If you are an aspiring writer, you have probably encountered numerous advertisements and promotions that offer you a golden opportunity to get your work published. While some of these advertisements may be legitimate, it is important to be wary and aware of submission scams. Submission scams are schemes that prey on inexperienced writers who are hoping to get their work published.
Submission scams can take on many forms, but they all have one thing in common: they want to take your money. If you are not careful, you may end up wasting money, time, and effort on a submission scam, leaving you with nothing to show for your hard work.
So, what are submission scams, and how can you avoid them? In this article, we will take a closer look at these scams and provide some tips on how to avoid them.
What Are Submission Scams?
Submission scams are fraudulent schemes that prey on aspiring writers. These scams come in many forms, but they all involve a company or individual who promises to get your work published for a fee.
The most common types of submission scams include:
- Vanity publishers: These are companies that charge writers to publish their work, usually in e-book or print-on-demand format. While some vanity publishers may be legitimate, many are not. They will often charge writers exorbitant fees to publish their work, and the resulting book may be of poor quality, with little or no marketing support.
- Agent scams: These scams involve someone posing as a literary agent who promises to represent your work. The fraudster will often ask for a fee upfront or require you to pay for editing services before they will consider representing you. In most cases, these so-called agents are fraudsters who have no intention of representing your work.
- Online contests: Some online writing contests charge entry fees, promising great rewards for the winners. While some of these contests may be legitimate, many are not. The organizers of these contests may have no real intention of awarding prizes, or worse, they may be collecting personal information from entrants for nefarious purposes.
- Reading fees: Some publishers and literary magazines charge "reading fees" to consider writers' work for publication. While some established literary magazines may charge reading fees to offset costs, most reputable publishers and literary magazines do not charge fees for submissions.
How to Avoid Submission Scams
Now that you know what submission scams are, let's look at some tips on how to avoid them.
- Do your research: Before submitting your work to any publisher, agent or contest, do your research. Check the company's or individual's credentials, read reviews, and find out about their previous publications and winners. Be wary of any company or person that does not have a track record of successful publications or that has numerous negative reviews.
- Watch out for upfront fees: Legitimate publishers and agents do not charge upfront fees to consider work. Be wary of any company or individual that asks for money before they have even read your work, or that requires you to pay for editing services or other related services in order to be considered for publication. While some self-publishing services may charge a fee, legitimate companies will be transparent about their costs and will not make any false promises.
- Be suspicious of uninvited solicitations: Legitimate publishers and agents are usually flooded with submissions and do not need to solicit work. Be wary of any unsolicited emails or letters you receive that promise to publish your work. Also, be suspicious of any company or individual that makes false promises or uses high-pressure tactics to get you to sign up for their services.
- Read the submission guidelines: Legitimate publishers and contests will have clear submission guidelines that outline their requirements. Be sure to read these guidelines carefully and follow them closely. If a publisher or contest does not have clear submission guidelines or if their requirements are vague, it may be a sign of a scam.
- Be cautious of unusual requests: Be wary of any requests that are unusual or out of the ordinary. For example, be cautious of any request for personal information beyond what is required for submissions, or any request for money orders or wire transfers. Legitimate publishers and agents have standard practices and will not ask for anything beyond what is needed to consider your work.
- Trust your gut: Finally, trust your gut instincts. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If an offer sounds suspicious or doesn't feel right, it is likely a scam. Listen to your intuition and keep your guard up.
Conclusion
Submission scams are a serious threat to aspiring writers, but with some research and caution, you can avoid them. Remember to be wary of upfront fees, solicitations, and unusual requests. Always read submission guidelines carefully and trust your gut instincts. With persistence and patience, you can find reputable publishers, agents, and contests that will help you achieve your writing goals.