How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:10:52 GMT

Current Revision posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 4:10:52 PM

Over the past few years, there have been an alarming number of misrepresentations and scams frequently targeting self-published authors.

Bad actors are touting false and misleading claims and even going so far as impersonating publishing companies. Some even use names of real people and logos as a way to deceive authors. They're also making promises about getting the book to Hollywood, but with no real means to do that in the way the industry actually works.

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

As I’ve talked to multiple authors about this issue, I’ve come to see how these scammers have been able to make headway. They appeal to one of our deepest desires as an author. They say they have noticed the book and it has potential. Or, they say a Book Scout has flagged the book. As an author, that’s what we want to hear. Someone liked what I wrote and noticed it. But, these scammers never read the books. They just say what we want to hear or use a fake job title to get our attention.

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

Recently, many of the scammers have used the title “literary agent” in their signature block, but don’t work for an actual literary agency. Real literary agencies will almost never contact an author. That’s because they typically have a backlog of books they are already reading. In addition, literary agencies will have a website that showcases the authors they have as clients and the books they have sold to traditional publishers. That is different from a testimonial, which scammers may have on their websites.

Most importantly, literary agencies will give very specific instructions about how they want you to submit your materials to them. This is the first key step in getting their attention. So, it’s really important that you pay attention to whether they want a query letter or a book proposal or some other type of summary. Also, it is critical to note what genres they represent. Most agents have a particular genre focus so if the person claiming to be a literary agent doesn’t even mention genre, they are most likely a scammer.

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Another clue that you are talking to a scammer is if they have the title “literary agent”, but ask you for money. Agents earn commissions when a book is sold to a publisher for an advance and on subsequent royalties. In addition, real agents will not send out a blast to publishers. Agents typically focus on particular genres and will only target specific editors, publishers and imprints that focus on the genre of your book.

Pay attention to the URL in the email

One other key thing to look for is the URL from which the email is sent. If it doesn’t match the company name, it is more than likely a scammer. Legit companies almost always have email addresses that have their company name URL in the email address. So if you see an email address that has weird hyphens or additional words or ends in a gmail.com and not their company URL, they are probably a scammer.

What about Hollywood?

Hollywood is looking for stories more than ever so unfortunately scammers are taking advantage of that information to mislead authors with promises to get a book to the screen. So, how do you know if the person is a scammer or a legitimate company who has interest in your book and the ability to get it to the screen?

The first and most important thing to know is in their first contact, legitimate companies will ask if the development rights for the books are available. Because if you have assigned the development rights to someone else, they cannot do anything with the book. Second, they will not try to sell you any services unless they have a first look partner. A first look partner guarantees that someone will look at your coverage or treatment and evaluate its potential for development. Third, when books go out to potential outlets, pitches are specifically targeted based on the story and genre. Certain outlets are looking for faith-based stories or comedies or stories about women of color or other specific types of stories. Sending out an email to a broad list of companies in Hollywood is of no value and will accomplish nothing.

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Also, be aware that a lot of the scammers use legitimate company logos on their websites, but they do not have permission to use those logos. Nor do they have any personal relationships with people at those companies. It is not only misleading, it is against the law. But, they don’t care. They do whatever it takes to extract money from unsuspecting authors.

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

Now, sometimes a company will reference a Book Scout, but they will call to find out if the development rights are available. At that point, they likely haven't read the book because if they read the book and the rights aren't available, they've just wasted a bunch of time. But, they will tell you why they're interested in the book.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

In most cases, following these guidelines should get them to stop, but unfortunately these scammers are a lot like dandelions. When one goes away, another pops up. Hopefully you are now more equipped to keep them from causing you trouble and loss.

This article was excerpted from a webinar of the same name. To view the webinar, click on this link, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-path/8084/how-to-recognize-a-publishing-scam-and-avoid-it

Photo Credit: Aquir via Getty Images
Photo Credit: BrianAJackson via Getty Images

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:10:03 GMT

Revision 22 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 4:10:03 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo Credit: Aquir via Getty Images
Photo Credit: BrianAJackson via Getty Images

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:48:53 GMT

Revision 21 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:48:53 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo Credit: Aquir via Getty Images
Photo Credit: BrianAJackson via Getty Images

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:48:28 GMT

Revision 20 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:48:28 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo Credit: Aquir via Getty Images
Photo Credit: BrianAJackson via Getty Images

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:42:13 GMT

Revision 19 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:42:13 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:34:50 GMT

Revision 18 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:34:50 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:32:04 GMT

Revision 17 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:32:04 PM

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:31:24 GMT

Revision 16 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:31:24 PM

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:30:25 GMT

Revision 15 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:30:25 PM

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

This article was excerpted from a webinar of the same name. To view the webinar, click on this link, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-path/8084/how-to-recognize-a-publishing-scam-and-avoid-it

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Keith Ogorek — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:29:14 GMT

Revision 14 posted to Choosing a Path by Keith Ogorek on 8/16/2022 3:29:14 PM

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

• Remember, you are in control.
• If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.
• If they say, a Book Scout has flagged the book, ask them to see what the Scout has said or why they think this would be a good book for adaptation. I am confident they won’t have an answer for this because there is no Book Scout.

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

• Ask them to put you on their no call list and unsubscribe you from their list.
• Legitimate companies will maintain those lists and so it is a reasonable request. Scammers typically do not.
• If they don't honor your request, tell them you will report them to the Attorney General's Office for violation of the Consumer Protection code.

