Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2005 2005 [Paperback]

The publication of Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is an annual event as regular and as cheerfully welcome in its red jacket as Father Christmas. Here is the usual feast of information, fully updated for 2004, about getting your writing or artwork published; but this year the cover has a sleeker, more modern, design. The content layout has had a smart makeover too. Now it's less cluttered and easier to read.

Eoin Colfer, the novelist who writes this year's foreword, observes "Every possible scrap of information needed by the upcoming or established writer is included". And it certainly isn't just a list of publishers--although of course they're there. There are also listings relating to film, TV and radio and theatre producers as well as a remarkably detailed list of newspaper and magazines both in Britain and elsewhere in the English speaking world, along with dozens of helpful articles. Then there are sections on copyright, finance, societies, prizes, festivals and picture research. And for this, the 97th edition, there are new articles on ghost-writing, adaptation and distribution.

Where else could you find, in one compact volume, a list of magazines and newspapers that accept cartoons, full instructions for proof correction, contact details for artists' residencies in Tuscany and an advisory article about getting poetry published? If you have the remotest idea that you might ever attempt to sell even the most modest written fragment or the tiniest photograph or drawing then you'd better buy this first. --Susan Elkin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Writers’ and Artists Yearbook is back for its annual appearance. It’s kept the shiny bright-red, chunky housebrick look of 2004 and remains, as last year’s novelist commentator Eoin Colfer observed, rammed with "every possible scrap of information needed by the upcoming or established writer." This year’s foreword writer Maeve Binchy describes it as "like a magic carpet that would carry the writer anywhere . . .like a scaffolding on a building, it sort of suggests that it is half possible to climb up this unreal dream mountain of becoming a writer." Every year one can expect a comprehensive directory of publishers as well as all the essential articles on writing fiction and non-fiction, approaching publishers, getting an agent, correcting proofs, copyright and libel law, marketing, self-publishing, navigating research facilities and the like. But then every year things get better. This year’s edition boasts over 400 new entries within the listings section as well as new articles on libraries, digital television and radio. The ‘Getting Started’ section is now at the front and includes articles for both magazines and books. New articles include: ‘Understanding the Publishing Process’; a ‘Year-In-View of the Publishing Industry’; ‘The Writers Ultimate Workspace’ concerning the difficulties of writing from home, and ‘The Role of the Literary Agent’ by the late Giles Gordon—one of the great literary agents to whom this year’s edition is dedicated. There is also a new feature by Helen Weinstein entitled ‘Inside the BBC’ for those who want to break into the world of the beeb. Add to that the 'Notes From Successful Authors' section—which this year includes Joanne Trollope, Simon Winchester and JK Rowling—and you have all the reasons you need to get up-dated.

In short, the Writers’ and Artists Yearbook is a comprehensive course that gives you the best possible chance to succeed. If you are a photographer, a poet, a cartoonist, or a writer of any kind this will prove to be the most important book in your library.-- Larry Brown

'Every possible scrap of information needed by an upcoming or established writer is included.'

'The essential reference guide for all budding authors.'

'The sheer volume of information in the Yearbook gives encouragement to the brittle vulnerable hearts of would-be writers’

'Packed with tips and professional insight.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'Practical, sensible and comprehensive.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The best selling guide to markets in all areas of the media, completely revised and updated, containing 8 new articles, 3 new listings and a foreword by top author Maeve Binchy. New listings include: * Creative writing courses for writers; * Useful libraries for writers; * Writer's retreats. New articles include: * The Role of the Literary Agent (Giles Gordon); * Year-in-View of the publishing industry (Nicholas Clee); * The Writer's Workspace (Rib Davis); * Revised BBC Feature (Helena Weinstein); * The Publishing Process - a summary (Bill Swainson); * Three successful authors writing about experiences in fiction (Joanna Trollope), non-fiction (Simon Winchester) and children's publishing (J K Rowling).'The sheer volume of information in the Yearbook gives encouragement to the brittle vulnerable hearts of would-be writers' - Maeve Binchy 'The essential reference guide for all budding authors' - Good Book Guide 'I've known writers who would lend their wives or husbands before lending their thumbed copy of the WAYB. Don't blame them. You need your own copy' - Writers' Forum

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is packed with essential information on markets in all areas of the media. Revised and updated annually, with many new features each year, this best-selling directory, now in its 97th edition, gives full details of magazines, newspapers, book publishers, literary and artists' agents, theatre, television and radio producers, picture agencies, societies, prizes, creative writing courses, festivals and much more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The No. 1 Bestseller
Recommended by the Writers' Guild

The best-selling handbook for writers and artists, offering a comprehensive, up-to-date directory of media contacts and a wealth of practical advice and information.

