If you want to write for fun, or for money, then the big problem is how to promote your work and get it read? Even if (for reasons best known to yoruself) you do not want to be paid for writing, you probably want to be read by someone. The writers and artists yearbook will tell you how. Unlike many of the "writers tell you how' books, this one is actually packed with invaluable information. You need this book.

I'l start by saying that there's not much in it for artists - it concentrates on illustration and book related artwork.

You've written a book. You want to get it read, so you need a list of publishers - There's an extensive list here for the UK and overseas. There's contact names and addresses, information about what various houses publish - all the big houses are listed and many smaller companies as well. There are specific listings for poetry as well.

If you want to get a play published, you really need to get it performed first. The book contains extensive listings and contact information for UK Theatres, with notes about what sort of work they take.

If you want to write articles, news or the like, there are listings for UK magazines and newspapers, again with a brief overview of what each takes and sometimes info about how they like to be approached.

There are listings for literary agents - this in the only section that I have not found to be totally helpful, as general information is not so good here.

If that wasn't enough, there are many pages detailing radio and television contacts. You can learn everything you need to know about how to prepaire, layout and present a text to maximise your chances with a publisher. Many forms have conventions that should be adhered to. There are notes on publishing practise, laws, self emplyoment, tax, all the bits and pieces you will need to know about. This isn't toally comrpehensive, but it will get you started in the right di
rection.

There is also a great deal of informarion about annual funds, competitions, prizes and the like - these can earn you a bit of money and will help to promote your work.

The yearbook comes out (you've guessed haven't you?) every year. It costs about eleven pounds, and it is the best outlay you will ever make. If you can't afford one, check the reference section in your local library, as the odds are good that they will have a copy. The book is starting to contain more internet information, but the 2001 copy was a tad behind on thiss core, only listing a handful of epublishers, and not having much information about the innumerable scams and rip offs waiting for writers online. This should improve as they catch up with the industry.

The book treats you like you are an intelligent adult - many writers help books do not, and are patronising. This book treats you like you are a a sensible person who doesn't happen to know everything yet.

The book isn't perfect - sometime listed publishers won't be there, phone codes change, details change, but as a source of information, it is comparable to the really good search engines - some dud links but mostly great.

If you want to make a go of writing, this book will tell you how to do it, give you lots and lots of excellent advice and information, and tell you who to contact. Sometimes I think they should have the words "Don't Panic" on the front in big, friendly letters, but perhaps that's just me!

Buy this book. You need it, it's exactly what you need if you want to write.