I have recently read yet another horror story of brand-new-author-getting-the-shaft-from-a-so-called-publisher. I feel awful for the author when I see those.
Mandy DeGeit shared her experience on her blog, here. This is actually the follow up post and she does link back to what actually happened.
Now, I know I am not the writing guru. I'm not the one everyone runs to for advice. But I do know what its like to fall into something and you have no idea how to get out of it, how to breathe...
How to get that huge, crushing weight off of your chest and figure out how to get that tattoo of "MORON" off your forehead.
You know its there, everyone else is just too polite to point it out.
You have to research anyone interested in publishing your work. Just because you can't find the dirt on them doesn't mean it isn't out there. Ask people. If you have a blog with a following or a network tool like Twitter and FaceBook, ask people. There are all kinds of links and sites to find stuff on publishers.
And just because some hack fancies himself a publisher doesn't make him one.
Check out Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write Water Cooler and Google the hell out of these people. Most importantly... follow your gut instinct. You'll know if the publisher is right for you.
But still research them to death.
6 comments:
I hate hearing these stories. I feel for the authors.
It's terrible when it happens.
Ouch! If a "publisher" and their "editors" can't spell and have no idea about punctuation then the least that they can do is leave things alone!
I hate hearing these stories too, but it happens. People like Mandy are brave enough to try and do what's right. She didn't take it lying down, that's for sure.
And yeah, if they can't spell or know where to put that little dot called a period or the cute little crooked thing called a comma, then they need to find someone else who does.
Will follow the link. Another option is to find authors who published with the company you are researching, email them and ask how their experience was in working with that publisher, from editing to getting royalty checks.
I am retweeting this. I whole heartedly agree with this blog. And like Karen G said,"check with their other writers and see what they say", that is an awesome idea. Also, look for a place that has repeat writers. Most of the time it’s just a mismatch of publisher and writer. But I will go out on limb which I never do and say this, mismatch is one thing, abuse of a writer is another. Writers are reasonable people if you explain what’s going on, like Mel here :) (love you, Mel) they understand. Why be abusive, there is no need and it’s completely unacceptable and illegal. However, back to the other subject, if you are in hurry to get your book out there, you might want to self-publish or perhaps not go with a publisher that takes 2 years for your book to come out. And in a lot cases, it does take that long, ask the publisher, they don’t want an unhappy writer either. So ask questions and please, please read that contract first. Or if you want your cover a certain way, find a publisher that puts out good covers. It’s not like it used to be where a publisher advanced you so much you just didn’t care. It’s now a joint effort between publisher and writer, and a joint effort it will be.
Warm regards,
Dawn
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