Writer Beware®: The Blog: Another Fake Agency Referral Scam: Harper Literary / Bantam Wings

Mar5

Writer Beware tells us about another publisher/agent scam. Just so you know, no publisher or book agent will contact you looking to represent or publish your book. Never. If someone does contact you and they are even legit, I’d still run. If they need work, they probably aren’t very good.

———————-

Writer Beware shines a bright light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of scams, schemes, and pitfalls that prey on authors.

Source: Writer Beware®: The Blog: Another Fake Agency Referral Scam: Harper Literary / Bantam Wings

DRAFT2DIGITAL TO ACQUIRE SMASHWORDS

Feb10

Now isn’t this a pleasant surprise – the merger of Draft2Digital and Smashwords. I don’t know about you, but I like it! I’ve been a big Smashwords fan, mostly because of it’s founder, Mark Coker, and some of the handy tools Smashwords has – of note: the ability to offer a coupon code for ebooks when you want to have a quick sale or if you want to give someone an ebook for free.

But I know D2D has a lot to offer, and it too seems like a company (like Smashwords) that really does want to help the indie author. I hadn’t heard that D2D was working on POD (print on demand) so I’ll be watching that carefully. More competition is always good, in my opinion.

If you have your book with either of these companies and want more details, click the link below. If you haven’t used Smashwords or D2D, now is the time!

———————

We’re betting that’s a headline you never expected to see, and we’re already anticipating the chatter this will cause in the indie author community! We know this is going to feel a bit unexpected and out of the blue, but we’re very excited to make this announcement, and even more excited about what this means […]

Source: DRAFT2DIGITAL TO ACQUIRE SMASHWORDS – Draft2Digital | Blog

Copyrighting Your Book

Jul6

How to Make the Copyright Symbol on Your Computer Here is a great post about all aspects of copyright. I always recommend my clients get their book copyrighted. It takes a bit of time and the government copyright page is not as straightforward as I’d like it to be, but it’s definitely doable for most people.

And as the post mentions, it’s not that expensive, so why not?

—————————————————

Source: Copyrighting Your Work | Books Go Social

CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

Another Book Scam

Mar27

As you are looking for help with your writing or publishing, remember, there are a lot of scammers out there ready to take advantage of what you don’t know.

Of course, there are many who are legit.

So how do you know the difference?

You go on sites like the one I’ve linked to below (Writer Beware), or join a group like the Alliance of Independent Authors. They have an Approved Services list that can help you find reputable services.
You can join a local writers group and when you get one of these odd emails noted in the linked post, you can ask other writers what they know about the company. Though, really, if a publishing house is contacting you, chances are they are not legit.
When you are looking for services, you can ask your fellow writers who they have used.
You can use the “googlizer” and search for warnings about the company you are thinking of working with, but the sites google might send you to also might not be legitimate. This is not your best option.
Contact me. I keep my eye on this stuff and probably know if a certain company is okay to work with.

And always read the fine print of any contract. Even legitimate companies may offer you things you don’t want.

———————-

Scam, Right Choice Multimedia, West Literary Agency, Philippines

Source: Writer Beware®: The Blog: Scammers Taking Big 5 Publishers’ Names in Vain: A Growing Trend

CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

The Pros and Cons of Independent Publishing: Part One | Valerie Biel

Apr1

Valerie Biel of Lost Lake Press, lays out the good and the bad of both traditional and indie publishing in a clear, easy to understand way. If you’ve ever questioned why to do one or the other, take a look at this post.

———————-

Welcome to a three-part series on the pros and cons of independent or self publishing. This is going to be an honest discussion about what you need to consider before deciding which route is best for your publishing goals and skill set. First, we’ll look at overall concerns within the positives and negatives of each type of publishing. Part two will dive into potential earnings and royalties along with the business concerns you must address for successful independent publishing.

Source: The Pros and Cons of Independent Publishing: Part One | Valerie Biel

my image CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

The Biggest Mistake New Authors Make

Mar16

Great post by Anne R. Allen about common mistakes, misconceptions with writing that first book.

I like how she specifically address the problematic examples she gives and offers some solutions to the quandary of that first book.

I disagree, however, that you shouldn’t try and pitch that first book. Why not pitch it? You learn a lot by doing this. But… at the same time, work on that second book for sure, and the third. Build that viewership via a blog or some other social media presence. Join writer’s groups, critique groups. Go to writing conferences… Go ahead and self-publish, if you want. If the agent you eventually find doesn’t want your first book, then maybe they’ll want the second or third one.

Publishing is a business so you need to learn the business. And connecting with other writers can help in so many ways.

Novelists and memoirists have a lot in common, including the mistakes they tend to make. Don’t make this one when you’re starting out.

Source: The Biggest Mistake New Novelists and Memoirists Make

How to Copyright a Book

Feb26

I’m sure I’ve shared posts on copyright before, but it’s always good to have a refresher. It’s quite easy to get an official copyright for anything you publish and even though it doesn’t help someone from taking your work electronically, it’s an inexpensive safeguard ($55 for electronic submission) if you every need to enter the court system. And Dave gives some examples of text used on a copyright page for those indie publisher out there!

Thanks Dave and Lawyer Steve!

——————–

Learn from a lawyer how you can legally copyright a book, with examples and a easy step-by-step process to help protect your book’s rights.

Source: How to Copyright a Book (Written by a Lawyer) [2019] – Written by a Laywer

MWB awards 2015 CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

5 Things Screenwriters (and other writers) Should Know About Copyright Law

Nov18

This is a great post by Marissa Crespo, an entertainment attorney and principal at Crespo Law Office. It’s geared toward screenwriters but it’s covers book writers as well.

The cost of copyright is definitely reasonable and there are a few steps to it but it’s not hard to do. The copyright office link is here, if you want to go ahead and copyright your work.

Source: 5 Things Screenwriters Should Know About Copyright Law – ScreenCraft

5 Essential Pieces of Advice You Need to Hear Before You Publish – Updated

Nov6

Some really good points from Books Go Social personality Elisabeth Schaffalitzky (say that five times fast!) about publishing for those who have yet to publish and even for an established author. (Link below) They polled their author readers and got these 5 things authors wish they knew before they published the first time.

(Note that professional editing is #1)

———————————-

So you know you want to succeed as a writer. You have a story to tell, you think you’re good at it, and you think other people would agree! However, the will and the motivation to write aren’t enough. …

Source: 5 Essential Pieces of Advice You Need to Hear Before You Publish – Updated | The BooksGoSocial Blog

Current Trends in Traditional Book Publishing: Fiction, Nonfiction and YA

Oct22

Jane Friedman has updated us on the currect trends for traditional publishing, but I’m guessing some of what is happening in traditional publishing is happening is self-publishing as well.

Keep in mind, what is trending now might or might not be something you want to look at writing. It takes time to get a book out, a good book – well written, well edited, well designed and proofed. And self-pub authors in particular need to take that time. Sometimes you only get one chance with a reader.

So unless you’ve got the inside scoop on what will be the next big thing in writing, it’s usually best to stick to writing what you are passionate about.

But that is just my opinion. 🙂

———————–

The rise of Millennial nostalgia and graphic novels, the decline of political tell-alls and publisher-driven marketing: all of this and more in 2019 trends.

Source: Current Trends in Traditional Book Publishing: Fiction, Nonfiction and YA | Jane Friedman