From firstwriter.com newsletter

Writers' & Artists' listings disappear from website

In the days before the internet, writers in the UK would generally turn to The Writer's Handbook (published by Macmillan) and the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook (published by A&C Black) for listings of literary agents, magazines, and publishers, etc. At the start of 2011 both these publications had online versions: the listings on the website for The Writer's Handbook were available to those who had purchased the print product, and those for the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook were available to anyone for free. At the end of 2011, however, both of these online services have ceased to exist.

Earlier this year Macmillan announced that they would cease publication of the The Writer's Handbook altogether, leading to the closure of the website service (see fwn 95), and while A&C Black appear to be continuing with the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook, this month has seen a redesign of their site where the free listings that were formerly available have disappeared without warning – replaced instead by a series of tips and suggestions that shepherd writers towards an array of services and conferences marketed at wannabe writers, ranging from about £100 to over £1,000 in price.

A&C Black claim that they intend to re-introduce the listings "over the coming months", but this will come as cold comfort to anyone who was in the process of working through the listings to try and find markets for their writing. "This is one of the problems with these free services," observes firstwriter.com Managing Editor, J. Paul Dyson. "With no sense of accountability to their users (since they aren't paying customers), there's nothing to stop them from withdrawing the service without warning, leaving their users high and dry."

The old listing service on the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook website was notable for its extreme slowness (click a link, then go and do something else while you wait for it to respond), paucity of information, lack of features, and a narrow concentration on UK markets. However, A&C Black have promised improvements to at least the search facility when the service returns. "A&C Black's plan seems to be to use these listings as a come-on to writers so that they can get them to their site, where they can then try and sell them expensive premium services. If the listings are to become something of a sideshow, it will be interesting to see whether or not their promises translate into a commitment to providing the kind of online listing service 21st century users expect."

Disappointed users of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook listings who would like a more reliable and international service can subscribe to firstwriter.com for as little as $4.49 / £2.65 / €4.49 a month, with substantial savings of up to 35% available for longer term subscriptions. firstwriter.com listings include advanced search systems searching as many as 20 different criteria, and providing practically instantaneous results. Extensive information covers the US, the UK, and other English-speaking nations, including details provided by agents / publishers / magazines / competition organisers themselves; information sourced by researchers; feedback from other users; and independent assessments from other resources. Advanced user-specific database functions means the site tells you which listings you have looked at and when, and tells you if a listing has been updated since you last looked at it. You can save specific searches to get one-click access to them from your own personalised home page, and even add personal notes to listings, which you can search for keywords, and which can include reminders to pop up at a specific date. You can even tell the site your interests and receive email updates whenever listings that match them are added or updated!

To subscribe now and begin benefiting from these features immediately go to www.firstwriter.com/subscribe

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