Writers: Common Self-publishing Scams

In all of the years I’ve been writing professionally, I always hear from writers who consider publishing their own work independently. It’s one of the reasons NyreePress was birthed. (NyreePress is not a self-publishing company. Read our FAQs here.) Self-publishing is such a popular way authors are getting published– by the way, it’s also a booming industry since e-books are on the rise.

I hear many questions and concerns that writers have. They want to know who to trust, how I published my books and what all is involved in the process. The truth is, self-publishing is a great way to publish. It’s becoming more and more respectable because authors are learning the proper way to do so. But, there are a few things aspiring writers should know if they want to publish a book– a great book that is polished and appealing to readers. In the self-publishing world, it’s crucial to know what scams you should avoid.

Yesterday, I came across an article in LA Times about “Unhappy authors (who) file class action (law) suits against PublishAmerica.”

I wasn’t surprised by this article. This isn’t “new” news. There many scams out there. Quite honestly, just because someone calls themselves a reputable publisher, it doesn’t mean they really are.

When I began to tip-toe into the writing community, there were a few things experienced authors shared with me about the world of self- publishing:

• Many self-publishing companies charge obscene amounts of money to do things that you can do on your own or with a reputable Print-On-Demand service like the one Createspace offers.
• Some self-publishing companies have expensive start-up fees and make make false promises (i.e., they can get your book into local bookstores.. some even promise success.)
• Some self-publishing companies don’t offer great editing, book cover designs or book formatting. They may not specialize in these areas and these are important elements of your book! I have personally seen self-published books from authors and they did not look professional or appealing. The formatting was off and the design was horrible.

These are just a few examples. Before you consider any self-publishing company that ask for money, look carefully at the packages they offer. Examine them with a thick lens and decide for yourself if any one of these places will help or hurt your book and publishing experience.

Beware of the scams!

Thanks for visiting. Don’t forget, you can sign up for a free 30 minute consult by clicking here. Let’s talk about your book!

Question for You:

Have you considered self-publishing with any of the companies that have upfront cost? Do you have a bad self-publishing experience? I’d love it if you would comment below!

Happy Writing Today,

Kennisha

Photo source: Google images

Do you need a literary agent?

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It is a great big world out there for writers interested in publishing their books. So many choices stand before you and most times, you can feel like you’re standing at a fork in the road wondering, “Should I go left?” “Should I go right?” Traditional or Independent? Invest a few thousand dollars or Not? Another question that ends up in the minds of many writers is whether or not they should chose a literary agent.

In the traditional literary world, one of the most important and useful people to authors are literary agents, publicist and assistants. Over the coarse of the next few days, I’ll share my thoughts about each and if they are essential to your independent publishing needs.

Here are my thoughts about the role of a literary agent and if you should inquire about one as an independent author:

Literary Agents

When writers are interested in traditional publishing, they seek a literary agent. A literary agent works hand and hand with the author to land a deal with a traditional publisher. In the traditional publishing world, they are very helpful because most traditional houses won’t accept unsolicited submissions– meaning, if they didn’t meet you at a writing conference or already have met you prior to your interest in their publishing house, they are not interested in your material unless it’s through an agent.

I don’t have a literary agent. However, I have heard very different stories from different author’s about them. One award winning Christian writer shared how she has had the same literary agent for years. She’s helped her land great contracts with publishers! I love hearing stories like that. Unfortunately, not all stories about literary agents are successful. Some don’t work as proficient as others and aren’t that great at making deals with publishers. So, it’s very important to know that even if an agent is interested in your work, it’s no guarantee you’ll get a contract. And, there’s no guarantee that the contract you get will be what you are hoping for.

 You can search for a literary agent by Googling “Literary Agents”. It’s the best way I  know to do a great online search. Another way, is by going through a manuscript  submission service. I’d caution you here because some charge outrageous prices to  “help” you get an agent. I wouldn’t pay a red cent up front, in my opinion. Here are  two ways I suggest looking for a literary agent:

1. Sally Stuarts Christian Writers Marketing Guide. It’s a great book worth investing    in. Tons of great resources!

2. Writers Market. (www.writersmarket.com). This is a great website I frequently  visit. It gives you the ability to search for a literary agent, magazine or publisher. You can save query letter’s and book proposals on site and send them from there. This is a place I highly recommend.

In my opinion, a literary agent is not necessary for independent publishing. They do serve a great purpose for traditional publishing, though. If you are seeking traditional publishing, you should explore this option.