Any writer who wants to sell a manuscript needs at least one market guide. A market guide lists the various places that will pay you for your work. In general, it tells you the name of the publishing house, the name of the imprint, the editor or editors to contact, an address and phone number (and sometimes even an email address), contract terms (average advances and royalty rates offered), and of course, a list of what kinds of work the imprint is looking for. Some listings are more informative than others, of course, even within the same guide, as different publishers supply different levels of detail about their needs. Market guides also contain interviews with editors and successful writers, definition lists, and helpful articles to help you get started. For any serious writer, ESPECIALLY the as-yet-unpublished, the question is, "WHICH guide should I get?"

These guides come out every year or every other year. Do I really need a new one that often?

Since market guides are so important to a writer, I've listed every guide I know about, even the ones I've never used myself. You should find what you need below.

The Writer's Digest comprehensive (general) guides:

  2004 Writer's Market
edited by Kathryn S. Brogan and Robert Lee Brewer
This is the largest guide of all. It is your general reference, good for looking up every kind of writing. It is MOST useful, however, for magazines and nonfiction books. If you write a little of everything, or if you write magazine articles and/or nonfiction books, THIS is the market guide you need. This is also the right guide to get if you are learning about the publishing industry - it's wise to peruse these pages as a general overview before you start submitting. If you want to write in a specific genre, however, you will want the genre-specific market guide instead, or in addition. It comes out annually and gets bigger and better every year. Now you can choose between the traditional Writers Market book, and the Writers Market Online which includes the book and access to an online database updated daily plus a submission tracker and "tips of the day".
book only
online version (includes book)
Older 2003 version (book only)

  2004 Novel & Short Story Market
edited by Anne Bowling, Michael Schweer, and Vanessa Lyman
Like its twin, the Writer's Market, this guide is a huge general compendium of publishers. This one lists magazines and book publishers seeking every kind of fiction. This is the market guide you need if you write short stories, mainstream novels, potential bestsellers, novels that defy categorization, or books in multiple genres. You should also get it if you are just starting out and need an overview of the fiction publishing industry.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2004 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market
edited by Alice Pope and Mona Michael
This book, of course, focuses on the children's market. Children's publishing needs a constant supply of new, top-quality books, from picture books to young readers to young adult novels. Children's publishing also has a lot of need for artists, particularly in the picture book field. This large, comprehensive directory of publishers belongs on the shelf of anyone who wants to entertain, educate or influence our future. I especially like the inset boxes throughout the listings containing detailed, fun and helpful profiles of companies and authors. In contrast, the two adult guides have very few text boxes, all short. If you want to write for children only, get this guide and not the other two. If you want to write for children and adults both, you will need two guides.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2004 Poet's Market : 1,800 Places to Publish Your Poetry
edited by Nancy Breen and Vanessa Lyman
Poetry comes in all flavors today, and it's more popular to write than ever. You won't get rich, but if poetry is in your soul, there ARE outlets to publish it and share it with the world. The Poet's Market tells you where. The prose guides do not mention poetry at all; it is a completely separate world.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2003 Guide to Literary Agents
edited by Rachel Vater
I do not own this book, nor have I owned it in previous years. I feel that most writers do NOT need an agent, especially when they start out. The old adage that you cannot get published without an agent is a myth. Many houses - most, in fact - accept unagented query letters and/or unsolicited submissions. However, agents can be very useful. They can get you better contracts, including better money, and more importantly, they can save you the trouble of marketing your work yourself. Your productivity goes up tremendously if you don't have to research markets and keep track of where you have submitted your work. As a bonus, agents also handle your writing money, keeping records and sending you one simple, consolidated check with a statement for ALL of your royalty payments (especially nice if you have many books published). So for some people, agents more than earn their commission. Some writers even feel they SAVE money this way. So, if you decide you want an agent, you need to know where to look. This market guide tells you who has openings, and what kinds of work they will represent.
Buy it! (this is the 2003 version; 2004 version not yet available at the time of this update)
Older 2002 version

  The Market Guide for Young Writers
by Kathy Henderson
This is the market guide that tells you who accepts stuff from people under the age of 18. I think it's great to encourage kids to publish their work, and this guide tells them how and where. I really wish I had had this book when I was younger.
Unfortunately, this book has not been updated since 1996. Although the advice in the book is still sound, the markets are very out of date by now, so this limits the usefulness quite a bit.
Buy it!

