An Interview with Sally Stuart

Sally Stuart has influenced many writers with her Christian Writers' Market Guide. With this tool, she has devoted 27 years to informing writers of accurate, up-to-date information in the publishing world.

The Christian Writers' Market Guide provides a plethora of information! Any writer can discover which publisher might accept a devotional, fiction story, missions article, or Sunday School how-to. You name it- it's there. Writers/Authors can also find web sites, word count, editor's names, needs, addresses, etc. all in one handy dandy resource.

Sally has graciously agreed to spend time with us in a two-part interview. Part two will be posted Wednesday, April 13th.

Welcome Sally!  

#1 The Christian Writers' Market Guide is a vast resource. After all your work every single year, what did you take away from the project?

First of all, tons of great memories and special friendships. It's been great to have the ongoing relationships with both writers and editors for all these years. Probably most important is that God calls us to certain tasks we feel unprepared and unequipped for--but He knows what He's doing.  I would never have launched the market guide if I didn't believe it was exactly the right path for me. As writers we always have to be open to His leading--even when the path is scary.

Yes, the path can be scary. #2 How did the project start: your idea, marketing, etc.?

Actually, it wasn't even my idea. I was freelancing at the time and was always on the lookout for new markets for my own writing. As a result of that I started doing the marketing column in what was then The Christian Writer (now the Christian Communicator). It was published in Florida at that time, and I'd gone to visit the editors while I was in the area. At the time I was preparing to teach a marketing class at a writers' conference, so asked the editor if he would pay for a mailing if I sent a little questionnaire out to some of the editors asking for some current market needs I could put in a handout. He agreed, but later suggested that if I sent out a few more questionnaires and put the info together in a book, he would publish it. I agreed--and the rest--as they say--is history. Of course, I had no idea then that it would become my life's work for the next 27 years.

I have had articles published thanks to the market guide. I'm grateful for your ministry. #3 Will you share a success story from someone who used this book? 

I don't think of one specific success stories, but I have writers come up to me all the time and tell me of sales they have made--whether it was their first devotional--a series of novels--or anything in between. The reason the market guide has been so successful itself over the years is because it doesn't matter what you are writing or where you are in your writing career, it's always there to take you to the next step--whatever that step is.

#4 Who is taking over the Writer's Market Guide and what would you like to share with those who are curious about the next step?

This week we are signing final papers to transfer ownership of the guide to Jerry Jenkins (Left Behind series) with the Christian Writers' Guild. The former director of the Guild, Kerma Murray, will be doing the actual work on the guide. The guide will go on pretty much as it has in the past, although they will likely make some changes to improve it as the years go on. The publisher's plan is to put it online eventually. I know those who are on the list to get the guide automatically every year as soon as it comes out are asking if they will honor those orders--and the answer is: Yes. The questionnaires have already gone out for the 2012 edition, but if there are new groups, conferences, or editorial services you want added, just contact them at marketguide@christianwritersguild.com.

If you are asking about my next step--I think it's a long nap. No, I hope to get back to my own writing. The responsibilities of the guide have kept me from doing much of that over all these years, so I'm excited about starting over. I will also continue doing book proposal and book contract evaluations, as well as teaching at conferences.

Let's have some fun, #5 what has been your dream?

I would love to write a novel, but because my nonfiction brain works inside little organized boxes, I'm not very good at the free thinking required for plotting. But who knows?


Thank you Sally!  I think we'd all like to encourage you to write a novel. We're your cheerleaders.

If you are interested in contacting Sally, you'll find her at: 

Sally Stuart

stuartcwmg@aol.com

www.stuartmarket.com

www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com

What questions do you have for Sally? 

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Part II of this interview will be posted  Wednesday, April 13th