Tag Archive | WritersWeekly.com

“What are the benefits of going with a hybrid publisher?”

Published on May 13, 2021 author, author scams, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing career advice, writing scams

Ah, “hybrid.” Such a cool sounding word, right? But…

Are Authors REALLY This Desperate for Eyeballs?!

Published on April 7, 2021 author scams, promotional pitfalls, self-publishing, writing scams

Sadly, some authors will fall for this type of scam.

“A literary agency wants to represent my 12-year-old self-published book. Legit or not?”

Published on March 25, 2021 author scams, promoting your writing, writing scams

“Because I hear so many horror stories about companies like this agency scamming authors (and yes, they approached me first!), I’m…”

WHO’S SCAMMING GRANNY? Snakes That Prey on Elderly Authors

Published on March 10, 2021 author scams

Elderly authors are easy marks for scammers and thieves. Today, I’ll share the stories of several (semi-)fictional victims. These represent a combination of horror stories we’ve heard over the years.

Promote Your OWN Website, Not Your Publisher’s

Published on March 7, 2021 author, author scams, book marketing, pod complaints, Print on demand, self-publishing, writing career advice, writing scams

Author Andy was so excited! His new book was finished and he’d just approved his print galley. It was time to start selling books! His publishing company put his book up for sale on their website and sent him the URL where he could send people who wanted to purchase his book.
Andy didn’t have his own website or blog, but he didn’t think that would be a problem. Unfortunately, it was, on several fronts. And, while Andy and the other authors below are fictitious, the scenarios are based on real complaints we’ve received from authors over the years. In every case, had the author had their own website or blog, he or she would have lost few, if any, sales.

A publisher wants $4,000 to market my book to OTHER publishers?!

Published on February 19, 2021 author scams, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing scams

They are simply luring in authors, and then upselling them on worthless services.

A VERY Expensive Anthology Scam Targeting Writers

Published on February 5, 2021 author, author scams, writing career advice, writing scams

Authors must pay more than $1,000 to be included. It costs even more if the author wants his or her name on the cover…

Do NOT Pay Someone to Showcase Your Book at a “Virtual Book Fair!”

Published on December 31, 2020 author scams, book marketing, book signing advice, bookstores, promotional pitfalls, self-publishing, writing scams

I received an unsolicited phone call from a senior marketing consultant at a company that displays books at book fairs. She said her company was only taking 10 books to a book fair in Europe and they chose mine…

Author Claims Publisher Stopped Paying Royalties…and Then Released Paperback Edition After Contract Termination – In The News – 11/19/2020

Published on November 25, 2020 amazon, author scams, complaints, Complaints about specific publishers, legal, writing scams

Amazon censors another book…and then changes its mind; Big 5 publishers become 4 as Penguin buys Simon & Schuster; More censorship by Amazon; Can AI distinguish between conspiracy throery and truth?; Amazon gives new workers bonuses and old workers turkey vouchsters; The Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing pay $3M settlement after paying white males more than other journalists; Hilton Head magazine company ordered to pay to printer

“A publisher wants to charge me hundreds of dollars to ‘reprint’ something that is widely available for free online…”

Published on November 19, 2020 author scams, copyrights, promotional pitfalls, self-publishing

“They’re quoting me hundreds of dollars to reproduce the text in my book. But, there are countless websites that have already quoted this exact text by that author…”