Have you ever been frustrated while looking for an agent or editor? In today’s episode, you’ll learn about an amazing tool that can help you find both. It’s called the Christian Writers Market Guide.
The new print version now includes over $500 worth of coupons, so it doubles as a coupon book and a list of training opportunities to help you become a better writer.
The online version is also a fantastic deal. The price used to be as high as $5.99 a month, or more than $70 a year. Now it’s just $9.99 per year.
Finding agents and editors can be hard for many authors because writers don’t know where to start, who to call, who to trust, or how to approach an agent or editor. The Market Guide gives you contact information for top-level agents and provides tips—written by the agents themselves—on how to pitch them successfully. Imagine getting a note from an agent that says, “Here’s how to pitch me. Here’s how to craft a proposal I want to say yes to.” That’s invaluable information.
How can I use the Christian Writers Market Guide?
The Market Guide is much more than a directory. The better you understand how to use it, the faster you can advance your career. It often fills in gaps you didn’t even realize you had.
All sections are available in both the print and online versions. The online edition is searchable, and you can sort the listings to find exactly what you need.
Section 1: Book Publishers
There are hundreds of Christian book publishers—far more than the “big five.” It’s important to know their key details: size, number of books published each year, and whether they’re small, medium, or affiliated with a denomination.
If a publisher’s denomination differs from yours, you can save time and disappointment by not pitching to them. Some denominations are highly selective about what they publish; others are not. You’ll find that information in the Market Guide.
Each listing also includes the publisher’s target audience and the types of manuscripts they seek. In the online version, you can easily sort publishers by category. For example, if you write for children, check “children’s publishers” to see only those listings. The same applies to fiction and nonfiction. This saves time and reduces unnecessary rejections.
At just $9.99 per year for the online edition—or about $23.99 for the print copy (prices vary on Amazon)—it’s a worthwhile investment.
Section 2: Independent Book Publishers
If you plan to publish independently, the Market Guide lists reputable independent publishers who can help you through the process. While not every company is exceptional, those with bad reputations are excluded—so inclusion itself is a badge of credibility.
This section also features design and production services, including graphic design. For example, if you need a children’s book cover designer, you can find one, view samples of their work, and access their contact information.
It also includes distribution services for authors printing physical books in bulk, covering warehousing and shipping options. All of these resources are part of the Christian Writers Market Guide.
Section 3: Periodical Publishers
This often-overlooked section is especially valuable for new nonfiction writers. Writing for periodicals is one of the best ways to build experience and credibility.
There’s both a biblical and a business principle: those who are faithful in small things will be trusted with more. Many aspiring authors try to skip straight to writing books, but smaller projects, like articles or short stories, help develop skill and discipline.
If you feel stuck, ask yourself what smaller opportunities you can pursue. Your blog or periodical writing may be the next step. There are hundreds of Christian periodicals publishing tens of thousands of articles each year. Writing for them helps you improve your craft, gain professional editing experience, and build your platform.
The Market Guide lists publications for adults, teens, children, and even writers. Publishing in periodicals also strengthens your book proposals by demonstrating to editors that you’re a proven writer.
My first published piece was an article for a homeschool magazine. The edits stung a bit, but the experience helped me grow. Writing for periodicals benefits your craft, confidence, and career.
Section 4: Specialty Markets
This section highlights publishers and printers that focus on specific types of content, and it is one of the Market Guide’s most unique features.
You’ll find listings for devotional booklets, greeting cards, gifts, gospel tracts, and Bible curriculum publishers. For example, daily devotional publishers serve millions of readers and constantly need new material.
If you’ve ever wanted to write gospel tracts or Bible curriculum, this section will point you to the right opportunities. It’s an excellent resource for writers looking to serve niche audiences and broaden their reach in Christian publishing.
Compared to secular market guides that include only a small Christian section, the Christian Writers Market Guide offers a denominational perspective.
Because it’s written by Christians for the Christian publishing community, it doesn’t lump Christian publishers together. A Catholic publisher and a strongly Reformed publisher are unlikely to publish each other’s books, so grouping them together isn’t helpful to authors.
The Market Guide helps you find the right publisher for the specific kind of Christian book you’re writing and the audience you’re trying to reach.
Section 5: Support for Writers
Agents
The print edition lists literary agents in this section. In addition to names and contact information, agents have written tips for how to pitch them and what they are looking for. Having tips from the agents themselves is incredibly helpful.
Some agents are craft-focused, others are platform-focused. Some specialize in fiction, others in nonfiction. Knowing this before you pitch can make all the difference. Even if you’re meeting an agent in person at a writers conference, it helps to look them up in the Market Guide beforehand.
A neutral third party vets the information. An agent’s website will always have useful details, but it’s self-written. The Market Guide gives you both information from the agent and confirmation that the data has been reviewed. That third-party perspective adds credibility and context.
