Considering Self-Publishing? Here’s What to Know

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As publishing has become more and more accessible to writers through self-publishing, the number of scams and pitfalls targeting these authors has increased dramatically. If you’re choosing to enter the self-publishing world, you also have to be the main person looking out for yourself and your book's best interests. But how do you know what to look out for? In this interview with author and YouTuber M.K. Williams, we go over the top scams and pitfalls to watch out for when self-publishing.

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GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING/PUBLISHING:

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS:
 
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MORE BOOK PUBLISHING ADVICE:
 
AVOIDING SELF-PUBLISHING SCAMS AND PITFALLS: 
03:33 – Deadlines and editing rounds
06:19 – Are there benefits to working with a hybrid publisher?
09:09 – Red flags to look out for when hiring publishing professionals
11:50 – Scams targeting authors who have already self-published
14:14 – Biggest pitfalls self-publishing authors fall into
 
ABOUT ME: 
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey—whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
 
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[MKWilliams]

Thank you for having me on the channel! It was so fun to connect and I hope everyone watching has a successful publishing journey :)

[mikecook_author]

MK Williams explains the self/publishing red flags so well. Thanks for sharing.

[andeeharry]

Scammers are in all fields of publishing and the worst part is, they are protected. You go after them and you get ''blacklisted'' as being difficult and will end up giving you a bad reputation. It is nuts. It is high time the industries throws them out

[rowan]

Good video and good answers, but it still wont win me over to touch the self path again. I keep on querying agents with every book I write until I get one. Self path was nothing but a headache and a massive loss of money. Especially me living in Australia and need to pay for the conversion rate.

[joshuafurtado]

Your vidoes are so helpful. I have 2 chapters left to write in my first draft. Then I will start my rewrites. I'm so excited.

[TheEccentricRaven]

Very useful info. I've heard of writers losing a ton to scams. It's heartbreaking.

[samp]

Thank you for the warning against Olympia Publishers and Austin Mc Cauley, as they were on my list of publishers to perhaps contact. I agree that all those should be named to warn other debut authors. Good luck to you John, and everyone else seeking a legit publishing company and literary agents. 😊

[garrett]

I like the idea that the professionals in the industry believe my story is good enough to publish. Hopefully that will be the case

[LordOz]

I received a scam call yesterday offering to help publicize the 4th book in my UF series and publish it in foreign markets. It might have been more convincing if the caller ID hadn't read American Health Reform Solutions, the caller wasn't obviously using a computerized dialer, the caller didn't sound like a stereotypical scammer, and my book wasn't already published in German as well as the English version being available overseas.

Another author from my publisher received a similar call.

[AFringedGentian]

Self pub is way too much for me. Querying is so difficult but it looks to me to be easier than self-publishing.

[matttholl]

Just how in the hell does this phone work..i mean i asked you a question about a week ago..and your answer just come up on on video...amazing

[Zoray]

this feels little bit staged, but I appreciate you two spent time answering these.

[benkeafer]

I went to a website that helps connect writers/authors to publishing houses/ publishers, and what publisher would be the best fit.
I filled it out, gave the information it requested, and waited. A day or so later I get a text message from a hybrid publishing company called Newman Springs. I asked a few questions and they were nice enough to answer and not pressure me into dishing out money. They explained what
they were about, what they do, how much the costs would be over a few months starting at $600 down, $349 a month for a total of 10 months, and in the end, charge 6% royalties on each book sale, and keep all rights to my book. They are very picky about who they accept as well. I went to their web page, watched videos of different stages, and they explained everything about what to expect. I also read the reviews from authors who had nothing but good things to say about the services they provided, and would definitely return with a second book. Does this sound like a publishing scam?

[jeannemoore]

Hybrid and vanity publishers are completely unnecessary. There are plenty oe reputable freelancers (editors, cover designers, formatters) that can be hired.

[BudsCartoon]

By self-publishing, so you mean actually printing and selling your own books? Doing your own marketing and press and such? I don't know anything about it, but I bet you could have them printed in China, pay the tax, hire a customs broker and get them made for 75% less than in the US.

[Fromsurvivingtoliving]

Has anyone heard of Cosmics publishers? I can’t tell if they are legit or not. They are most defensively expensive.

[andeeharry]

I love it when people from Fivrr, publishing companies, agents try to reach out to me and tell me they ''love my book'' that I haven't published. It is so fun to watch them change topics quickly. Yes, I am aware of a lot of things, thanks to research and like, they hate it. They either yell at me, or claim I know nothing, or just become plain dumb. I had it all in the last two years, spamming me with links, fake accounts and badly done sites. Some did look genuine until I had to pay. I ask loads of questions, watch thier responses and look at thier stuff. The funny thing is, it will take hours for them to get back to you with poorly created stuff. I must admit, I had a run in will McMillian and MC agents last year for trying to get me to go with them, but hated my questioning. They will never catch me out anyway. The ones from Fivrr, watch out for that, as they switch jobs every fortnight, and steal covers. They don't have a clue to anyhing.
Always be prepared, they are sneaky.

[marycooney]

Hybrid publishers are NOT vanity presses. A great resource for self-publishing authors is Mark Dawson and the Self Publishing Podcast.

[johnparnham]

I nearly fell into two of them and I will name names. When I began writing, a so-called publishing company called Olympia publishers reached out online to authors and the attraction was that they accepted unsolicited manuscripts. I sent my manuscript in and was warned in time that they were a scam. They charge huge sums of money to publish your book and you get nothing back. Another company.that I sent my manuscript to was Austin McAuley. They look very professional and their website would have you believe that they do the marketing for you and everything But they too charge large sums of money to publish your book. Recently they found my manuscript after a whole year of not hearing from them then I received an email from them telling me of the commercial potential of my book. I sent a reply based on other criticisms of the said company and said that I was surprised that they wanted my manuscript because I had rejected it as being below standard. I also said that the alliance of independent authors had put a red flag against their name and that they were vanity publishers and I wouldn't work with them. Of course in their reply they denied it but their practices show that they are indeed just that. I am not the first to point this out to them. but they are among many who adopt this model. My warning to inexperienced authors is as said in the video if a "publishing company offers to publish your book and wants you to pay for the privilege, run in the opposite direction. Often these companies look so good and offer you the world but after they've taken your money, they don't care about you the author because they've got what they want---your money.