Spotting Publishing Scams & Bad Deals

Throughout the history of the publishing industry, there have always been scams-as well as just bad deals-that prey on writers' hopes and dreams. In this session, Jane helps you learn to identify and avoid these predatory actors within the publishing community.
Jane covers bad publishers, unscrupulous agents, scammy contests, deceptive review services, and ineffective marketing and publicity schemes. While she does talk about outright scams, she also discusses low-quality but expensive offerings that might promise success but mostly deliver disappointment.
By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of the red flags and warning signs associated with scams and bad deals, so you'll make wise choices on your publishing journey.

[@kathymueller3763]

thanks so much for sharing this priceless knowledge!

[@Wordsmiths]

BookBaby isn't a publisher, it's (as you correctly note) a publishing services provider. Like BookBub (a book promotion & marketing service) but for the production side of self-publishing.
I spend a lot of time clarifying terms for new authors; part of this is the normal ambiguity of language (line editing v copyediting: sometimes synonyms, sometimes nuanced). But often it's all these scammy outfits intentionally misusing labels and terms... like every vanity press out there suddenly calling themselves hybrid publishers, the moment the legitimate version of hybrid publishing gained the least bit of traction.

[@Desertphile]

Thank you.