Predators and Editors

Predators and Editors is a must have site for all new writers out there who are ready to submit to publishers and agents. I use this site myself and it has saved me so far from some nasty pitfalls. Predators and Editors is a site guide to publishing and publishers. If you want to know if the publishing company, or agent you want to submit your manuscript to is legit or on the up and up then Predators and Editors will tell you if they are or not. They do not limit just there as you can even check out Attorneys, Screen writing publishers, and Gaming publishers. If you do not see the agency on their list you can easily even contact them to help you look into them more. It is actually common knowledge if you are a serious writer to know that no agency or agent should charge you a fee to read your manuscript. Predators and Editors warns if the agent or agency charges a reading fee, and even the agent.agencies success rate. It is still up to the person digression if they still want to contact the said agent/agency.

Writing and Publishing Hand In Hand Yet Separate

In being a writer/ author not only do you need to know how to write, but also need to know about the publishing business as well. I really did not think I had to know about the publishing business. I quickly learned and realized I needed to educate myself more on publishing side of things, or I was never going to never make it and get taken for all I am worth. While writing and publishing go hand in hand these two are actually separate entities. Once you have gotten past the writing and completed your manuscript you step into a whole another world when you decided to publish. Sadly schemers are everywhere whether you self publish or go the traditional publishing route. Scamming publishing companies or Literary agents can be crafty and if you walk into the publishing business a novice you can easily fall prey mistaking a self publisher for a traditional publisher. There are many types of self publishing and the two that can often get mixed up with being traditional publishers are Vanity presses and Subsidiary Publishing.

　Vanity Presses and Subsidiary Publishers

If not informed in the publishing business you might totally disregard these types of publishing, I know I did at first. The reason these two types fit into self publishing category is you pay to have your book published, but they sometimes have a dazzling front that makes you think they are traditional publishers. Here they are more in-depth

Vanity Presses- They are publishing companies that publish a book at the author’s expense. The term vanity comes from that these companies appealing to the writer’s vanity to be published. They get their profit from the author’s payment not the sales of the book like traditional publishers. Their prices can be costly and even enforce a binding contract that you may or may not regret later. For example say a publishing company will read your manuscript no charge, Next you then get a reply they like your book and offer you a book contract. Of course you think this is great! When you are hit with the sucker punch that you have to get your own editor, pay for a copy of your own book along with any other books you may want to give or sell. Another thing also have to be your own PR agent in promoting your book. If you know nothing of self promoting you are kind of left out in the cold.

Subsidiary publishers- They are pretty much the same as vanity press as they take money from the author to publish their book. The difference is they do offer small editing and promotional services of course all for a high fee that is incorporated in the whole subsidiary price. They also known take a percentage of rights over the book as well. In an example is Dorrance Publishing. They flat out say they are a Subsidiary publishing company. A novice writer looking for a publishing company might not know though what Subsidiary publishing is really. The same scenario happens with them. They charge no fee to read the manuscript, but then you are hit with, yes we would like your book and here is how much it will cost to publish your book and we have a lovely low payment plan. Dorrance is not all bad though as they now have a plan where if you lose your income at anytime you have no obligation to them and can walk away. Quite vague, but that the way they work.

Final Note

They say knowledge is power and I believe this saying is true. If you really want to be a writer and get published you cannot take any shortcuts. Do not only study writing, or English or grammar. If you want to be published learn about the business side of writing too which is publishing. It can save you time and money and lead to possible success!

Check out my other Writing tips Hubs

Technical Vs Content Writing

Mary Sue Writer?

Finding Your Niche: A Writer's Journey

Priorities and Writing