Writers in the Storm

By Doug Seibold

People today are doing a lot of writing. More people all the time, apparently. The quantity of new books grows dramatically each year; even discounting the massive influx of AI slop, the zeal for publishing remains tremendous. Of course, there are better tools available today to get work in front of others than ever before. These resources are helping writers get their work into publishable form and bring it to the greater reading public.

What is publishing?

This is the most basic way to understand publishing: it connects writers to readers.

Among these resources are self-publishing service providers, digital printers, online communities and networks on a variety of different platforms, and even just the very internet itself, which comprises the ultimate self-publishing platform. Meanwhile, traditional publishing is going strong. On the spectrum between self-publishing on the internet and signing a contract with a Big 5 conglomerate publisher, there are any number of hybrid entities at different points along the way offering different business models.

What does it mean to pursue any of the different options available to writers today?

What are the various pros and cons of these different options?

At this stage, many writers falter or reach an outright standstill. It can be hard to get good information about these matters. Traditional publishers have long obscured their own workings, not least because of the industry’s focus on promoting specific writers and books rather than the publishers themselves. Self-publishing service providers have a vested commercial interest in promoting a specific vision of their work’s value to writers. They make money by charging writers for services, so they promote their services to strengthen their business interests. That’s basic business—caveat emptor.

As a publisher, I always find it discouraging to encounter writers unwilling or unable to learn more about publishing. For some writers, this can be a key expression of their identities as creative artists. They don’t wish to sully or preoccupy themselves with business matters. But even the most self-proclaimed business-averse writers often hope for their work to reach the largest possible audience. And in doing so they hope to realize the greatest possible financial gain. (If you truly don’t care about these things, you can always just post your work for free on the web.)

How can learning help writers?

Writers share a lot of information and opinions among themselves. But it’s a rare writer that has a true 360-degree perspective on the industry in its manifold forms. In my experience, much of what writers share among themselves can be at best limited. At worst, it can be badly distorted misinformation. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, in this case.

I think every writer who wishes to participate in the publishing industry by getting their work published, however they wish to do it, would benefit by learning more about how publishing works, even if that just means learning what publishing is, at bottom, in its different forms. They otherwise risk being disappointed in the experience or worse. Many hope to build careers and livelihoods being paid for their writing. These writers, especially, need to discover everything they can about how publishing works. But even those writers who realize the value of learning more about this industry often struggle in the effort.

Here are a few basic reasons it’s important for writers to learn more about how publishing works:

1. There is an ever-widening range of different publishing options available to authors.
2. These options often entail business models that can be wildly disparate, if not completely in opposition to each other.
3. Even coming from my background as a traditional publisher, I’ve learned that certain of these very different options can work very well for some kinds of writers. But the same options can work really badly for other kinds of writers.
4. Learning more about publishing can and should help more writers understand not only how these different options work, but also more about what kind of writer they are themselves—and what that might mean in terms of which options they should try to pursue and which they might want to avoid.
5. These various options can represent very different investments upfront, whether of time or money or both.
6. These options can represent very different potential outcomes in terms of revenue from sales—whether traditional royalties or wholesale margins—and very different degrees of control.
7. These options can entail very different requirements, or obligations, for writers trying to maximize the number of copies sold of their books.
8. Last but not least, these options often entail very different connotations in terms of the validation they entail for writers, which for some writers is the most important outcome of all.

What are you looking for in publishing?

In my experience, not every writer is looking for the same thing when it comes to publishing a book. Some are looking for complete and total control over the book’s final form. Some are hoping for the greatest possible support, advice, and guidance at every stage of the publication effort. Others prioritize maximizing the financial return from their personal and commercial investment in creating their book. Some are most concerned about what publishing a book will do for their credibility or prestige in their field. Some are all about getting their book into the world as quickly as possible.

Reading this, I hope you understand that not all of these aims align in every particular. In fact, some might be entirely at odds with each other. But without learning more about why and how different kinds of publishing can and will result in certain outcomes being privileged over other outcomes, writers can be hard-pressed to make choices in their best interests.

And this can often, if not inevitably, result in writers being disappointed in some, if not all of the outcomes that result.

Whatever kind of writer you are, or whatever kind of writer you want to be, it’s worth it to learn what you can about the industry that gets writers’ work into the hands of readers.

What are some areas of the business that you wish you knew more about?

About Doug:

Doug Seibold founded Agate Publishing in 2002, after working as an editor and freelance writer for close to 20 years. Today Agate comprises four distinct trade imprints and two education and learning-related divisions, the newest of which, Agate Publishing Academy, provides focused, affordable, and accessible training and learning for people interested in publishing. He also writes the Substack newsletter “What Publishing Is,” which aims to provide writers and others with more information about the inner workings of the publishing industry.

Featured image via Depositphotos and Canva.

by Ellen Buikema

Reading the other team member’s showcases has been great fun. We are all so different, and that makes for an interesting multi-talented group!

