Writers Handbook or Writers and Artists Yearbook??

Hello,

I am a first time poster here (or anywhere come to think of it)and quite new to the writing game so apologies if some of this is common knowledge! To outline, I've recently completed a pilot sitcom script. Finding production companies that accept unsolicited material is understandably proving a little tricky, as is finding an agent who will represent someone like me (without any real writing credentials to speak of).

Anyway...another website recommended the two books in the thread topic for lists of agents, publishers and production companies who might be a little more applicable for someone starting up. My question is are either of them any good for this? Is one better than the other or is there a better resource out there?

Any advice is really appreciated, thank you!

Quote: DCCP @ May 26 2011, 11:19 PM BST

Hello,

I am a first time poster here (or anywhere come to think of it)and quite new to the writing game so apologies if some of this is common knowledge! To outline, I've recently completed a pilot sitcom script. Finding production companies that accept unsolicited material is understandably proving a little tricky, as is finding an agent who will represent someone like me (without any real writing credentials to speak of).

Anyway...another website recommended the two books in the thread topic for lists of agents, publishers and production companies who might be a little more applicable for someone starting up. My question is are either of them any good for this? Is one better than the other or is there a better resource out there?

Any advice is really appreciated, thank you!

View original

Yearbook is what I have but its worth checking on the websites once you've got whichever you decide to buy as some production companies limit when they accept submissions.
the other small point is that there are two fairly big competitions just about to come to a head. One is the BBC's Laughing Stock and the other is the Sitcommission. There is a lot of focus on sitcom at present. However, the other thing to investigate on these pages is the sitcoms trials which is still taking submissions. And try to find an agent in the meantime.
Hi, by the way!

Hello! Many thanks for the info, think I may go for both books just to cover my bases! That's cool about the competitions I think they could be a much more accessible route whilst trying to get production companies/agencies to take a look. Will have to try all avenues!

Does anyone know when during a year the newest Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is published?

I wouldn't want to buy the 2011 edition in November if the 2012 was coming out as early as the following January, for example.

*edit*
Ah, I just did the obvious thing and checked the Amazon release date for the 2012 edition, and it's 30th June 2011. Interesting!

Do they really change that much year on year? I did bin a 2007 copy last week.

I think the one I have somewhere is 2006. Utterly useless by now really.

That's been a bit of a mystery with me in the past. I think bought one in June once only to find the new next year's one out in August, or something similar. Felt hoodwinked. Is it really worth getting anymore? Much of the stuff you can get free on the internet. And it doesn't change much from year to year anyway, or didn't used to. Not a fan of it.

I certainly wouldn't get a new one every year.

Last time I needed it they didn't have the brand new information online, just stuff that was a couple of years old.

But now it does look as if the latest info is on the website.

There are different articles in them though.