JS Lyster

www.publishersmarketplace.com

Publishers Marketplace is a godsend for writers at the stage where they are looking at editors and agents. If you’re looking at submitting your work to an agent, you can see what that agent has sold recently and to whom.

It costs US $20 a month, but even if you just sign up for a few months as you market your work to agents or editors, it’s an invaluable resource.

SIWC

The Surrey International Writers Conference is a conference devoted to aspiring and professional writers. It isn’t meant for readers keen to meet their favorite authors. I’ve attended several in recent years. It is well worth the time and expense (even for someone in the process of moving from one home to another–a dreadful inconvenience, what with the conference taking up one of the few remaining weekends we can spend on packing).

The conference is a place to learn about the art and craft of writing and publishing. You can meet major literary agents and editors, and pitch them on your novel or non-fiction book, or just ask questions about how the business works.