The PR Writer: Writer Scams

by Gloria

I promised to tell you about scams that target writers, especially writers of fiction. The reason these scams are so successful is because we writers are so desperate. But the Web is helping to expose fake literary agents and others whose dark intent is to take advantage of hapless, ever-hopeful writers.

Three of the most common scams that target writers are:

• A fake literary agent who charges you a fee to read or submit your novel to publishers.
• A fraudulent vanity publisher who takes your money and never prints your book, or prints far fewer copies than what you paid for, or fails to follow through with the promised marketing and distribution.
• A fake contest that promises publication to all who enter.

One of the best Web sites on the subject, Writer Beware, includes detailed information about literary agents, independent editors, vanity/subsidy publishers, contests, copyright, electronic rights, and online publication.

Preditors and editors informs writers about scam publishers and warns them to be wary of publishers that openly advertise for writers, give no advances, have no books in the bookstores, and ask you to sign contracts that prohibit complaints.

If you want to check the legitimacy of a literary agent, go to Agent Research & Evaluation. This site separates the charlatans from the legitimate authors’ representatives, then helps you select which of these literary agents is right for you and your work at this stage of your career.

Consider it a red alert if you are ever solicited by someone claiming that your writing is fabulous. Writers hardly ever get solicited by legitimate literary agents or publishers. Somebody once said of writing that it is like prostitution: first you do it for free, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money.

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