In the New Year I’ll be approaching agents again, and I have a few questions to ask.

I have a 2005 Writer’s and Artists Yearbook, do I need a 2006 copy?

Does the afore mentioned tome (I can’t locate my copy right now) also list American agents?

Any opinions and advice would be very much appreciated.

Grinder

It's handy if you're interested in small press publications. But internet resources are more comprehensive and up to date, so in my opinion the WAYB/Writers' Handbook (which I prefer over WAYB) is a weak second....

Ani

The yearbook is good for general reference and maybe as a means of identifying new agents/publishers you might not otherwise be aware. But the way these reference books are put together means the information contained is likely to be many months old by the time the book is published. However that doesn't mean to say lists on the internet are kept any more up to date.

I am in the process of approaching agents for a travel narrative. I have used older versions of the Yearbook, plus online sites such as Bloomsbury to identify agents.

I then do as much internet research as possible, using Google to search on the name of the agent to find out if they have a website (quite a few have different or more up-to-date submissions guidelines than those written in the reference books). You might also be able to extrapolate a website from an agent's email address.

I also do searches on any names of authors that pop up during this research, to see if they write books similar to my own and then track them down on Amazon to see what publishers the agent deals with.

I think it's worth putting the time and effort into doing your own research into every agent you intend to submit to in order to weed out the ones it is pointless spending the postage on.

For example, I initially sent out five submissions to agents listed in a writers reference book specifically about travel writing without doing any other research. One agent got back immediately and wanted to look at the whole book, one didn't reply because they were no longer at the address listed in the reference book and the others turned out to be a music book packager, an agent dealing only with theatre scripts and one agent with no travel writers on their books.

I used The Writer's Handbook to make sure I was being comprehensive, and then checked out my shortlist on their websites. I think I tended to buy one every other year. Plus libraries have them.

But if the Handbook didn't say not taking submissions, and the website said no unsolicited submissions, or there was any other discrepancy, I just believed whichever suited me.

Now I've got WAYB, which is stronger on editorial, to my mind. But there's not much between the two.

Emma

Here I am popping up again to remind folk about the WW fully searchable Directory. Looking for publishers/agents interested in travel pieces? Just insert 'travel' in the search box - saves all that tedious trawling through the cumbersome books looking for travel-relevant companies. We're constantly up-dating and we have web site addresses listed in the Directory entries - just one click (well, maybe a double one)and you're there.

Increasingly, companies are sending us up-to-date information and we are also getting good data from WW members.The more such feedback we get, the more accurate the Directory will be. Please let me know via WW e-mail if there's anything you think might be relevant to the Directory.

Richard.

David, you're quite right, the Directory doesn't blow its own trumpet nearly often enough.

Emma

Thanks for all the advice,

A specific one for Richard, I do use the directory, but I haven’t found any overseas fantasy agents?

Grinder

When we started compiling the Directory we decided to focus on the UK. We wanted to make sure that we were doing a thorough job and it made sense to set initial geographical limits. We are now, as I recently mentioned in another forum thread, expanding to include overseas agents and publishers. It's a laborious business but we're getting there! As I mentioned - if anyone has any information which might be useful, please let me know and we'll make sure that everything relevant is added.

It obviously makes sense to have an online, searchable Directory which can be kept completely up to date and which can accrue feedback from users day by day. We have made a great start and, with your kind cooperation, we can continue the development of what we believe is the definitive source of information for writers.

Richard.

Is this handbook the one with the massively informing Terry Pratchett introduction, where he lifts the iron curtain on the publishing industry, and - with no tongue present in cheek - tells us that to get published is hard. Er...thanks Terry.

JB

Grinder,

You and others might be interested in a new WW Directory entry for a mag called Twisted Tongue. They're looking for tales with a twist, expecially fantasy, sf and horror. The search box will bring it up in an instant with a direct link to the mag's website.

This is a good example as to how the WW Directory can respond quickly to change!

Richard.

Thnaks Richard, I've just inflicted some of my poetry on them.

JB

Good luck JB!

And another thing..

Anyone living in or close to London might interested in another very recent Directory entry. 'Future London' is a new group of sf & f writers and new members will be welcome.

Richard.