Writer’s Market 2006 has arrived. I’ve written a review on past editions and it’s tough coming up with something new to say about it. The articles that appear prior to the markets are helpful especially, “How Much Should I Charge?” Providing quotes is my second least favorite thing… well, maybe first. The other one being making “cold calls” to find more clients in need of my services. In terms of pricing, I want to be fair to the client and to me. Having this article as a resource provides a sanity check to see if I am charging too much or too little.
“Before Your First Sale” gives a 30,000-foot view of things to do in working to make the first sale whether it be an article or a book proposal. It doesn’t cover everything, but it’s brevity makes it easier to read and it offers tips that many beginners and some intermediate writers won’t know about.
Queries are tough to do. I haven’t had much luck there — but I do mostly business-related writing since the work makes the best use of my time and I already have experience in this type of writing. “Query Letter Clinic” reviews what to do and what to avoid. It also shows a few good and bad examples of queries.
The articles section of the book has about 85 pages. The articles together offer writing career advice covering much of the main areas including:
* writing groups
* email communications
* interviews with successful writers
* the business of writing
* overcoming writer’s block
* online PR
* book signings (ooh, I wish!)
According to the book, there are over 600 new listings for a total of 4,000 listings of book publishers, magazines, trade, and literary agents. I’m not about to get out the 2005 copy and try to compare — so I trust the editors when they make this statement. The year will be over before I finish 🙂
Though I rarely do queries and have yet to do a book proposal since the first one got axed — the Writer’s Market is on my must-buy book every year especially now that I’m a full-time content maven.
Title: 2006 Writer’s Market
Editors: Kathryn S. Brogan, Robert Lee Brewer, Joanna Masterson
Publisher: Writer’s Digest Books
ISBN: 1582973946
Date: August 2005
Format: Paperback… HUGE
Pages: 1178
Cover Price: USD: $29.99 Amazon: $19.79
