Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2008 (Writers' and Artists') [Paperback]

[Note: the 2009 edition of the "Writers' & Artists' Yearbook" has now been published.]

There are two books on the market which are widely touted as 'must-haves' for any writer looking to get into publication. One is this book, the "Writers' and Artists' Yearbook" (W&AY), published by A&C Black. Its rival, "The Writer's Handbook" (TWH), is published by Macmillan. Both contain roughly the same extensive listings of publishers, agents, print media, producers etc - you only really need one of them. But which one?

In truth there's little to choose between them. At the time of writing this review, they are both being offered at the same price by Amazon. Much will come down to personal preference regarding the layout of the two books, and so if you can get the chance to compare them before you buy, all the better. However, to me the W&AY appears the more polished product, with a clearer structure that is easier to find your way through.

The W&AY gains extra points for the many different articles it contains by professionals covering all aspects of the writing industry. Famous authors such as Joanna Trollope, Terry Pratchett, Bernard Cornwell and J.K. Rowling address various aspects of the writing process and discuss different genres. Many other highly informative articles cover diverse issues such as self-publishing, marketing your book, writing for TV, radio and theatre, the electronic world of websites and e-publishing, and financial aspects such as tax. This makes the W&AY more than simply a listings book - it is, in effect, an introduction to the entire world of writing. Much overlooked is of course the fact that this is a yearbook for artists too. Correspondingly there are sections for the budding illustrator and photographer in the W&AY which are not to be found in TWH.

What's new for the 2008 edition? In truth not much has changed since last year. A handful of articles have gone; 9 new ones have been added, covering a range of topics including audio publishing, writing short stories for radio and starting a blog. There are also new pieces by two successful writers (of romantic fiction and of biographies), by a literary editor and by a literary scout. Is it worth upgrading to the 2008 edition, then? For the articles themselves - fascinating though they are - probably not. On the other hand, the advantage of having fully up-to-date listings counts for a great deal, especially if you are already looking for an agent or publisher. And at the price it is currently being offered by Amazon, it is surely a worthwhile investment.

All in all, this is an excellent and comprehensive guide. Definitely recommended for the aspiring writer or artist.

This is a great resource that I buy repeatedly as details can change annually and the articles can change. I haven't gotten to the stage of sending out materials but friends that have find this book invaluable.

Every year I grumble at the thought of shelling out for the latest copy of this, but every year, realising it's a must-have for my freelance writer's toolkit, I buy it.

I might start buying it every second year though, as I don't have time to read the pro articles and if I wanted to read these, there are plenty in the Sunday press and literary mags.

The 'writing short stories for radio' piece was useful though - however, less pleasing was the fact that these submissions take up to a year to even get read.

For a beginning writer determined to make a business or career out of writing, this book can be used as a textbook or course to study! Hard work though!