On Writers in the Storm blog, I often write about characters as well as writing related issues that have been problematic for me. If I figure something out, I like to pass the information along.

Who I am.

I am Ellen Lucey Buikema, AKA Ellen L. Buikema, E.L. Buikema, Elle, Ellie, Mom, and soon to be Mimi as our first grandbaby is due in June!

I like to draw and paint, although I’m a tad rusty as it’s been a while, I find drawing relaxing.

Two years ago, I began guitar lessons. I play for the joy of it. For 30+ years I’ve made medicinal teas, and have been a Reiki practitioner approaching 20 years. I also enjoy experimental cooking!

Like many others, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had too many interests. After having children of my own, I went back to school for teaching. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Theater, a Master’s in Education, specialization in Early Childhood Education, and two years of post-graduate work in Special Education.

My students have varied in age from two year olds to septuagenarians. I loved teaching when I had autonomy in the classroom, especially Pre-K with whom I share a sense of wonder and humor, and students with Learning Disabilities who need to use their strengths to find a creative work-around.

I tend to use lateral thinking.

For one of our family projects, we built a deck in the back of our house. Everyone one, kids included, worked on the design. We had everything ready to go, and then discovered that one of the foundational beams, 12” x 6” x 20’ had a major curve at one end. Having no preconceived ideas, I suggested using our car jack to straighten the beam and attach it to the post. It worked! After 30 or so years the deck is still standing.

Looking at problems with an open mind is, in my opinion, the best way to approach all issues in life.

I come by storytelling naturally.

My grandfather grew up in County Cork, Ireland on a farm named Cahireen in Bawnatanaknock Townland. He was one of fifteen children.

Several family members came to the US in the 1920s. Grandpa and two of his brothers eventually moved to Chicago and joined the police force there. His brothers told stories of the Irish Banshee that were so frightening that my father, a youngster at the time and a great bully, was terrified by them. The uncles passed away by the time I was born. I would have loved to hear their tales.

Grandpa Lucey had a very wry sense of humor and loved to tease. He told wonderful stories of his school days and about growing up on the farm. He referred to a particular math teacher as “mad,” as in crazy. Grandpa instilled in me a love of poetry. Through his stories I learned how words evoke emotions.

What I’ve been doing.

With the assistance of many patient people, I designed a website. Much barter was involved. Unlike my WITS teammates, I am not technically inclined. At all. However, I have developed a sense of humor regarding this and a somewhat thicker skin, which all writers need.

The first book I published, Parenting …  A Work in Progress is basically an easy-to-understand Child Growth and Development book. I wrote this for parents and anyone interested in children and how they think. There are lots of vignettes in the book to go along with the text.

I’ve published The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon, a series of illustrated chapter books for children written to encourage empathy without being heavy-handed. It became abundantly clear working in the classroom that children who have compassion for others were happier overall and played well with others. That is an important life skill.

I wrote to amuse the adults and siblings who might be reading to younger children too! My personal favorite character in the series is Frankie, the world’s most full-of-himself goldfish. He feels that he is fin-tastic in all ways. Definitely the Id component of personality in accordance with Dr. Sigmund Freud. These books are a combination of edutainment and bibliotherapy.

Upcoming adventures.

We recently moved from Texas to Missouri, so I haven’t connected with local writers yet. I know they are lurking about the KCMO area though. I’m confident that I’ll find them. In the meantime, I’m thinking about setting up an online classroom covering topics like writing for children, working with children, the writing process, teaching young children to write, how to help a child love reading, and the like. These are in pre-production phase.

An offer for the WITS Community

I’ve retired from teaching, but am discovering that the desire to share an understanding with others doesn’t go away just because you’re not in a classroom.

Just for you, I’m having a free 30-minute class on discovering your strong intelligences and how that relates to creating stories, on Zoom. If you are interested let me know in the comments stating “Show me the ways I am smart.”

Cheers!

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About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written Parenting ... A Work in Progress non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

by Ellen Buikema

Recently, I received an email that got my heart thumping. Someone was charmed by one of my children’s chapter books and wondered if I would be interested in joining a challenge that his group was having in conjunction with a larger group. Since he was part of a legitimate Goodreads group, I thought this might be for real.

After rereading the email, I wondered if he might be one of the many people trying to separate authors from their hard-earned funds. Being an author is not cheap. It is a business involving editors, formatters, marketers, distributors, and in cases like mine – illustrators.

It was hard to tell if this was a scam. The Goodreads group that was mentioned, actually exists. The information about the story included in the email made it seem as though this individual had read my book. But upon further checking, the larger group he mentioned in the email didn’t exactly track.

