Rating: 
Summary: Stop. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
Review: ....without buying this book.If you are looking for THE resource for helping you to sell your writing, this is the book.
Rating:
Summary: expansive and complete
Review: I must say, these people deliver their promises with a power-packed bible of the crazy wide world of writing. I don't know what must go into the logistics of compiling such a wide range of information and then keeping it updated year after year, but I'm glad somebody's doing it! While the real world of writing often does not live up to expectations (especially in today's economy) at least there is a work like this - that KEEPS HOPE ALIVE. Whenever I come across someone who needs the "101" on writing as a profession, I send them here, to this amazing book. If they are not instantly overwhelmed at the possibilities and the staggering odds of actually making it, then they are on their way...
Rating:
Summary: If you want to sell what you write, this has great advice
Review: If you aim to sell your writing for the first time, you should know what editors want to see. Otherwise, you will (if you are lucky) get a rejection letter. Why lucky? Because these days, you might not even get the courtesy of a rejection letter. To save disappointment and to learn about the writer's market, you can't go wrong here. The book lists thousands of magazines, agents, book publishers, contests, email addresses and websites (which is why 2002 is useful if you have an older edition--web stuff is outdated quickly.) But even better is the section on getting published for the first-time author (with all kinds of help on formatting manuscripts, cover letters and book proposals.) There are interviews with bestselling authors, and also a useful bit on e-publishing. If you want to see your stuff in print, this book is a wise investment.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the money - too generic and untailored
Review: If you are a serious writer and really want to know where you can send your work, the "Writer's Market 2003" is just the thing for you. It doesn't guarantee that you'll get published, but it increases the chance of it. I'm still waiting and working, but I know one of these days it's going to pay off. And this is something I always manage to pick up each year. The "Writer's Market 2003" is a book filled with hundreds upon hundreds of listings for different publications and publishing organizations. From plays to books, short stories to poems, non-fiction to essays, and that only covers a FEW of the things these organizations are looking for. There's also a listing of various contests you can participate in. It's very easy to use. Each listing gives you a brief summary of what these places are looking for, the kind of writers they're interested in, and most importantly what LEVEL of writers they want (from veteran authors to new authors). You'd be surprised to learn there are quite a few places that accept work from people without literary agents (and yes, there are listing for them as well). And there are also very easy-to-use symbols that will help guide you through this monster of a book. You also get very important tips on how to submit your work, how to set up your letters (queries and cover letters), and much more. There are some very important and helpful tips in here, so be sure to read them. The only real drawback is the pricing. It can be pretty pricy. And it's going to take up a lot of room on your bookshelf, being how big the book is. Now, these aren't terrible drawbacks, but they are indeed drawbacks, especially when they keep coming out with new editions each year. If you're a writer and you're having trouble finding places to send your work to, then the "Writer's Market 2003" is something you should definitely consider checking out. Not only does it help you get your work out there, but it also encourages you to write more and send more of your works. A very important tool for writers, or at least that's what I think.
Rating:
Summary: essential freelance writer's tool
Review: If you want to start selling your writing, or to get published you need this book. I wrote that sentence with the new writer in mind because it's hard to imagine an experienced writer who does not know about this book. I've been buying Writer's Market for over 24 years. About 24 years ago, I sold my first freelance article to a national magazine. It was directly due to Writer's Market-- due to the solid nuts and bolts information you get, updated each year. The book lists thousands of magazines, publishers and agents and the key info you need to intelligently contact them. You get chapter/articles which advise you on how to research a publisher before making contact, and then, how to submit your writing queries. Then, it lists thousands of magazines, categorizing them by demographics, subject matter, regions, etc. They give you the pay rates, lengths of the articles or stories, they seek, topics they are extra interested in, who to contact, how to get a sample copy and writer's guidelines. They tell you whether the publication accepts simultaneous submissions or e-mail proposals, and if they want S.A.S.E.s And if you don't understand all those terms, they provide a glossary of writer's terminology. Since I started buying Writer's Market, (and the monthly magazine also published by the same company, Writer's Digest) I have had articles published in Success, OMNI (10 articles in OMNI alone) Family Health, and cover articles in Writer's Digest (on coming up with article ideas) and the National Enquirer (on arthritis pain relief and on vitamins) Since I write on topics that grab my interest, it's important that I have a fast way to access info which publications cover which topics. This book does the job. The publishing world changes so fast you need to keep up with current information. This is one book that you should not save your pennies on by buying an older used edition of an earlier year. A common sob story of the writing business is you start with an editor who loves your work, only to submit your finished assignment to a new editor who has replaced the editor you signed on with. This book keeps you much more up-to-date on contact info.
