If you're serious about making a living as a writer, whether it's through freelance journalism, book authorship, corporate writing, or anything in between, one of the best tools to help you get there and stay there is the latest edition of Writer's Market.

 Edited by Robert Lee Brewer, the newest 2012 Writer's Market was released by Writer's Digest Books this past September. For years, this indispensable resource of information on where and how to sell your work has been a must-have reference for working and aspiring writers alike.

The meat of the book is the extensive section listing publishers and key facts about each one. Here, you'll find information on submission policies, royalty and per-word pay rates, average response times, wants and needs, what to avoid, and more. The listings are well-organized, with consumer magazines, trade journals, and book publishers each having their own section. The groupings are further divided into smaller categories that allow the reader to find what they need quickly, be it a small press publisher of science fiction books for adults or a consumer magazine that's interested in feature articles on health topics.

Also highly useful to the new writer in particular are the book's tutorials on the basics every writer should know, from crafting an outstanding query letter to information on filing your taxes and what to charge for your writing services.

The bad thing about the Writer's Market is that it needs to be replaced often due to the nature of the publishing industry. Publishers and their needs tend to transform quickly and frequently, so it pays to get the latest edition. The 2012 Writer's Market is available now in paperback or Kindle edition. Pick it up, grab a pen, and make 2012 the year you start getting paid for doing what you love!