Today, there are lots of ways for an aspiring author to get published. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of unscrupulous scammers ready to lead an inexperienced writer down the wrong path. The Society of Authors, the UK writers union, even put together a petition encouraging indie presses to do right by their authors.
Because there are so many pitfalls in the publishing industry, it’s led a lot of new writers to believe that any self-publishing service is a scam. But is that really true?
Above the petition, the SoA makes a point of saying, “Any legitimate publisher or service provider will be keen to commit to these principles and end bad practice” — which tells us something really important. Not all “service providers” are bad. Some even do a great job of supporting their authors! The trouble is it can be really hard to tell the difference between an author service and a vanity press.
We’ll take a closer look at each of these publishing paths, with some tips to keep you safe as you work to get your book out into the world.
What is a vanity press?
A vanity press is a self-publishing service (more on that below) that’s pretending to be a traditional publisher. They’re dishonest about what they’re offering authors, and they’ll often use aggressive marketing tactics to get a writer to spend more money on getting their book published. At their worst, a vanity press can even tie up the rights to your novel — meaning it no longer belongs to you, and you can’t legally publish it anywhere else.
These vanity presses make an author feel good about themselves (hence the name)… for a while. They’ll tell you your book is the next big thing, and it’ll be racing up the New York Times bestseller list. But first, you’ll have to cover some of the production and marketing costs. Before long you’ll notice that your bank account is slowly draining out its lifeblood, and nothing’s coming back in return.
What is a self-publishing service?
A legitimate self-publishing service is similar to a vanity press, but they don’t make any false claims about what they’re offering and are very clear about what your role is in the publishing process. They help authors who want to self publish by taking care of things like editing, typesetting, printing, cover design, and marketing.
These are all things you can do yourself if you want to self publish, but they can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. A self-publishing service just means you pay someone to do the hard parts for you.
If you submit your book to a self-publishing service and ultimately put it out into the world, you will still — and I cannot stress this enough — you will still be a self-published author. Not a traditionally published author. And there is nothing wrong with this, as long as you make a conscious and informed choice. If a self-publishing service tries to tell you that you will be traditionally published, beware.
Join our email list for authors
Join our email list for content and opportunities to help you develop your writing, promote your books, and build your author business.
How to uncover a vanity press in disguise
If you’re looking into a potential publishing service, there are a few things you should do first to make sure it’s the best place for your book.
Look at their services page
Remember, a self-publishing service isn’t a traditional publisher; they’re offering a paid service just like editors, cover designers, or publicists. This means that they should clearly outline what they’re offering. This might include tiered packages, or individual features like editing, typesetting, printing, marketing plan development, and so on.
Don’t panic if there aren’t any prices listed. This is because writers come to them with all different books and levels of expertise. A more seasoned writer with a 40,000 word novella wouldn’t want to be charged the same amount as a brand new writer with a 120,000 word epic, who needs a bit more mentorship. Final costs are often calculated based on word count, and sometimes how intensive the work will be.
Examine their promises
Remember that in publishing, there are no guarantees. If a publisher promises to make you the next New York Times bestseller, that’s a red flag. They can promise to take action, but not results.
A self-publishing service also shouldn’t be discerning about the clients it takes on. If they claim to be “very selective” and only take on “new authors who show exceptional promise”, they may be setting you up for a flattery bomb. You, yes you, can be one of the select few for the low low price of ten grand and your soul.
Run a background check
When approaching a potential indie press, there are two websites you should search in conjunction with the press’s name: WriterBeware, and AbsoluteWrite. WriterBeware is an author watchdog website that regularly posts about scams targeting aspiring authors. AbsoluteWrite is a forum in which writers regularly share their experience with unscrupulous publishers. If a vanity press has targeted authors before, there’s a good chance someone will be talking about it.
If nothing comes up in your search, that’s not a guarantee that nothing’s wrong. It just means move onto the next step.
Read that contract like your life depends on it
If you’re given a contract for your book (which all traditional presses, vanity presses, and some self-publishing services will do), read it very carefully to make sure you understand what’s being asked of you. In particular:
Watch out for fees or expenses that haven’t been previously discussed;
and,
don’t hand over any rights (if you’re self publishing, all the rights still belong to you).
It’s very tempting to jump on the first offer you get, but it won’t be worth it in the long run. If any clause makes you feel uncomfortable, move on to the next one.
When in doubt, ask for help
Contracts can be overwhelming if you’re not used to them, especially if the publisher or service is pressuring you with a mix of accolades and time constraints. The “you’re amazing!” but also “you’re only going to be amazing for the next 36 hours!” is a common tactic in publishing scams. If you’re feeling unsure, don’t be afraid to get a professional opinion.
Victoria Strauss, the owner of WriterBeware, offers free advice on potential author scams. Your local writer’s union is also a great place to start. Here are the main unions in majority English-speaking countries:
The Society of Authors (UK)
The Author’s Guild (USA)
The Irish Writers’ Union (Ireland)
The Writers’ Guild (Canada)
The Australian Society of Authors (Australia)
These unions will give advice on contracts and publishing paths to their members, and will even intervene in difficult situations.
Self-publishing is a more viable option than ever, but there are also a lot of hazards along the way. Stay safe out there.
Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and unapologetic daydreamer. Her work has been shortlisted and longlisted for a number of short story prizes, and you can find her writing in publications like Gingerbread House, Crow & Cross Keys, Corvid Queen, and Mythic Magazine. When not writing or helping other writers get the best out of their work, she can be found haunting her local bookshops or watching the tide come in.
Join our email list for authors
Join our email list for content and opportunities to help you develop your writing, promote your books, and build your author business.