This article was excerpted from a webinar of the same name. To view the webinar, click on this link, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-path/8084/how-to-recognize-a-publishing-scam-and-avoid-it

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Author Learning Center — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:26:09 GMT

Revision 13 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 8/16/2022 3:26:09 PM

• Know how to recognize these scammers
•  Understand how genuine literary agents work
•  Understand how Hollywood works when they are interested in a book
•  Get the scammers to quit calling or emailing you

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

This article was excerpted from a webinar of the same name. To view the webinar, click on this link, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-path/8084/how-to-recognize-a-publishing-scam-and-avoid-it

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It - article

Author Learning Center — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:24:56 GMT

Revision 12 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 8/16/2022 3:24:56 PM

Over the past few years, there have been an alarming number of misrepresentations and scams frequently targeting self-published authors.
Bad actors are touting false and misleading claims and even going so far as impersonating publishing companies. Some even use names of real people and logos as a way to deceive authors. They're also making promises about getting the book to Hollywood, but with no real means to do that in the way the industry actually works.

So, in this article I want to equip you to:

How come these scammers are able to fool really smart people?

How to know if you are speaking to a real literary agent

They never ask for money up front or send it to everybody

Pay attention to the URL in the email

What about Hollywood?

Using legitimate names and logos in illegitimate ways

Worst of all, some of the scammers will use the names of real people and say they are that person. Once again, it is misleading and illegal.

How to respond to if scammers contact you

So, what can you do if you are contacted by one of these scammers? This is hard, but don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgement and use these guidelines:

If you suspect someone is a scammer and would like them to stop contacting you, follow these steps:

This article was excerpted from a webinar of the same name. To view the webinar, click on this link, https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-path/8084/how-to-recognize-a-publishing-scam-and-avoid-it

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:28:50 GMT

Revision 11 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:28:50 PM

Amid the instability that is our modern economic climate, authors are now facing the added challenge of fielding an increase in illegitimate publishing or book to screen offers. Attempting to prey on new or inexperienced authors, dishonest swindlers often craft impressive covers to mask their scams and make it difficult to know when you’re being duped. Fortunately, there are some telltale red flags that can help you discern legitimate companies from charlatans just looking to separate you from your money.

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

Legitimate literary agencies or agents, should be able to tell you who they currently represent and what books they have sold to traditional publishers. Unsolicited emails from literary agents or publishers touting interest in your book should be viewed with caution. Traditional publishers don’t work this way. In many cases, these scam companies are just trying to extract money from you with claims that you need to “re-edit” or “re-publish” your book before they can offer representation.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

• How long have you been in business?
• How many books have you published and how many authors have you worked with?
• Do you have a partnership with a traditional publisher? If so, how long have you been working together?
• With respect to Hollywood, do you have a first look partner who is guaranteed to consider the book for development? (First look deals are very common in Hollywood and allow a production company or studio an exclusive “first look” at any projects a company is developing. In other words, they see it before anyone else, and either decide to move forward or pass).

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:28:18 GMT

Revision 10 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:28:18 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Photo courtesy of Aquir via Getty Images.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:25:09 GMT

Revision 9 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:25:09 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:24:23 GMT

Revision 8 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:24:23 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:23:19 GMT

Revision 7 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:23:19 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:15:23 GMT

Revision 6 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:15:23 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:11:04 GMT

Revision 5 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:11:04 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

Legitimate literary agencies or agents, should be able to tell you who they currently represent and what books they have sold to traditional publishers. Unsolicited emails from literary agents or publishers touting interest in your book should viewed with caution. Traditional publishers don’t work this way. In many cases, these scam companies are just trying to extract money from you with claims that you need to “re-edit” or “re-publish” your book before they can offer representation.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:10:05 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:10:05 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

Legitimate literary agencies or agents, should be able to tell you who they currently represent and what books they have sold to traditional publishers. Unsolicited emails from literary agents or publishers touting interest in your book should viewed with caution. Traditional publishers don’t work this way. In many cases, these scam companies are just trying to extract money from you with claims that you need to “re-edit” or “re-publish” your book before they can offer representation.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books, meaning, they only accept manuscripts that have agent representation or have specifically been requested.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.

How to Recognize a Publishing or Hollywood Scammer

Author Learning Center — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:01:04 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Choosing a Path by Author Learning Center on 2/26/2021 3:01:04 PM

1. They claim to be a literary agent or agency but offer no proof.

Legitimate literary agencies or agents, should be able to tell you who they currently represent and what books they have sold to traditional publishers. Unsolicited emails from literary agents or publishers touting interest in your book should viewed with caution. Traditional publishers don’t work this way. In many cases, these scam companies are just trying to extract money from you with claims that you need to “re-edit” or “re-publish” your book before they can offer representation.

2. They claim to have found you with the help of a book scout.

This is a clear red flag. Companies seldom if ever find authors in this way. Ask to see the correspondence or avoid them all together.

3. They claim that a production budget has already been determined for your book as a movie.

This is flagrant deceit. Hollywood does not budget for a film until all the pieces are in place. That means the script, director, cast and location have all been determined.

4. They claim that your book will be sent to a big list of Hollywood production companies or traditional publishers.

Neither traditional publishers nor Hollywood companies take unsolicited manuscripts of books.

How do you determine if someone is legitimate?

Legitimate companies can substantiate their claims. Questions that can help establish authenticity include:

Legitimate companies will be able to answer these questions clearly and confidently. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take caution if you find yourself being approached by suspicious companies. Avoid them when possible, but if you’re caught off guard, be on the lookout for red flags or offerings that are not in line with industry standards. If you do spot a swindler, ask to be removed from their email and call list.