How to Spot a Publishing Scam
It’s time to get published!
After all the hard work you put into writing your book, there’s nothing more exciting than finding a publisher who wants to put your book out into the world.
But wait! There’s danger ahead—and I don’t just mean the risk of your family members recognizing themselves in your characters.
Did you know there are scammers out there waiting to prey on eager new authors like you? If you’re not careful, you could end up signing your precious book over to someone who’s only interested in taking your money, without even taking proper care of your book.
Some authors have horror stories of falling into debt with these scammers, even spending years fighting to reclaim their publishing rights.
But don’t worry—you don’t have to be one of the horror stories. Look out for these red flags and you’ll know how to spot a publishing scam.
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3 Signs of a Publishing Scam
Bad Sign #1: They ask you to pay to publish with them
Should you pay a press to publish your book? The short answer is NO WAY.
Scam publishers will charge you huge upfront fees—sometimes up to $10,000 or more!—to publish your book. They might also tack on hidden fees, adding them on as you go along and upselling you for things like wider distribution.
This is a huge red flag, because it’s totally backwards. Traditional publishers pay you, in the form of advances or royalties, not the other way around.
Think of it this way: A real publisher wants to sell your book as much as possible, because that’s how they get paid. If they’ve already gotten thousands of dollars out of you, then they’re not as motivated to sell your book. In fact, they might just be motivated to put less effort into your book, because that way, they get to pocket more of your money instead of spending it on higher-quality elements like cover design.
They’re not bothering with trying to get money out of readers—you’re their mark.
You might hear the term “vanity press” to refer to predatory publishers who charge you upfront. Remember, there’s a big difference between how vanity presses operate and how traditional publishers work.
Now, there is such a thing as a hybrid publisher, as well as other companies that charge for publishing services, such as proofreading or formatting your manuscript. It’s okay to pay for a publishing service, but you should not be paying for publishing itself.
Bad Sign #2: They seem a little too eager (too good to be true, anyone?)
Look, I don’t mean to burst your bubble. I’m not saying it’s impossible for a legitimate publisher to be thrilled about your manuscript. But if they seem a little too excited, it might just be too good to be true.
What do I mean by too excited?
Excessive flattery is one example. If they’re practically falling over themselves to tell you how great your book is and how eagerly it should be published, it’s a sign they’re trying too hard to make you feel good—so you don’t notice the red flags.
Did they contact you out of the blue? Someone has too much time on their hands. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but legitimate publishers are way too busy to go looking for new authors this way.
Are they super pushy, trying to get you to sign a contract as quickly as possible? That’s a bad sign. A real publisher understands that you need time to think about your options, and maybe even to have a lawyer review the contract.
A scammer doesn’t want you to take your time to think about it, because then you just might spot the red flags and turn them down.
Bad Sign #3: They make promises they can’t keep, like saying they’ll make you a bestseller
Nobody can guarantee that your book will be a bestseller. But predatory publishers are hoping you don’t know that.
Scam publishers often make lofty promises like this, hoping you’ll think it just sounds too good to pass up.
They’re also often unclear about how, exactly, they plan to achieve these lofty goals. A legitimate publisher will have clarity about their business model, the services they provide, and the terms you’re agreeing to.
It’s a bad sign if a publisher is vague about what they’ll do for you, or they’re not transparent about their pricing or terms.
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How to Check if Your Publisher is a Scam
When you’re eager to get published and you don’t know any better, it’s all too easy to get conned by a publishing scam.
To make sure your potential publisher is a legitimate one, try the following tips:
Do a Google search for “publisher name + scam.” Search results can show you if other authors have flagged it as a scam or given it bad reviews. You can also visit Writer Beware to see if the publisher shows up on their list of known publishing scams.
Contact authors who have worked with the publisher. If the authors have regrets, you’ll want to hear about them.
Check out the publisher’s books, including the editing and cover design. You should be able to find the books on Amazon and read a sample. Watch out for typos and covers that look like they were designed by someone who flunked out of Photoshop 101.
Do your due diligence before signing a contract. Of course, having your own lawyer look over your contract would be your best bet. Not everyone can afford to consult a lawyer for this, but you can always look out for red flags and make sure the company meets your standards before you sign.
Publishing your first book should be an exciting time—not a time to get preyed upon. You owe it to yourself to protect your work from predators who only want your money. Stay alert, trust your gut, and follow these tips, and you’ll make sure your book is only handled by those who deserve to have a hand in publishing it.
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For more advice on safeguarding your work and navigating the publishing landscape, check out How to Write a Novel from Prologue to Epilogue: A Detailed Guide to Literary Stardom.