suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it;

* Will this be Published by Debit or Deposit?

A new writer asks the question;

I have submitted a book for publishing and they said that I need to pay them for a critique. Is this a gimmik. Please help.

If they are a reputable publishing company you shouldn't have to pay anything, especially when they haven't even accepted your book. I would be very wary of them. How badly do you want to see your work in print? There are plenty of unscrupulous people who are always ready and eager to take your money. They are in the business of selling empty promises and they’re very successful. Be careful out there.

* Agents who charge reading fees.

Legitimate agents earn their money by selling marketable material to publishers. They are paid by commission on everything they sell and don’t waste time with material that won’t. If they charge reading fees, they don’t care whether the work is saleable or not. Your MS is tossed aside and your check is deposited in their account. They’ve already been paid – by you. You’re no closer to publication then you were before you paid them to read it.

Pay a reader-editor if you want to, they can be very helpful; but do it before submitting the work to a publisher. Be careful though. Remember, anyone can claim anything.

* Agents who scout for customers.

Reputable agents usually have more work than they can handle. They don’t have time nor the desire to search personal websites for unknown authors. If an agent solicits your work, be suspicious. If the ads guarantee to get you published, run!

Amateur authors are often so excited to be contacted by an agent that they are willing to grab at any offer. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

* Agents who refer you to a specific independent editor or ‘book doctor.’

If you’re told your book is almost good enough to publish but needs work, and then refer you to a specific editor, run! It's most likely a scam the two of them are working. Reputable Pubishers and Agents will offer tips and suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it;

ney. They are in the business of selling empty promises and they’re very successful. Be careful out there.

* Agents who charge reading fees.

Legitimate agents earn their money by selling marketable material to publishers. They are paid by commission on everything they sell and don’t waste time with material that won’t. If they charge reading fees, they don’t care whether the work is saleable or not. Your MS is tossed aside and your check is deposited in their account. They’ve already been paid – by you. You’re no closer to publication then you were before you paid them to read it.

Pay a reader-editor if you want to, they can be very helpful; but do it before submitting the work to a publisher. Be careful though. Remember, anyone can claim anything.

* Agents who scout for customers.

Reputable agents usually have more work than they can handle. They don’t have time nor the desire to search personal websites for unknown authors. If an agent solicits your work, be suspicious. If the ads guarantee to get you published, run!

Amateur authors are often so excited to be contacted by an agent that they are willing to grab at any offer. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

* Agents who refer you to a specific independent editor or ‘book doctor.’

If you’re told your book is almost good enough to publish but needs work, and then refer you to a specific editor, run! It's most likely a scam the two of them are working. Reputable Pubishers and Agents will offer tips and suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it;

ou’re no closer to publication then you were before you paid them to read it.

Pay a reader-editor if you want to, they can be very helpful; but do it before submitting the work to a publisher. Be careful though. Remember, anyone can claim anything.

* Agents who scout for customers.

Reputable agents usually have more work than they can handle. They don’t have time nor the desire to search personal websites for unknown authors. If an agent solicits your work, be suspicious. If the ads guarantee to get you published, run!

Amateur authors are often so excited to be contacted by an agent that they are willing to grab at any offer. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

* Agents who refer you to a specific independent editor or ‘book doctor.’

If you’re told your book is almost good enough to publish but needs work, and then refer you to a specific editor, run! It's most likely a scam the two of them are working. Reputable Pubishers and Agents will offer tips and suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it;

o get you published, run!

Amateur authors are often so excited to be contacted by an agent that they are willing to grab at any offer. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

* Agents who refer you to a specific independent editor or ‘book doctor.’

If you’re told your book is almost good enough to publish but needs work, and then refer you to a specific editor, run! It's most likely a scam the two of them are working. Reputable Pubishers and Agents will offer tips and suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it;

suggestions for editing, but they won’t tell you to hire someone else to do the work. A real agent or publisher will expect you to be good enough to finish it yourself. They look forward to another book down the road, and want an author they can depend on to make money for them. You should view specific referrals as suspect.

* A publisher who asks for an ‘investment’ to defray costs.

If a reputable publishing house doesn’t believe your manuscript is worth the financial risk, it will simply reject it; it won’t ask you to pay for publication.

* The golden rule of publishing is simple:

Money flows from the market to the writer, not the other way around. If your money is flowing in the wrong direction, someone is taking advantage of you.

For more information on scams, see http://www.sfwa.org/beware/