The Writer's Handbook 2005 (Writer's Handbook (Palgrave)) [Paperback]

In the 17 years since its first appearance The Writer's Handbook has developed into a highly useful reference book for writers, journalists, publishers, editors, agents, screen writers and broadcasters. Every writer, established or aspiring, needs a contacts book and this--with its 700-plus pages of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, websites and advisory essays--is an excellent starting point.

Editor Barry Turner's damning but compelling indictment of the standard of English teaching in Britain forms the introduction to this new edition. From the 1960s onwards "teachers were encouraged to set standards by the lowest common denominator", he argues, and "the impact on English was catastrophic". Brian MacArthur, veteran journalist on and associate editor of The Times has contributed an interesting "insider" piece about book serialisations, new for the 2004 edition.

If you want to approach, say, Scottish Field, an Edinburgh-published magazine, or to access a photograph of an item in the Royal Collection, everything you need to know is here. So are the contact details for European publishers such as Standaard Uitgeverij in Antwerp and the annual Margate Poetry Festival. It's pretty eclectic and exhaustive stuff.

The Writer's Handbook is more narrowly focused than its older rival the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook because it doesn't try to cater for artists as well as writers. Perhaps that's why the handbook is more clearly laid out and somehow handier to use than the yearbook, although if you're serious about getting your work published you probably need both. --Susan Elkin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'This is a book no writer should be without' The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"'This is the book no writer should be without,' The Times; 'A wise and witty book, packed with useful information,' The Society of Authors"

Completely revised, updated and enlarged, the eighteenth edition of The Writer's Handbook contains over 6,000 entries covering every area of writing, with articles from leading representatives of the trade. In addition to the key areas of UK and US book publishers and agents, magazines, screenwriting, TV and radio, theatre, film and poetry, the guide offers invaluable expert advice on contracts, the law and finances.

The sixteenth edition of the bestselling guide to all markets for writing

Completely revised, updated and enlarged, the new edition of The Writer’s Handbook contains over 6,000 entries covering every area of writing. Key sections include book publishing in the UK and US, UK and US agents, magazines, newspapers, screenwriting, TV and radio, film and video, theatre and poetry, alongside comprehensive and up-to-date information on taxation, copyright, writers’ courses and circles, festivals, grants and bursaries, prizes and much more.

New features for this edition:

THE BROADER VIEW

Carole Blake argues that writer’s should look beyond the British market

UP, UP AND AWAY

Mick Sinclair reveals the secrets of successful travel writing

A WRITER’S DIARY

Bob G. Ritchie describes a year in progress

CURTAIN UP ON HOW TO BECOME A PLAYWRIGHT

James Roose-Evans

MAKING THE BEST OF IT

Gareth Shannon on the complexities of publishers’ contracts

PETER FINCH ON THE POETRY WARS

IAN SPRING ON TAXING THE WRITER --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Barry Turner has worked on both sides of publishing, as an editor and marketing director and as an author. His recent work includes a radio play, travel articles, serializing books for The Times. This is his eighteenth year as editor of The Writer's Handbook. He lives in north London.