Writer's Rip-Offs

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Summary: Writers are prime targets for scammers. Here's how to avoid the most common scams.

Category: Writing

Words: 1200

Writer's Rip-Offs

Copyright (c) 2003 by Angela Booth

People who want to write form a huge market. According to
Writer's Digest magazine, ten per cent of the US population want
to be writers, and I assume that the numbers are similar in other
countries.

And where there's a market, there are scams. All over the world,
you can see vultures' eyeballs light up with dollar signs, can't
you?

If you're an aspiring writer, you can avoid becoming fodder for
vultures very easily. All you need to remember is: *writers get
paid to write*.

Let's look at some of the most common scams.

=> The "We're Looking For New Writers" Scam

Professional hard-working agents and editors don't need to look
for new writers. Ever. They don't have the time, because as soon
as they hang out their shingle, writers find them. This applies
to book and screenplay agents, and magazine, book, and Web site
editors. Once writers find them, there aren't enough hours in the
day to read, advise, and make deals for the writers on their
lists.

So when you read "we're looking for new writers" a big warning
light should go for you. This is your signal to run as fast as
you can in the opposite direction.

If the person displaying "we're looking for new writers" purports
to be agent, it means that there's a rip-off involved. Usually
the so-called agent will ask you for money. Perhaps to edit your
book, or to send your manuscript to editors, or some other silly
reason. Remember Writers Get Paid To Write.

A legitimate agent may ask you to cover out of pocket expenses,
like photocopying and messenger fees before she signs a deal for
you. I don't approve, to be honest. Fees like this are just the
cost of doing business, and if the agent wants to represent you,
she should cover them. (Ask yourself whether you really want an
agent who can't cover her own office fees.) However, some legit
agents do ask new clients who aren't earning to cover these
charges. I'd recommend that if you're asked, you tell the agent
to take them out of the first deal she makes for you. Up to $100
in expenses is reasonable.

If a magazine or a Web site displays "we're looking for new
writers", come on. This is the publication's way of getting free
content. If you're an established, published writer, and you're
using this venue to promote yourself, then you may want to use
the venue in a quid quo pro fashion. I send out free articles
almost daily to Web sites so that I get a higher profile on the
Web, and to promote Digital-e.

But if you're a new writer what "we're looking for new writers"
means at a magazine or Web site is: "we don't pay money". Of
course you need clips, but write for venues which pay. Your clips
will mean more. If you're a new writer, you can't afford to write
for free --- you won't learn anything. And you can't afford to
write for promotion, because you have nothing to promote.

=> The "Contest Entry Free" Scam

Stay away from contests run by people and organizations you've
never heard of.

Not all contests are scams. Some writer's organizations run
contest for their members, and charge a small entry fee, and
these are legitimate. If you're a member of a large writer's
organization, or buy a writer's magazine, and they're running a
contest, relax, enter, have fun with it, and good luck.

One proviso: make sure that you get something out of your entry.
Will an editor from a large publishing house request a submission
from you if you win? Will you win money? (Remember: *writers get
paid to write*.)

However, if it's a contest run by an organization you've never
heard of, and they want you to pay $25, $50 or $100 dollars, and
assure you that your poem or short story will appear in a book of
"Best" entries at some date in the future, and this is your great
opportunity to see your work in print, ignore them. It's a scam.

=> The "Book Editor or Book Doctor" Scam

Never pay for editing. Never pay for a book doctor.

Remember: *writers get paid to write*.

When you sell a book to a publisher, they pay the editor. That's
why you approach major publishers, because they hire good
editors. A good editor is a writer's dream, because a good editor
can make your work much better, and can thereby teach you to
become a better writer. Being edited is painful, but it's a huge
opportunity to learn.

If you've sold a book to a publisher, and your editor feels that
the book needs major structural help, your editor may hire a book
doctor, after consultation with you. A book doctor can help turn
an already good book into a great book.

However, again, remember: *writers get paid to write*. You don't
pay for the book doctor. The publishing house pays, up front.
They may want to deduct the book doctor's fees from your
royalties, and you can negotiate that with them. But you pay
nothing up front. You're doing the writing, remember, and after
the book doctor has recommended revisions, YOU are the one who'll
need to write those revisions.

If you're an unpublished writer, have no agent and no publisher,
and someone calls themselves a book doctor or editor and wants
money from you, tell them to take a hike. You get edited for
free, once you sell your book.

=> The "Vanity Publishing" Scam

Vanity publishing is when you pay a publisher to publish your
book. Generally thousands of dollars. The vanity publisher
assures you your book will be reviewed, and will be in all the
book stores. He's lying.

Self-publishing on the other hand, is legitimate. If you're self-
publishing, you pay a printer a few thousand dollars to print a
thousand books, which you intend to sell yourself, either on your
Web site, or by traveling around book stores with the books in
the trunk of your car, or by selling at fairs, or when you give
talks, or when you give a seminar. If you self-publish, more
power to you. Self-publishing is a time-honored tradition, and
many writers have taken the self-publishing route to fame and
fortune.

Vanity publishing is different. In vanity publishing, the
publisher assures you that as well as arranging to have your book
printed, the company will distribute it. If you hear this, you're
about to get scammed. Run. Remember *writers get paid to write*.

How do you know you're being ripped off? Remember: *writers get
paid to write*. If you don't get paid real money, you may be
getting scammed.

How do you foil the rip-off merchants? Some ways:

* Write a lot, every day. You learn to write by writing;

* Trust your instincts, but use the Internet, especially
Google.com, to check out people (agents, publishers, editors) you
intend going into business with --- remember, publishing is a
business, not a charity;

* Learn something new every day;

* Love writing. If you love writing enough, all the rip-offs in
the world can't hurt you.

Good luck with your writing.

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