How to Watch For Scams

One of the biggest problems with being a self-publisher is that scammers seem to love targeting them. They have already essentially killed the vanity press industry (which didn't really need the help), and are starting in on the hybrid publishers, However, with some simple advice, you should be able to detect them and thus keep them from taking your money.

"Don't Pay to Publish"

First, a non-scam that's seen by some as a scam: You need to get over the idea that you shouldn't need to pay someone to get published. While this makes sense if you're dealing with a traditional publisher, it doesn't if you're self-publishing. If you lack the skills yourself, which is pretty likely, you're going to need to pay someone to edit, design your cover, print, /and even promote your book; while these costs are paid by traditional publishers, no one but you will be paying for those services if you decide to self-publish.

This means that someone asking you to pay to get your book published is not a scam; it's part of getting your book published. So embrace it rather than reject it.

[There is one exception to this: If you're working with a publisher that claims to be a traditional but tells you that you need to pay them, then you need to go elsewhere: Traditional publishers pick up the tab for pretty much everything so one asking for you to pay them is an obvious scam.]

Know Your Types of Publishers

Second, you need to know the different types of publishers. For our purposes, they are traditional, vanity, and hybrid publishers. Traditional publishers will pick up the tab for all of your publishing costs even though you will sacrifice some freedoms and rights. Hybrid publishers (so-called because they mix some of the options of traditional publishers with self-publishing) will work with you to publish your book, but their services will cost you; while they do offer some deals, be prepared to pay the going rate.

These are also the two most authors will deal with; those going the traditional route will query agents, the two of you will (hopefully) find a publishing house, and they'll pick up the tab for your publishing. Hybrid publishers will offer you various services either directly or through third parties; the main advantage is that they offer to print and split the cost. The traditional publishers offer a greater chance of success with a possible advance but your role is diminished and your royalties are lower; hybrid publishers offer you more control and greater royalties, but you pay for that freedom and they don't have the resources of a traditional publisher. Booksellers may also balk at stocking books from a hybrid publisher.

Vanity publishers are dicey. At best, they only print books; the books may end up better looking than other publishers, but they only print books and usually for a higher price than other publishers. However, scammers usually use them as cover, making it hard to tell if it's a real vanity publisher or not. In essence, if they offer to do more than print (even list you in a directory), then run, and if they say they need your rights to print, RUN. While there are some legitimate vanity publishers out there, the scammers have them outnumbered.

However, if you're self-publishing, you should not be dealing with vanity publishers. They just aren't set up to give you the help you need.

The Top Three Signs of a Scam

Avoiding a scam is actually relatively easy: Know them, know your rights, and know your budget.

Know Them

Too many authors forget to do their research on companies and so fall for scams. The key is to look at their reviews and if they appear on any "scammer" lists; if the reviews are negative or nonexistent and they show up on a lot of lists, then go elsewhere. Debate "scammer" lists: Too many sites put hybrid publishers on the list by default rather than determining if the publisher is a scam or not. Nonetheless, treat any publisher you plan on dealing with as a potential business partner and do your due diligence on them; a little research can save you a lot of pain later on.

You should also be checking them out: How long they've been around, who their clients are, the success of those clients, and their criteria for submissions. It should be noted that vanity publishers do not worry about the success of their clients and their criteria are more technical (they'll accept anyone with properly formatted files), but you shouldn't be dealing with them anyway. You just need to be able to establish that the company has been around; if you feel it necessary, contact some of their clients to determine if the company is treating them right.

If nothing else, ask around. There are plenty of writer's groups out there and writers do not hold back when it comes to talking about the companies they've dealt with, be it good or bad. Especially if it was bad.

Know Your Rights

If the publisher asks for rights, seriously debate doing business with them. If anyone asks for your copyright, then head in a different direction: No one needs it to publish. By the same token, vanity and hybrid publishers don't need a license (you giving them specific rights) to publish; that should remain with you as you control what you're doing with the book. With traditional publishers, this gets a little more complicated as they need to obtain "first publication rights" just to publish your book and other rights may be negotiated; just remember that your rights can be negotiated, putting a reasonable limit on your republishing the book is fine, and the copyright should remain with you.

Just like any other contract, getting a lawyer to look things over is always a good idea, and if they discourage it (even say it voids the deal) go elsewhere.

Know Your Budget

Part of your research should be to determine the cost of publishing. Depending on your needs and what you're willing to pay, it can take upward of USD $5000 to publish your book, with publishers charging more or less depending on the size, experience, and other resources that they can bring to bear. Yes, you can save money by doing it yourself, but if you lack the skills needed it will show, and not in a way that will help you sell your book. The point here is that you need to know how much those services cost throughout the industry, and from those numbers establish a budget, This budget will help you determine if someone is charging you too much; if that's the case, just take your book somewhere else.

Free Tip: If they contact you first, then junk the messages or mail. Only scammers or really new companies initiate contact with authors, and you want neither.

In short, there are plenty of scammers out there, but with some common sense, you should be able to avoid them. Keep these tips in mind, and you should be able to find the best publisher for your needs.