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Have you always wanted to be a successful author?
There are a great many people who believe they
can write a best seller and enjoy financial
as well as literary success.
Many more books
are submitted to publishers than are ever published
because the majority of manuscripts are not
considered commercially viable and, therefore,
not able to justify the necessary outlay in
editing, publishing and marketing. Because of
the costs involved, any reputable publisher
will be quite honest when assessing the commercial
viability of a manuscript from an unknown author.
However, some aspiring
authors choose to use the services of publishers
who offer to publish and market their manuscripts,
for a fee in advance. Unfortunately, the authors
may get little or nothing in return.
Advertisements for what
are commonly known as vanity publishers are
likely to be found in newspapers and magazines
as well as on the internet. The adverts target
authors with offers to turn their manuscripts
into successful published books.
Scam publishers are likely
to express enthusiasm for a manuscript and its
commercial potential, outlining a plan for getting
the published version into bookshops. However,
they will also explain that, for various reasons,
for the plan to be put into effect the author
will need to pay a fee towards the initial costs
of publishing and marketing. The fee may amount
to hundreds, even thousands, of pounds. The
publisher will, of course, say that the fee
will soon be recovered when the royalties from
book sales start rolling in.
The reality is likely
to be publication of a relatively small number
of copies of the manuscript and no real effort
at marketing the published book.
If the firm is enthusiastic
about the market potential of your manuscript-but
wants to charge you a fee in advance- consider
other publishers.
Contracting for the services
of a publisher is no different to any other
major financial transaction. Apply the same
common sense.
• Question claims
and assurances that your book will make money.
No-one can guarantee a book's success, particularly
when the author has not been published before.
• Investigate the
company before you make any commitment. Contact
your local Trading Standards and Citizens Advice
Bureau - also request information from the place
in which the company is based to find out if
there are any unresolved consumer complaints
about them.
• Make sure your
contract contains all the terms you agreed to-verbal
and written- and that you understand all the
terms and conditions before you sign.
• Be sure to take
independent legal and financial advice.
Remember that once a dishonest
company has your money, it's likely you will
never get it back.
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