Information Today's comprehensive marketplaces:

  International Literary Marketplace 2004
by Information Today
This is an expensive puppy, but very well worth the price. A huge tome of 1650 pages, this detailed directory gives complete information (including addresses, phone numbers, websites, and email) on over 16,700 worldwide listings, including 10,500 publishers and agents. It covers over 180 countries. The listings are arranged alphabetically by country, with two indexes (type of publisher and subject) to help you find exactly what you're looking for. In addition, this book contains literary prize listings and a yellow pages directory. Undoubtedly the biggest, largest, most complete and BEST international directory on the market.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  Literary Market Place 2004: The Directory of the American Book Publishing Industry With Industry Yellow Pages
by Information Today
This enormous two-volume set offers a complete and comprehensive listing for the entire publishing industry in the United States and Canada. The editors strive to include every active reputable contributor to the industry, from the largest to the smallest. Containing over 14,500 detailed listings in over 50 sections, the LMP is a much larger directory than the Writer's Market. You absolutely, positively, definitely will find the publisher you are looking for here. However, you will not find articles or writing tips like you do in the Writer's Market - the LMP is strictly a directory. You may also find the price prohibitive if you're on a budget. Nevertheless, it's an excellent investment if you are new to the writing game and doing initial market research, if you write widely in many different genres or styles, if you write in a limited or small niche area that other guides don't cover well, or if you want more markets.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

Genre Guides:

  Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Sourcebook
edited by David H. Borcherding
If you write Science Fiction or Fantasy, you will need this book. It contains a treasure trove of detailed listings that went far beyond my expectations. This is not the short, concise listings of the general market guides. I thought I didn't need this book because I'd read science fiction and fantasy since I was very young, and therefore I alreadyknew the publishers as well as anyone could. I was wrong. Researching your markets is essential - but the Sourcebook makes it easy. Read the craft and technique articles, too, because I found them extremely helpful, and I think you will too.
Note: book was last updated in 1996
Buy it!

  Romance Writer's Sourcebook: Where to Sell Your Manuscripts
edited by David H. Borcherding
This book absolutely amazed me. I didn't expect anything quite THIS helpful. They list all the romance publishers, and talk extensively with an editor at each publishing house. Every house gets at least two pages to explain, in depth, what they like and don't like, and tell you a little about the editor as a person. It's almost as good as listening to the editor give a brief lecture. As if this wasn't more than enough, the articles about trends, craft and technique, and marketing your work were absolutely outstanding. If you have any interest in writing romances, you really need this book. The world of romance publishing won't seem mysterious or intimidating at all after you've read it.
Note: book was last updated in 1996
Buy it!

  Putting Out : The Essential Publishing Resource for Lesbian and Gay Writers
edited by Edisol Dotson
If any genre ever needed a market guide, it's the lesbian and gay marketplace. The queer publishers are, as a general rule, small and not well known. Although once you could only find LGBT titles in specialty queer bookstores or by mailorder, now you can find them in Borders, Amazon.com, and other fine bookstores. Queer people have special interests and concerns, and the demand for books to fill these needs grows daily, in both fiction and nonfiction. The LGBT population doesn't want to be marginalized any more and neither does its books! If your writing belongs in this expanding genre, then this market guide is the right place to start looking.
Note: book was last updated in 1994
Buy it!

