When I first began my journey to becoming an author,
like all those before me, I had visions of fame and riches running through my
head. It didn’t matter that the odds were heavily stacked against me. I was
what you might call, a ’true believer’. I would succeed where others have
failed. I would be the exception rather than the rule. Well, in my case, it
actually worked out.
But there was a period of time when my faith was
shaken; when I thought that maybe things wouldn’t go according to plan. People
weren’t lined up around the block to buy my book. And I began to considered that
maybe it wasn’t as good as I thought it was. Nine months had gone by, and I was
no closer to achieving my goals than the day I wrote the first line – or at
least that was what I thought. What I know now, that I didn’t know then, was
that I was laying the foundation for what would later become a fantastic
career. But that’s another story.
Thinking I was just spinning my wheels and not knowing
what to do next, I was about as vulnerable to scams as I have ever been in my
life. Fortunately, my career took off before I fell victim to the scum who prey
on the dreams of the hopeful. But, as I am sure you are aware, many aren’t so
lucky.
Recently, I saw someone post on an online forum an
offer that, to me, sounded too good to be true. Claiming best seller status
with millions of copies sold, this person listed what on the surface appeared
like the greatest offer an aspiring writer could hope to run across. It
included everything from multiple email blasts to tens of thousands of this
authors loyal fans, to professional covers and editing. Hell, you even got to
talk to this person once a week, and go over strategies and receive help with
your story – from a NYT BEST SELLING AUTHOR. I mean, wow! Who wouldn’t want
that? Isn’t that worth a scant $1300?
The answer is no. It’s worth a lot more. And that’s
what made me suspicious. Editing alone from a reputable editor can cost more –
for just one book. And even premade covers using stock art run over $100. And
this person was saying that they would produce three manuscripts, edited,
formatted and ready to upload.
And then there’s the mentoring. I remember the thrill
I felt the first time I had a one-on-one phone conversation with Michael J.
Sullivan, then later Hugh Howey. I had been on a radio show panel about the
different stages of publishing. It was me Hugh and Michael. The only reason I
was there was because I knew the guy running the show. Afterward, I contacted
Michael and Hugh and asked them for a bit of advice. Both were very cool, and graciously
gave me some of their time. Afterward, I was over the moon with excitement. So,
the idea of a weekly conversation with the top tier author would be extremely
enticing.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this person can back up the
claims. The post was anonymous, so it’s not like anyone could dispute their
story. But it smacked of a scam. It is pricy enough so that a writer with a day
job, trying their best to break through, might think it’s legitimate, yet cheap
enough that it’s not out of the range of affordability.
To put this into perspective, I spend between $3000-$5000
on a typical release. This includes editing, covers, formatting, and proof
reading. This does not include marketing and promotion. That’s ONE book. Not
three.
Were I to offer a comparable service (which I would
never do), I would have to charge roughly $10,000 just to cover my own costs.
This is taking into account that as my name and reputation would be on the
line, the work would be professionally done by the same people who do my books.
And that’s where I think part of the scam is. For $1300, I could easily do a
quick edit, a premade cover, and format a manuscript. I could even farm out the
work for about $500. But it sure as hell wouldn’t be professional quality. The
rest – the weekly conversations and mentoring…window dressing.
What I’m trying to say is that there is no easy way.
The better something sounds the more likely it will turn out to be a scam. I
know it can be hard to resist the urge to believe. But before you make the
leap, take a minute to think. When people offer their services, they do so with
the expectation of a profit. If what they are offering simply doesn’t add up,
there is a good chance you’re going to end up the victim of a scam.
