Book excerpt: 'A one-stop welcome to the world of publishing ... worth its weight in gold.' Smriti Halls Over the last two decades the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook has become the indispensable guide to writing for children of all ages from pre-school to young adults. It is an essential item for any bookshelf, it includes advice, tips and inspiration for authors and illustrators working across all forms: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screen, audio and theatre and magazines. It also covers the financial, contractual, and legal aspects of being a writer and illustrator. Its directory of 1,200 listings with contacts are updated yearly to provide the most up-to-date information across the media and publishing industry. It also includes over 50 articles by award-winning writers and illustrators covering all stages of the writing and illustration process from getting started, writing for different markets and genres, and preparing an illustration portfolio, through to submission to literary agents and publishers. Additional articles, free advice, events information and editorial services at www.writersandartists.co.uk