agents.

But what makes the book an outstandingly good buy is the many articles about every aspect of getting published. Existing articles are added to each year to broaden and deepen the coverage and new articles this year include ‘Notes from a passionate poet’ by performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah and ‘Ebooks’ by founder and CEO of EBooks corporation.

Just dipping into the book reveals its riches, which include famous writers on the genre they write in and articles on writing for magazines and newspapers. ‘Understanding the publishing process’ comes from Bill Swainson of Bloomsbury and Michael Schmidt of Carcanet covers ‘Getting poetry published’.

A classic piece from the late Giles Gordon covers ‘The role of the literary agent’ and Philippa Milnes-Smith, President of the UK’s Association of Authors’ Agents, writes on ‘How to get an agent’.

In the 832 pages of the Writers and Artists’ Yearbook you will find everything you might want to know about the business of getting published.

This year’s Foreword is by Kate Mosse, the author of Labyrinth, who offers this advice: ‘Just write. Start now. And, if you’re lucky, the rest will follow.’

Highly recommended for all writers and artists, this really is an essential companion for all writers.

 

Reviewed by Chris HolifieldManaging director of WritersServices; spent working life in publishing,employed by everything from global corporations to start-ups; track record includes: editorial director of Sphere Books, publishing director of The Bodley Head, publishing director for start-up of upmarket book club, The Softback Preview, editorial director of Britain’s biggest book club group, BCA, and, most recently, deputy MD and publisher of Cassell & Co. She is also currently the Director of the Poetry Book Society; During all of this time aware of problems faced by writers, as publishing changed from idiosyncratic cottage industry, 'occupation for gentlemen', into corporate business of today. Writers encountered increasing difficulty in getting books edited or published. Authors create the books which are the raw material for the whole business. She believes it is time to bring them back to centre stage.

© Chris Holifield 2008

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