How to avoid writer services scams

[Quantum]

It’s worthwhile pointing out that there are many ineffective or poorly run services out who are more than willing to separate authors from their hard-earned currency—not to mention the predators. The SFWA (established in 1965 and a tireless advocate for writers) has a section, appropriately titled “Writers Beware”, dedicated to advising on shady practices and how to vet services.

http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/f...

[Graeme]

Thanks Alex, great resource.

[Justin]

I get so many e-mails saying Hello, we want to help market or promote your book, blah, blah, blah..

First way I know it's a scam besides the fact that I've never heard of the e-mail address is when they address me with Hello without me name afterwards. This is also how a lot of Amazon e-mail scams get out too.

[Quantum]

Totally agree!

[Adrian]

You know how I know a writer services email is a scam?

Because they sent me an email.

[G.R.]

Adrian wrote: "You know how I know a writer services email is a scam?

Because they sent me an email."

That is hilarious because it is true. If I were in the market for a company to help market my writing, I will do my own research to find an agent or company that has an established reputation and that the work they have represented/promoted aligns with the type of book I am trying to sell.

[Jim]

Most public libraries dedicate entire sections to books, directories, and articles in periodicals, including contact information written by professionals within the literary field who have well-established reputations and have achieved substantial commercial success.

Very few things worthwhile come easy. If a writer wishes to attain commercial success within this extremely competitive field, they must be willing to expend the time, effort, energy, and resources to do so.

A well-known axiom: If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

[Graeme]

Adrian wrote: "You know how I know a writer services email is a scam?

Because they sent me an email."

Great point, Adrian.

[Graeme]

Jim wrote: "Most public libraries dedicate entire sections to books, directories, and articles in periodicals, including contact information written by professionals within the literary field who have well-est..."

Indeed. All good points.

[Adrian]

No-one...repeat no-one...contacts you to provide a writer's service without wanting to scam you.

Proper publishers never contact you until blown away by your brilliance...and even then it's 99.999% of the time after you contact them.

Someone contacts you first...I'd be wary to say the least.

[Graeme]

Adrian wrote: "No-one...repeat no-one...contacts you to provide a writer's service without wanting to scam you.

Proper publishers never contact you until blown away by your brilliance...and even then it's 99.999..."

Spot on.

In other news, a Nigerian prince wants me to help launder his oil fortune through my bank account....

[J.J.]

what must be like to work for such a company? Do you think writers got out of school and figured the way to make money was scamming others? Do you think these "publishers" don't even have writing credentials?

[Adrian]

No, they have scamming credentials.

Granted, it can be hard to tell the difference sometimes...

[Gary]

Justin wrote: "I get so many e-mails saying Hello, we want to help market or promote your book, blah, blah, blah..

First way I know it's a scam besides the fact that I've never heard of the e-mail address is whe..."

I am plagued by them as well, particularly on Instagram. I will not indulge.

[Julia]

I have been bombarded by these this week. About seven emails already, often from the same people sending twice. Also Goodreads members posting similar questions here on my page. Lots of people asking for free copies to review, or saying they can help me reach 5000 reviews on Amazon.

[Adrian]

I get those emails to my website all the time.

[Julia]

How are they getting my email address? I have taken it off my website.

[Ian]

There is a small industry in collecting email addresses, usually by hacking into large websites that have millions of them. They are then curated and sold off to scammers.

[Adrian]

I have been getting the same email from different sources suggesting the sender wants to ask a question about my (unnamed) book which is unsuitable for public boards. They provide an email address and advise they don't do PMs via goodreads or facebook.

I was suspicious the first time, but having had it three or four times now from different "people" I assume it's a physhing bot.

[Julia]

I just got an email from Ben Fox of Shepherd .com asking to feature my book Coincident on the website. They got the name of the book correct in the email, but I'm always concerned when they don't tell me how they got my contact information. (Genuine people say, "I read your article online," or "___ gave me your name.) There are so many external links in the email; I feel like they are all going to send viruses to my computer.

[Adrian]

I think Ben is legit. I gave him my book The Fighting Man and some other copy written by me to market on his site (for free) - not that I've noticed any uptick in sales.

[Ian]

The first question is do they want money? If so, keep an eye on what happens next. Of course legit guys work for money but scammers only think go money.