The Key to Unlocking Your Writing Success This ultimate writer's reference connects you to who's who in the publishing industry. Inside, you'll find the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail and Web addresses for hundreds of top editors and agents, plus essays from industry insiders who reveal the secrets to big-time success. With the most up-to-date information on an industry that's constantly changing, this new edition offers everything you need to get past the slush piles and into the hands of the real players in the publishing field, including how to write attention-grabbing book proposals and thrive off rejection. Now, you hold the keys to getting published.

This source of information on comtemporary American reference works is intended for the library and information community. It has nearly 1600 descriptive and evaluative entries, and reviews material from more than 300 publishers in nearly 500 subject areas. It should help the user keep abreast of reference publications in all fields, answer everyday questions and build up reference collections.

ENHANCE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING YOUR NOVEL PUBLISHED WITH THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND GUIDE Writers often spend years perfecting their first novel—then hit a dead end when it comes to getting it published. Learning to market your novel will make it stand out from the thousands of other books clamoring for the attention of an ever shrinking number of publishers. In this book, Elizabeth Lyon offers the wisdom of more than twenty years of experience as an author, book editor, writing instructor, and marketing consultant. Step-by-step, she details what editors want, what questions to ask them, and how to develop a marketing strategy. You will learn: · How to categorize your novel, and the sixteen ways of describing it · Nine ways of selling your novel · Descriptions of the jobs of literary agent, editor, and writer · Examples of actual story synopses, and successful query letters—in all the genres · How to prepare sample chapters · Thirty questions a writer needs to ask a prospective agent

If you have ever stared a page that remains stubbornly blank; if you have ever wondered why writers write, or whether good writers are born or made; if you are a novelist, playwright, poet, or journalist, or simply delight in the written word, The Writer's Quotebook is for you. Whether you keep it in your office, on your coffee table, next to your keyboard or your bed, this rich compendium of over one thousand quotations will inspire, invigorate, and illuminate the often challenging, sometimes humorous, but always fascinating task of those who bring words to life. From William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway to Doris Lessing and Joyce Carol Oates, more than five hundred published writers put pen to paper on what the literary life is all about. Selections come from seasoned professionals as well as those just establishing their voice, and they represent a variety of nationalities and genres. The book is divided into three sections. The first part is devoted to the creative process, including thoughts on where writers get their ideas, the role of inspiration, what kind of people write, and where talent comes from. In part two, the subject shifts to writing as a craft. Here, authors ponder the creation of protagonists and points of view, the writing of dialogue, setting and description, creating plots, and the anatomy of style. The final third of the book deals with the challenges and rewards that come with the writing life. Subjects in this section include the economic realities of writing, classes, conferences, and workshops, dealing with rejection and bad reviews, writing habits and rituals, despair, alcohol, suicide, and fame. Articulated with elegant metaphor, in straightforward prose, or with wry wit, the carefully selected and thoughtfully organized quotations come together to form a narrative that entertains, informs, and in the case of aspiring writers, shows the way to better writing.

1970- issued in 2 vols.: v. 1, General reference, social sciences, history, economics, business; v. 2, Fine arts, humanities, science and engineering.

Now updated for 2008, this annual edition of the classic bestselling directory provides everything working writers need to find the most receptive publishers, editors, and agents for their work.

Book Magic (2nd ed.) is indispensable for every writer who dreams of publication. Easy to read and practical, it provides all the information and tools you need to understand the publishing industry and increase your chances of getting commercially published or ably manage your own self-publication. Books are magic! They turn unknown writers into authors and, perhaps, even into household names. But publishing is a complex world, full of insider rules and financial constraints that, if not respected, cause good book ideas to vanish into thin air and writers to question their calling. Discover how to weave some spells that boost your chances of getting published; explore the wizardry surrounding agents, query letters, and book proposals; and look into a crystal ball at trends in the North American market and in self- and electronic publishing. Find out how the Canadian and American publishing scenes differ and how approachable medium and small publishers really are. Most importantly, learn the best publishing option for your project. Second edition is in paperback only.

Finding the right agent can be a bewildering, frustrating and byzantine process for beginners and experienced writers alike. How do you tell a good agent from a bad agent? What's the best way to approach an agent? What exactly does an agent do? In The Agents Directory, editor-turned-agent Rachel Vater answers these questions and more. Unlike guides that have readers sifting through page after page of listings of agencies that aren't accepting new writers, won't read manuscripts, or will charge money up-front, The Agents Directory offers an exclusive guide to the best literary and script agents looking for new clients. Each listing provides detailed, up-to-date information about the type of work each agent accepts, clients he or she represents, recent sales, contact information, and the best way to submit work. Detailed instructions for writing a query letter, complete with sample queries, help readers make a great impression on an agent. A bonus directory to writing conferences across the US and Canada provides networking opportunities with other writers, agents, and editors. The Agents Directory also includes an extensive list of writer’s organizations — invaluable resources to support a commitment to writing.

Make That Crucial, Positive First Impression Anyone who's researched the marketplace knows: The path to publication begins with your query letter. If your query is weak, unfocused, or uninspired, an editor or agent won't even bother to request your article, novel manuscript, or nonfiction book proposal. But a well-crafted, compelling query sent to the right editor or agent is an essential sales tool for fiction writers and the most effective way for nonfiction writers to pre-sell your idea. In this book, professional freelance writer and magazine editor Wendy Burt-Thomas shares practical advice on how to craft persuasive letters that connect with editors and agents and ultimately generate sales for you. You'll learn how to: • Conduct targeted research to find suitable editors and agents • Hook an editor with a tantalizing lead and shape a summary that compels editors to buy • Select the strongest slant for your book or article • Use research and interview shortcuts that keep your query prep profitable • Make your query rejection-proof by weeding out subtle mistakes that can sabotage your project • Communicate your author platform and sell yourself as the best writer for the subject Complete with dozens of sample queries–some that landed article assignments, agents, or book deals, and others that never stood a chance–this book offers you a comprehensive strategy for presenting your writing ideas in a way that will increase your chances of publication. Though the title may lead some to believe it's strictly to be shelved as a reference manual, The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters is a smooth read from cover to cover.