  2004 Erotic Writer's Market Guide
by Lawrence Schimel and Rachel Kramer Bussel
This book fills an empty niche in the market guides.
Buy it!
Older 1999 version

  Christian Writers' Market Guide 2004
by Sally E. Stuart
If you write Christian stuff, you'll need this Writer's Digest guide. The Christian market is big and popular these days, and there's plenty of room for a good manuscript. Over 1200 markets to choose from, plus conference information.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2004 Christian Book Writer's Market Guide
by Woody Young
Written by a Christian publisher, this marketing guide contains tips for the new Christian author trying to break in, publisher profiles, and lots of markets.
Buy it!
Older 2002 version

  Mystery Writer's Sourcebook : Where to Sell Your Manuscripts
edited by David H. Borcherding and Don Prues
The genre guide for Mystery. I haven't looked at it, but as it is edited by David H. Borcherding, I would expect the same top-notch quality I found in the SF and Romance Sourcebooks.
Note: book was last updated in 1995
Buy it!

  2004 Songwriter's Market : 1,700+ Places to Market Your Songs
edited by Ian Bessler
Everybody listens to music, and someone has to write the songs people listen to! Most performers rely on songwriters. Record companies, music publishers, advertising agencies, and various organizations need your work.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2004 Writers Guide to Hollywood Producers
published by Fade In
Complete information on every Hollywood production entity, including all contact info, credits (production history), what material they want and how they want to get it. Here is everything you need to break into Hollywood in one volume - all you need to add is your script.
Hollywood changes rapidly, and so does this spiral-bound manual. Updated quarterly. The publisher will automatically ship you the most recent update when you order.
Buy it!

Visual Arts Guides:

  2004 Photographer's Market : 2,000 Places to Sell Your Photographs
edited by Donna Poehner and Erin Nevius
Photography is in demand. Our modern media lives on photographs. Don't underestimate the value of your work.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  2004 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market : Where & How to Sell Your Illustrations, Fine Art, Graphic Design & Cartoons
edited by Mary Cox and Mona Michael
Where would we be without the artists? A picture is worth a thousand words, and you deserve to know where to get paid for yours!
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

Some other helpful market guides:

  Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents 2004 : Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over!
by Jeff Herman
This book lists names and addresses of acquisitions editors at the major publishing houses. It tells you what kinds of manuscripts they buy. This is a "person index" rather than a publishing house index. Sending your precious manuscript directly to the right person can keep it out of the slush pile.
Buy it!
Older 2003 version

  The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, 39th Edition, 2003-2004
edited by Len Fulton
This compendium specializes in the small presses - the little guys who might have been left out of the other directories. They may not produce large quantities of books or have big advertising budgets, but they also tend to have smaller slush piles, shorter response times, and more personal contact with their authors. I especially recommend small presses for new writers trying to get their first break and niche writers working in a limited-interest field. Profiles over 5000 small presses in all fields, with subject and regional indexes.
Buy it!

  The American Directory of Writer's Guidelines, 3rd Edition (2004)
edited by Brigitte M. Phillips, Susan D. Klassen, and Dorris Hall
This is a different, exciting approach to the markets. Instead of listings with contact info, this book compiles the actual Writer's Guidelines distributed by the publishing house itself. These are the guidelines the publishers encourage writers to send a SASE for before submitting. This book compiles over 1400 of these treasures in one volume.
Buy it!
Older 2nd Edition (1999)

  Words to the Wise : A Writer's Guide to Feminist and Lesbian Periodicals & Publishers
by Andrea Fleck Clardy
VERY VERY old (1993), although it is still in print.
Buy it!

A few questions, and the answers:

Why isn't there a Jewish market guide listed here?
Well, there isn't one. There was one once. It was last published in 1979. Even if you could find a copy, it wouldn't be much use to you today.

Okay, what about a Pagan publishing guide?
Again, there isn't one. I don't think there ever was one.

Buddhist? Muslim? Anything?
No. I'm sorry.

Did you REALLY list every market guide there is?
I think so. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll add the missing guide.

How do I get a guide that doesn't exist?
Write it yourself. You'll make a lot of writers and publishers very happy.

Non-Fiction
Writer's Resources

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