Today (2 July) sees the launch of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2016, the latest instalment of the annual directory for writers, designers, illustrators and photographers. Published by Bloomsbury, the book contains 4,500 key industry listings, alongside information on copyright, finance, submitting a manuscript, e-publishing, self-publishing, agents, publishers, prizes and awards. New additions this year include articles on writing historical fiction, writing about food, travel writing, becoming a published poet and electronic publishing.

To mark the launch, Bloomsbury is calling for successful authors and publishers who found the handbook helpful when starting out themselves to put their names to the #istartedhere campaign. They hope that interested authors and publishers will use the hashtag and retweet the Writers & Artists Twitter account today to indicate to those just starting out how useful the book can be. Authors who have expressed interest in the campaign so far include Martina Cole, Samantha Shannon, John Boyne, Rose Tremain, Stephen Kelman, Tony Ross and Pippa DaCosta.

The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook was first published in 1906, when it listed seven literary agents and 89 publishers. It now covers newspapers and magazines, books, poetry organisations, television, film and radio broadcasters, theatre, literary agents, art and illustration, societies, prizes and festivals, digital and self-publishing, resources for writers, copyright and libel information, and finance for writers and artists. Its associated website was launched in 2007, featuring regular guest posts from authors offering advice and a social networking feature.