Writers Unbound

I went for it and spent the $29.99 plus tax for the big 2008 edition of The Writer’s Market. I should have bought it when it first came out, but I wasn’t quite ready to commit myself at that point. Now I’ve got it and 2008 is half over.

So the question then: Is it worth it?

I bought the book thinking that it got me a free subscription to WritersMarket.com. Turns out, you only get that if you get the Deluxe Edition for some $50.00. I hadn’t purchased the Deluxe Edition, so I still had to spring for the WritersMarket.com subscription: $29.99 for the year or $3.99 by the month.

Right now I’m just on a by-the-month basis with the WritersMarket website. I want to try it out and see if it’s worthwhile. I don’t mind paying the $30 if it will generate good information, more than is available in the book.

I love having the actual book, a hard copy of all these resources and possibilities. The articles at the front of the book are great and, in my opinion, worth the money. They include three informative pieces on “The Basics” and a Query Letter Clinic (which was kind of obvious, I thought). The really helpful pieces, I think, are the five “Personal Views” articles/interviews and the six “Beyond the Basics” pieces. One of them includes a huge chart of freelance price comparisons. Another covers how to use your old material and ideas to create new, sellable material.

It’s a big book, with the listings in sections you expect: Book Publishers, Consumer Magazines, Trade Journals, and Contests, as well as Literary Agents, Canadian Book Publishers, Small Presses, Newspapers, Screenwriting, Playwriting, and a section on Greeting Cards.

Many of the magazines are online; however, you won’t find all the Writer’s Guidelines available on their websites. That’s when having the big book is good, and having a subscription to the site is even better.

If you’re only going to get one, go for the site subscription. It’s regularly updated with new/edited listings (today: 74 listings changed in the last 7 days), a Market Watch column, and resources like an Agent Q&A (you can submit questions) and Expert Advice (articles from experts to help you get published). If you’re not sure, try it for a month. Right now they’re offering 30 days free, but I think you have to sign up for a full year to take advantage of that offer.

Both the book and a year’s subscription to the site are kind of a hefty investment for a struggling freelancer; I understand that. But there’s something important and confidence-boosting to take yourself seriously enough to get the tools you need. You might not need these particular tools, but I’ve found them helpful. Worth the price. And hey, in 2009 when the new edition comes out, I can use this one to hold down all my drafts and acceptance letters…

Make it a good day.

Image Credits: GETA.80 at Flickr.