Should any kind of publisher ask for money from you before publishing your work?I've been on the internet and have find that a lot of these places ask for money.I'm just tryin' to get a short story out there and HOPEFULLY, some how, make some small amount of change out of it...If I'm lucky!But its so damn hard.Especially for short stories.You can't find anyone out there.Or real places out there.
Suggestions?
2007-06-27 02:53:36 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Legitimate publishers NEVER ask for money. Any publisher that asks for money is a vanity press or subsidy press. Money flows toward the writer...not away.
If you are looking for legitimate markets for your book, do it the old fashion way and get a copy of Writer's Digest or The Writer. Both magazines include monthly listings of legitimate markets.
2007-06-27 04:27:21 · answer #1 · answered by bardsandsages 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
Well, there is good news and there is bad. First, the good news. There are many legitimate publishers and I will give you a short list of a few at the end of this answer. Now, the bad news. There are many more bogus publishers than there are good. Piers Anthony has a list with descriptions on his site. His comments are honest and generally correct. Check that one out.
On my site I have posted a call for manuscripts for short stories. Bear in mind that this call is for an anthology in the Twisted Tails series and is quite specific in its requirements. You are welcome to try there, too. It is not a way to make more than a few cents per sale as the contract provides for an equal share for all included authors, but it is legitimate -- no fees. I can't guarantee I'll have the time to give you much feedback, pro or con, because I am a one-man show in this endeavor, but the publisher I work through, Double Dragon Publishing, is a good one -- no fees from the publisher, either.
You may also want to look into the following:
Glimmer Train Express
Twilight Times
Ascent Magazine
Appolo's Lyre
I wish you the best of luck. It always gives me a lot of pleasure helping new writers get their start.
J.
http://www.jrichardjacobs.net
"The speed of the brain is inversely proportional to the speed of the mouth squared.
2007-06-27 05:48:18 · answer #2 · answered by orbitaldata 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, a publisher should never ever never ask for money before hand. Indeed, no publisher should ever ask you for money (before, after, in between, etc).
There are "publishing" companies out there that will print your book but basically sell the book to only one person (you). They place the responsibility of selling your book on you (without even the slightest assurance that your book might sell). The closest I have heard of such a deal actually working for the author was through a print on demand company (thus, the author paid a small fee for the company to store his manuscript on file, but after that books were printed as people ordered them, which made things a bit expensive but well worth it).
And, since it was brought up, agents are a bonus for dealing with publishing companies but they are not needed (the biggest publishers will still accept submissions directly from the writer, but the system is predisposed against that sort of thing).
Make sure you only submit your manuscript to reputable companies. Very few reputable companies exist primarily on the internet. They deal in books so you should find out about them in books. Check the publishin information on a book in your genre to find out about a company. In the "Writing" section of your local book store there are almost undoubtedly books listing publishers as well.
2007-06-27 05:06:39 · answer #3 · answered by Thought 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
legitimate companies NEVER ask for money in advance. You obviously found a scam. Stay away.
One must have a Literary Agent, if one wants to get a publisher, legitimate publishers, never communicate with the writer.
The Literary is the go-between, for the writer and the publisher.
2007-06-27 03:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Publishers should make their money by selling your stories. If they ask for money up front, it's obviously a scam. Ask your local library for the current copy of "Writer's Market." It's an awesome resource for writers who want to get published.
2007-06-27 04:39:17 · answer #5 · answered by tkron31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Short stories are a tough gig. About the only market out there is the magazine trade, and it's been shrinking for the last 40 years.
You might look in the current edition of Writers Market to find mag publishers who might allow you to submit it unsolicited.
2007-06-27 03:10:36 · answer #6 · answered by Jack P 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yep, its a scam. Sorry to tell you. Some agents will charge for photocopying and shipping, which is sort of ok. But no one should be asking for money upfront. UNLESS you are self publishing, then you will have to fork over the money.
Good Luck.
2007-06-27 03:46:40 · answer #7 · answered by Erinn M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. If a publisher ask you for money beforehand, it is a scam. Or so I've been told but I still wouldn't trust them.
2007-06-27 03:00:54 · answer #8 · answered by Dusty DayDreams 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
STAY AWAY, publishers or any legitimate business will never ask for money up front!
2007-06-27 03:20:33 · answer #9 · answered by sparkylump 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