The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook Guide to Getting Published: The Essential Guide for Authors

Very useful

By far the best book on traditional publishing that I've ever read and also includes some discussion of self-publishing.

Mr Bingham combines his excellent knowledge of the industry with his own experiences and engaging style of writing to introduce debut novelists and first time writers to the business end of writing. Without losing focus on the charm and appeal of what it actually means to be a writer, he steers through key elements of the post-manuscript publishing process. In an 'author to authors' style he covers broad topics such as literary agents, book contracts, the editorial process, production, PR and publication. Interspersed with the well constructed and accessible chapters on each subject are also inputs from industry players - buyers, authors, literary agents, senior publishing experts and professional readers who all get a chance to comment on their area of expertise. Whether he is explaining the intricacies of royalties and net receipts or what a typical book deal may look like, it is clear that he has been there and got the t-shirt (and now written the book!)If you are a publisher looking for a standard work on introducing authors to your world, then this is the book you should recommend. If you are a writer with a dog-eared manuscript under your arm and increasingly frustrated by an industry you don't understand then this is the book for you. If you are a well established author with numerous best selling titles behind you then you probably won't need to read this book, but quite likely you would recommend it when swooning fans beg you for inside information on how to achieve your success. If on the other hand you have an existing 'day-job' career but have dabbled in writing and keen to see if you could get a book published, then like me, this is a book you won't be able to put down. I would have liked a chapter on actual manuscript development and the writing process itself, although there was plenty of anecdotal material on this sprinkled throughout, and the basic assumption is that anyone who seeks out and buys this book, can actually write!So if you can write and you want to get published - ie convert that creative passion into pounds - then read this book, you won't be disappointed.