Reddit reviews Writer's Market 2018: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published

Have you tried [Writer's Market] (https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Market-2018-Trusted-Published/dp/1440352631)? It's pretty much the bible for freelance magazine writers just getting started.

Not necessarily.

Those are new agents. A new agent is a mixed bag, on one hand they're hungry for clients (so they're more likely to take you on) and they don't have many clients already (so they're more likely to spent time on you). On the other hand, they're new, and being an agent is about connections and experience. They could be great, they could be not-great.

There's reasons to go that route and focus on new agents, but you should be aware of the risks.

The list I was referring to is called the Writer's Market. You can probably subscribe to it on their website, or you can buy the physical version: https://www.writersdigestshop.com/browse-by-product/market-books/2018-market-books

Or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Market-2018-Trusted-Published/dp/1440352631

You should invest in a copy of the Writer's Market (though it's probably late enough in the year to look for the 2019 edition so you can stay up to date on competitions. Don't feel like you have to buy it every year, though. Having 1 version of it is enough, but if it's your first time buying it, might as well be as current as possible.)

It's a massive collection of magazines, agents, publishing companies, and competitions, as well as information about each. They have smaller versions that are more specific to poetry, novels & short stories, and probably also non-fiction. You can easily find them on amazon.

1. Take creative writing class. Take several. A community college might have a few options. Barring this, a storytelling class at a local community center.
   
   
2. Start a blog. Gain following. This is important for Step 4.
   
   
3. Everything you need to know about the market: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440352631
   
   
4. Write query letters to agents listed in the above book. Under "author marketing" mention your blog in step 2.
   
   ....
   
   
   Alternatively, commission someone to ghostwrite for you. This depends on how much you have to spend and how much they charge.
   
   Alternatively, or in conjunction with this, self-publish via print on demand services.