Conferences
The Market Guide also features one of the most comprehensive lists of writers’ conferences in the country. In fact, conferences often stock and sell the Market Guide, so they make sure to list themselves in it. If you’re looking for a writers conference near you, this section is one of the best resources available.
The online version is continually updated throughout the year, while the print version is refreshed annually. The 2020 edition, for example, covers that year’s conferences and some of the next, but with an online membership, you’ll always have access to the latest listings.
Writers Groups
Many writers groups are run through churches or platforms like Meetup, so they’re not all included in the Market Guide. Still, it’s worth checking. You might be surprised to find a writers group just a few blocks from you.
Editorial Services
Every author needs an editor, regardless of how you plan to publish. Some traditionally published writers even hire editors before submitting their manuscripts or proposals to strengthen their chances.
If you’re independently publishing, editing isn’t optional; it’s essential. Skipping a professional edit will hurt your credibility. If you don’t have the budget for editing, save money until you do.
Even the Apostle Paul didn’t write alone. His letters were transcribed by a scribe who sometimes even signed his own name in the closing chapter. In Galatians, Paul takes the quill himself and writes, “See what large letters I use as I write this myself.” The point is, if Paul needed help, so do we. Everyone needs an editor.
Legal and Accounting Services
The Market Guide also lists legal and accounting services. If you ever need a lawyer or accountant who specializes in working with authors, you’ll find them here. Investing a bit in expert advice can save you from costly mistakes that result in lawsuits or audits.
Speaking Services
These organizations exist to help authors book speaking engagements or list themselves in directories. For writers looking to expand their public speaking schedule, this information is incredibly useful.
Writing Education Resources
This section features a robust list of podcasts for Christian authors. If you thought this was the only podcast for Christian writers, I have good news: there are many others.
Some focus on writing craft, others on marketing, and still others on the spiritual side of the writing journey, helping authors grow in their walk with Christ as they write. It’s a great list of resources from people with different areas of expertise.
Writing Contests
If you want to become an award-winning author, the easiest way to win awards is to enter contests, assuming your writing is good. If your book still needs work, focus on improving your craft first; otherwise, you’ll just spend money on entry fees without achieving results.
Discounts
That leads to another major feature: the paper version includes more than $500 in discounts for courses through the Christian Writers Institute. Plans are underway to add these discounts to the online version as well. You can buy the Market Guide and then use those discounts to invest in your writing education.
What are the pros and cons of the print and online versions?
The print version is a one-time purchase that you can keep as long as you like, but it becomes less accurate over time. The publishing industry changes constantly. Staff turnover is high, and editors frequently move between publishers.
Joe Smith may be at Publisher X one year, with Publisher Y the next, and with Publisher Z the year after that. The downside of the paper version is that the longer you have it, the less accurate it becomes. The editor you thought was at Publisher X may have already moved to Publisher Y.
The advantage of the online version is that, even though you pay for it annually, it is always up to date. As soon as Publisher X moves, the market guide is notified, often by the editor themselves.
Steve Laube is both the publisher of the market guide and the head agent at the Steve Laube Agency. He is in constant communication with all the major publishers, interacting with them about new projects and existing books. Often, he receives an email when someone is leaving a company, and sometimes even before it happens.
As someone who worked as an agent in the agency, I can vouch for this. Steve is often among the first to know about industry changes. His network and insight are a big part of what makes the market guide so valuable. If you’ve ever wanted to pick Steve’s brain and know what he knows, the market guide can’t give you everything, but it does offer a glimpse into his knowledge of the industry and the people within it.
One of the hardest parts of being an agent is keeping track of names. There are hundreds of publishers, dozens of people at each one, and tens of thousands of authors. Steve has an incredible ability to remember who’s who and how everyone is connected.
How much does the Christian Writers Market Guide cost?
I highly recommend checking out the market guide, especially now that it’s so affordable. The online version costs only $10 per year. For that price, you can explore all its features, submit to periodicals, and find potential opportunities.
If you land just one paid article using the market guide, it will likely pay for itself, since most publications pay more than $10 per article.
The new pricing makes the market guide much more accessible. However, there will only be one print run this year. Last year, we sold out the first printing and had to do a second. This year, there are no plans for a reprint. Once it sells out, you’ll have to find a used copy or get the online version.
If you want the print edition, order soon to make sure you get one.
Two Versions
Sponsor
Our sponsor today is the Christian Writers Institute, which offers a free course titled How to Use The Christian Writers Market Guide (free)
The course, hosted by Bob Hostetler, guides you step by step, showing you how to make the most of it. Simply buying a copy and leaving it on your shelf won’t help—it looks impressive but does nothing for your writing career unless you actually use it.
The Christian Writers Institute course will help you learn how to do just that.