I had backed out of my recent contract offer from a very good publishing company mainly because I didn't understand something. I won't get into it.

I have sent the query to another publisher on Evolution of the Fallen in hopes that this novel will be published. Just hoping and praying...

In this thread are some excerpts that you all might like.

Thanks,

MJ

I was going to ask you about this. Write Beware has gotten word that Black Rose Writing has turned into a vanity press. They use some fancy descriptions to disguise this fact ("An investment from the author will show your dedication to promotion...", etc).

I am glad you got out. Black Rose showed some promise. Too bad.

There were quite a few publishers that I had on my list that had "hidden" "author participation" clauses. Some required the purchase of x number of books. Others required an up front payment that would be paid back through royalties. They looked great at the outset......

It's sad, the way some outfits exploit writers. I remember being excited by first acceptance by a now defunct outfit. They sent me an email that said, "We need you guarantee xxx amount of sales." and I said, "No, thank you."

Could somebody explain what they mean more concerning the publishers exploiting authors?

DK, you should publish that list here. I'd be happy to spread it around elsewhere.

Liam, that's a deep topic, but a simple version is that writers are seen as cash cows for a lot of shady business that want to get money from the hopes and aspirations

Much of this is in the form of books and seminars and courses that charge for promises that it will make you a star.

Much is in the form of "vanity presses" that charge exorbitant rates to publish books. Many advertise in writers magazines and websites. Thes claims are almost always exaggerated or flat-out fraudulent.

There are often agents or so-called agents that ask for money to represent a book--a practice against the ethics of the AAR and to be avoided without exception. Ditto people who say they will submit for you or who will place your work places where you can get discovered.

Personally, I don't think there is really anything a writer, especially a new writer, needs to spend money on. Anything you can find in a book you can find on the internet, and use forums like this one as a guide. Also, there are books in the library.

But absolutely, definitely, avoid any sort of scheme that wants you to pay to get published or promoted.

Nothing to worry about until you have a book ready to show, but it's well to know that there are a lot of traps for young writers and to get informed before you sign or pay anything.

If an agent wants your book, ask him/her what publishers she/he has worked with...what books she/he has sold, and to who?

Some true agents will want you to pay for copies, and mailing...that is oaky.

When I am ready to submit, I will seek out an agent who works with big publishers. The reason I want a big publisher, they don't rum scams. Well, not all of them...lol.