Writers & Artists

Writers & Artists is Bloomsbury Publishing's online community for writers, built around the legacy of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook — a reference title first published in 1906 that is now in its 119th edition. With 70,000+ registered subscribers, it is one of the largest UK-based writer communities online, offering free craft resources, professional editorial services, and a regular calendar of live events.

What You Get#

• Free craft articles: Hundreds of articles on fiction, nonfiction, children's writing, and publishing craft — accessible without registration.
• Community forums: Genre-specific groups, manuscript extract sharing, and peer feedback threads for registered members.
• Editorial services: Professional manuscript assessments by freelance editors — from opening chapters to full-length reviews. The full manuscript review service includes a 30-minute follow-up call and structural feedback on dialogue, pace, plot, and characterisation.
• Masterclasses and events: Annual in-person UK events including the Bournemouth Writing Festival (April, 1,000+ attendees), How to Get Published conferences in rotating UK cities (~£75 per day), and genre writing festivals.
• Yearbook database subscription: The paid core product — a searchable database of literary agents, publishers, and industry contacts from the Yearbook. Available in 3-, 6-, and 12-month tiers (WAYB / CWAYB / WAYB+). Priced in GBP, not included in free community access.

Who It's For#

• UK writers querying literary agents: The Yearbook database is the clearest reason to pay. It provides current, searchable contact data near-essential for traditional submissions.
• Writers preparing for agent submission: The editorial services are framed around "what agents look for," making them well-suited to pre-submission manuscript polish.
• Indie authors seeking editorial feedback: The manuscript assessment services are usable by self-publishing authors who need developmental feedback before self-publishing — the editorial quality reflects Bloomsbury's professional standards regardless of your publishing path.

Pricing: Community access and craft articles are free. Masterclass events cost approximately £45–£95 per session. Editorial services are priced per engagement; the full manuscript review service is in the £200–£400 range (exact pricing requires inquiry; 30-minute follow-up call included). All prices are in GBP. Yearbook database subscriptions are available at tiered annual rates.

Strengths#

• Established credibility: The Yearbook brand has served UK writers since 1906. The Bloomsbury connection is genuine, not a marketing affiliation.
• Free content depth: The advice library covers both traditional and self-publishing paths in detail, accessible without registration.
• Live event access: In-person UK writing events are rare; W&A's regular calendar (Bournemouth, Manchester, Leicester) provides real networking and learning opportunities for UK-based authors.
• Points reward system: Community engagement earns points redeemable for discounts on events and editorial services.

Limitations#

• Traditional-publishing primary focus: The paid core product (Yearbook database) is designed for agent queries. Indie authors will find limited utility in the subscription tiers.
• UK-only events: All masterclasses and festivals are in-person in the UK — no online equivalent for international or US-based authors.
• Forum UX limitations: Community members have reported difficulty replying to posts. The forum lacks the structured workshop exchange of platforms like Scribophile.
• Self-publishing content is introductory: Indie-specific resources are thin compared to ALLi, Wide for the Win, or SPF Community. The platform treats self-publishing as an alternative path, not a primary focus.
• Conference clarification: W&A sponsors (but does not organize) the UK Self-Publishing Conference, which is run independently by Troubador Publishing in Leicester. This is a separate event, not a W&A membership benefit.
• Editorial pricing not transparent: Exact manuscript review pricing is not publicly displayed and requires direct inquiry.

Alternatives#

ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) is the stronger choice for self-publishing authors seeking a UK-based professional community with contract guidance, service vetting, and indie-specific programming.