The latest edition of The Writer’s
Handbook has some interesting new articles for this edition. As
well as useful existing articles on ‘Bringing in the Money’ by the book’s
editor Barry Turner, ‘Clearing Permissions’ by Clare Hodder and ‘The
Re-engineering of UK Poetry Ltd’ by Chris Hamilton-Emery, there are a
number of new articles.Amongst these, Barry Turner looks at ‘The
publishing state we’re in’. Jon Reed writes on ‘How to sell yourself
online – new ways of promoting your book’ and there’s also ‘The
scriptwriting journey from novel to screenplay’.
The listings are comprehensive and include specialist lists such as
Poetry Presses, PR consultants, UK and Irish Writers’ courses, Audio Books
and Electronic Publishing and Other Services. There are also of course
full listings of the usual range of publishers, including UK, US and Irish
publishers, and Literary agents (UK and US).
Described by The Times as ‘the book no writer should be
without’, it has also been praised by the Society of Authors as ‘a
wise and witty book, packed with useful information’ and by London
agent Mary Clemmey as ‘an essential directory for new and established
writers alike’.
A handy subject index makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
The entries include everything from Dogs: Literary Agents (US) to France:
Poetry Magazines, from Mountaineering: Prizes to War: Small Presses.
This year for the first time The Writer’s Handbook also offers
access to all buyers of the book to
its website,
using the code provided when you buy the book. It is useful to have access
to the listings in searchable form, but the other resources provided for
writers are relatively minimal.
In spite of this The Writer’s Handbook does what it says on
the tin. It is a useful book for helping writers to find what they want,
and a helpful volume to accompany you in your search for a writer or
agent.
