Avoiding Scams in the Publishing Industry

The publishing world is full of opportunities and professionals who can help you achieve your goals. However, you have to be careful out there, as scams are rampant. Knowing what to look for saves time and money, and it helps you come closer to your dream of sharing your work with the world.

Finding a Literary Agent

Literary agents don’t charge upfront fees, as they make money by earning a commission on book sales. For this reason, you should never pay someone to represent you, as they’ll likely take your money and run.

Before signing with an agent, research their track record. A good agent has sales with established publishers and positive client feedback. Check their listings on trusted sites like Agent Query, Agent Tracker, and Publishers Marketplace. If they promise big results without proof or can’t share books they’ve represented, that’s a big red flag.

Another thing to note is legitimate agents don’t reach out to writers directly (unless you’ve made significant sales, but even then it’s rare). They’ll expect them to query first. If someone contacts you claiming to be an agent and offers representation, it’s likely a scam. I’ve seen this scam pop up a lot on Facebook in particular.

Finding a Qualified Editor

It’s worth noting that not all editors are qualified. Some charge high rates without the experience to provide real value. They might have some experience in the literary world but lack knowledge of the publishing industry in particular, or they might have none at all. I’ve also seen individuals claim to be editors and then simply run the manuscript through a program like Grammarly.

A professional editor is transparent about their services, pricing, and background. They should have industry knowledge, past work samples, and testimonials. While they might not be able to provide the edits themselves due to client confidentiality, they should be able to share some titles of books they’ve worked on.

Be wary of anyone who guarantees publishing success, makes extravagant claims, or pushes you to make a decision before you’re comfortable. When you’re seeking an editor, ask if they offer a sample edit or consultation so you can get a sense of what they do before committing to a full edit. As many editors charge for these services, ask them what their policy is.

This goes for other publishing professionals such as formatters and cover designers as well. They should have testimonials and examples to back up what they say, as well as speak openly about their experience and expertise. If you’re looking for trusted individuals, you can always reach out to my partners for help.

Avoiding Vanity Presses

Vanity presses charge authors to publish instead of selling books to readers. They often pose as traditional publishers but require expensive fees for editing, cover design, and marketing. Some signs of a vanity press include accepting all manuscript without vetting authors, as well as demanding thousands upfront and claiming books will be in major stores without proof.

But a traditional publisher pays the author, not the other way around. Research the press, read reviews, and check Writer’s Beware for warnings. You can also consult other writers in your network.

This is not to be mistaken with a hybrid press or assisted self-publisher, as they do split the cost with writers. The hybrid model can be a good fit for authors who want professional help but also want to maintain more control and ownership of their work. But you want to be sure that it is actually a hybrid press and not a vanity press in disguise.

If you’re looking for an excellent hybrid press, reach out to Contrarian to see if your manuscript is a fit.

Final Thoughts

Make sure to do your research before committing to any service. If something feels off, dig deeper. Knowing what to look for helps you focus on creating and sharing your work with the world. If you’re ever unsure if something is a scam, let me know, and I’ll be happy to ensure you’re in good hands.