The 2004 edition has been completely revised and updated and has many new features:

Foreword by Eoin Colfer.

New, clear, user-friendly page design to help the reader find their way more readily.

Completely new and fully exhaustive index, including both company and publication names and classified entries.

New articles on Ghostwriting, Adaption, and Distribution, plus advice from published authors and other experts on getting started in the various fields covered. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Maeve Binchy has written the foreword to the 2005 edition.
Maeve Binchy is an award-winning author of several volumes of short stories and novels, including The Lilac Bus and Echoes (both adapted for television), Circle of Friends (adapted for film) and Scarlet Feather, which was an international bestseller for six months. Her latest novel, Quentins, was a number one bestseller in hardback and when published in paperback went straight to number one in the Sunday Times bestsellers list. Maeve Binchy was awarded
the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Book Awards in 1999.

Foreword

I loved the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 30 years ago when I had written nothing and I love it to this day.

The Yearbook is like a magic carpet that would carry the writer anywhere. Into a world filled amazing magazines about motorcycle maintenance, articles about proofreading advice, about foreign agents, picture research, social security benefits. Things that we might never aspire to at the start of a career. Imagine working out what tax we should expect to pay on our literary earnings, we who had not yet earned one single penny from writing.

The Yearbook is like a scaffolding on a building, it suggests that it is half possible to climb up this unreal dream mountain of being a writer. It takes us seriously when our friends laugh their heads off at the notion that we might actually become real writers with real books out there in the shops.

I used to read people’s advice too seriously. I thought that established authors must be making it all up. Fancy famous writers being anxious, full of self doubt and weighed down with rejection slips! The very idea of it was ludicrous. But now I know only too well that we all have to go through a period of apprenticeship and that this Yearbook is our trusty guide.

Do I have any of my own rules to share? Of course I do. I was a teacher for eight years and teachers know how to run the world – in fact they should be running the world in a fairer society. So of course I have some hints, which if you follow will bring you success. Sit up straight now and listen carefully.

First, write about what you know. I don’t know anything about international banking, haute couture, espionage or complicated group sex. No point in me writing about any of that. I’d get it wrong.Terribly wrong. But I do know about families and friendships and betrayals, and hopes and ambitions. And I know about Ireland and England and bits of America and bits of Greece and Italy. So I feel safe and comfortable writing about these places.

Second, write as you speak. Not in someone else’s accent, but in your own. I speak very fast without much pause for breath. So I write that way too, with not much pause for punctuation. It sounds more natural that way, more authentic somehow. I can always spot a phoney accent in a conversation and it’s also easy to see it in writing.

Third, use your eyes as if they were a camera. Swoop around you and try to imprint on your mind what a scene looks like. Suppose you were going to describe a meeting between two people in a shopping mall. Are you sure you know what a shopping mall looks like? Maybe you only half know and therefore will only write a vague misty background to your scene.
But if you got into the habit of taking mental photographs you’d do it much better because you will have made the effort to notice things properly and get the atmosphere right.

Fourth, use your ears as a tape recorder, and listen to the way people talk to each other. This will help your dialogue no end. People don’t make speeches at each other; they interrupt and half finish sentences. I never hang up on a crossed line as you can hear grand things if you listen carefully. I often follow people to know how their conversation will end. If you look into the middle distance as if you were not the sharpest knife in the drawer they don’t seem to notice. The main thing is to not appear too interested, or be seen writing anything down.

Lastly – and this very important – you have to send your manuscript to somebody when you’ve finally written it. Publishers don’t come by at dead of night and break into your house and look for it. You have to be brave and let your beloved script out of your hands and give it to someone who might well fling it back at you saying politely that its rubbish.
This last is the hardest of all, daring to let it go. And that’s where the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook will be your friend. Turn its pages and you’ll see details of publishers listed, and agents and newspapers and magazines. Surely one of them will like us?

The sheer volume of information in the Yearbook gives encouragement to the brittle vulnerable hearts of would-be writers.

Maeve Binchy
2004