If It Sounds Too Good To Be True...

 

I've been seeing lots of ads on Facebook for postage stamps sold at much less than cost, sometimes half-off. Something told me this couldn't be true. So, I googled and checked to see if it was legitimate or not. Sure enough, most of these cut-rate stamps are fake. Does the post office check every piece of mail to see if the stamp is fake or not? I have no idea, but if you want your mail to arrive at its destination, then you'd better pay the price at the post office or one of their branches in your grocery store. 

All that made me think about Vanity Publishers who have duped so many writers, especially those new to the craft. Why the name? Because they play on your vanity. You've written a book, and you want to get it published. They will praise your book, whether it deserves to be priased or not. All they want is your money. They know how to talk a good plan for you. There's more.

Yes, they ask you to pay for production costs, including editing and designing fees. Then, you are responsible for selling your books. Of course, they might offer you a marketing package--for a fee. They might even keep a portion of the sales you make. 

Remember this--the quality of your book does not count. It's your money they're after. I'm sure many talk a good story about why you should sign with them. 

Be wary of this type of publishing. It's not a gift in a pretty box tied with a  shiny ribbon and bow. It's a business to make money at your expense. 

One article I read about vanity publishing mentioned that a book published this way has never made the bestseller list. 

Years ago, there was a scam in the writing world regarding poets. It may still be going on. Poets were invited to send their poems for possible inclusion in a book. They accepted every submission, made up a book, then sold them to those who had submitted. New poets were thrilled to be published, so they bought the book. Maybe they bought several to give to family members and friends. Once again, the publisher's only interest was making money for themselves, not to help you. 

That old cliche that says "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" should be your guide. Don't ever sign with a publishing company until you have done some investigation and determined that they are for real.