Rating:
Summary: If you're a writer, you don't need a review...
Review: If you write for a living or for fun and want to make a few bucks in the process, you need market information--and tips on how to sell your writing. This book supplies this information and has become the "Bible" of the writing craft. Even if you already know your markets, editors change positions all the time so it behooves you to buy this book if for nothing else but to get the names of the editors correct! It even has rates for different types of writing. A valuable tome for those of us who make a living or a hobby from writing.
Rating: 
Summary: CAVEATS
Review: Indispensable, but not complete; there are publications that prefer not to be listed here. Many prestigious publications (and extra tidbits of information) can be found in the lists at the backs of the yearly anthologies, such as The O.Henry Awards 2002. Also, the maximum word counts are often much lower than what you find actually published. My guess is that beginning writers use Writer's Market and a low word-count minimizes the reading burden of the staff.
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Summary: I Buy it, I Use it, I Like it ... BUT:
Review: One day in 1973 I decided to stop on the way home from work and browse the science fiction section at my local Walden Books (we didn't have SmashedWords back then). By happenstance, the Reference shelves were adjacent to the Science Fiction & Fantasy section. There wasn't much new in SF that day, and my eyes wandered as I scanned the shelves... By some quirk of fate, my gaze came to rest on a book titled WRITER'S MARKET. "Hey," I said to myself, "I wonder if that's what the title implies?" I pulled the book from the shelf, leafed through it, and yep--it was what the title implied. I bought it, took it home, and within a couple weeks I had sold some articles. (All I really wanted to sell were science fiction short stories, but that would take another five years.) In the (whoa!) 30 years since, I've never been without WRITER'S MARKET. As a freelancer I (and you) have to know who's where, and what they're buying. This is the source. (But remember this: It's not the only source. I also recommend THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK, from the Writer Books. It has listings that are not in WRITER'S MARKET (and vice-versa), and the differing approaches to organizing content make both equally useful.) There were times when I didn't exactly need it, as I had my hands full with columns and book contracts, but I was glad to have it. In addition to being the great reference that it is, seeing WRITER'S MARKET on the shelf above my desk always made me feel like I was a part of something. More important, I've found the book to be a find idea generator. I get all sorts of useful ideas just reading publishers' requirements and needs. Having said all that, I must also say that I prefer THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK approach of putting listings in multiple categories where appropriate. I also think the book could carry less advertising. And a few other things (which is why I recommend THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK equally and concurrently). Anyway, buy the book or borrow it from your library. Whether you're writing full-time or part-time, WRITER'S MARKET is one of the most valuable professional references your'll find.
Rating:
Summary: Best Market Companion for Freelancers
Review: The Writer's Market guide continues to be the best and most informative resource for anyone trying to find writing work in the freelance world. Most useful is the huge section of magazine listings for those publications that actively buy short works from freelancers, offering many opportunities to break into the market when you don't have big endorsements or prior publications to use as a marketing tool. Just beware of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses that aren't guaranteed to be accurate or could change without warning. This guide does show some weakness in the essays at the beginning of the book, with some poorly presented articles that are high on information but low on deeper insights. For example, you learn how much tape to put on a box of photographs, but not how to effectively search for online opportunities although the online world is trumpeted through the book. This year, the traditional "How Much Should I Charge?" feature is missing for editorial reasons, and this is possibly the most useful feature of past editions. One has to suspect that Writer's Market is steering people to their online system, which has more information but requires a subscription fee.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not new
Review: This is still THE reference guide for authors to get their works published, but it is not as updated from the 1999 version as I would have hoped for. If you have 1999, you can probably wait for the 2001 or 2002 edition.
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