Since I completely trust my fellow writers at WITS, I checked with them. Turns out this was a scam. The individual sent a follow-up email after I did not respond to the ego-stroking, letting me know that there was still time for me to enter the challenge. I asked him to remove me from his list, blocked him, and reported the scam to Goodreads in case they are tracking such things.

Scammers Tap into the Writer’s Emotions

The most effective scams are well-written and start by triggering emotions. Scammers are aware that writers are committed to their work and many are still navigating the twists and turns of finding and marketing to potential readers.

Flattery can temporarily short-circuit your ability to be cautious. This is psychological warfare. Scammers exploit and manipulate their victims into making decisions on impulse. If the compliment feels off somehow or too good to be true, take a breath and step back.

Common emotional triggers:

• Confusion — “Here is your metadata survey / analytics ranking.”
• Fear — “Your book / account is at risk.”
• Hope — “Your book is perfect for our award/ book club / interview.”
• Urgency — “Act now or you’ll lose readers / visibility.”

Identifying this emotional strategy makes it much easier to avoid scams.

The Book Club Scam

This is the typical pattern:

First, a cordial email arrives from someone unknown. They state wonderful things about your book. They might mention that they “just finished reading it” or their club “voted” to read it.

The tone is effusive and personal, often using phrases like “we love your work,” “it’s perfect for us.”

Details are vague, but praise is heaped aplenty. The club may claim to have “thousands” of members — highly unlikely.

Drumroll, please! The ask lands.They need you to pay:

• an “administration fee”
• a “coordination fee”
• an “honorarium contribution”
• a “spotlight fee”

If you ignore, decline, or question, they either disappear or try to pressure you by mentioning you may “miss a valuable opportunity.”

This scam has been documented by various author watchdog groups, writing magazines, and publishing-industry writers. Reports are increasing. Some writers receiving several scams per week. Even though names, locations, and book club titles vary, the script is almost always the same.

Why This Scam Works

We want other people to love our books as much as we do.

When we receive a message that seems thoughtful and real, it gives us hope. Maybe a book club actually found your work. This could be the start of something big!

Writers are easy to find via websites and social media. Millions of self-published books come out every year, many needing help with reader-reach, making the writer easy to manipulate.

The scammers count on that excitement. Then move quickly from connecting with a writer to convincing the writer to pay them. Using cheap AI tools, they can generate hundreds of variations of these personalized messages to unsuspecting victims.

Example Scams

The following book club scam came to one of the WITS team members the very day I questioned mine:

Dear Ms. Windrow,

Warm literary greetings from … Book Club. My name is … , and I am reaching out on behalf of our vibrant international community of readers who adore romance infused with mythology, humor, and a touch of supernatural mischief.

(The scammer goes on to give immense praise for the book series. Note the warmth in the first paragraph as well as mention of international community, making the group sound huge.)

Because The Redeeming Cupid Collection generated such enthusiastic discussion and delight among our members, we would be truly honored to invite you as our featured guest in an upcoming Virtual Author Spotlight Session. This is a fully online, relaxed, and thoughtfully moderated conversation where our members engage directly with authors about inspiration, mythological adaptation, character arcs, and the emotional core of their stories.

Our sessions are informal, conversational, and scheduled entirely at your convenience, with questions shared in advance to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Our members would especially love to explore:

(Scammer goes on to list five points derived from book summaries.)

If this invitation resonates with you, we would be delighted to coordinate a date that fits your schedule and provide further details. Thank you for creating a series that blends mythology, romance, and wit into something truly memorable for our book-loving community.

Warmest regards,
…
… Book Club

This is the intro letter. More would follow to obtain “fees.”

More information on Book Club scams may be found here.

This is the basis of the scam sent to me:

“The Obsidian Laureate Award email is a phishing scam designed to steal personal data or money through fake recognition. Scammers often pose as legitimate organizations, asking you to click links, pay a "processing fee," or submit personal information for a "prestigious" award. Do not reply, click links, or pay fees.” Sourced via Social Media search.

Lynette Burrow’s experiences with scammers and what she has done in follow-ups:

I’ve found all of these emails have some part of it that appears to be legitimate: a website, a group, etc. However, if you look carefully at the wording they use describing your book you will find not one original word of praise. Every phrase is scraped from your book page or reviews. There’s not one word that indicates the writer has actually read your book.

I have even engaged with a few people, asking them “why do you need my permission?” Or what could you possibly need? Or “what’s your favorite part” or a specific question about a pivotal scene. If they answer, their answers are vague and sometimes outright wrong. Occasionally I’ll get someone who admits they are trying to get money for some service they think I need. 

Legitimate awards don’t need things to get you into the running for their award. They might need “things” from the author IF your book is in the semi-final list, but I’ve never heard of one that “needs” anything to consider your book.

What To Do If You Receive One of These Emails

• Ask for proof that the club is legitimate. A real club will send it. A scammer will circle around the issue, coerce, or not return email.
• Consider copying or taking a screenshot of the email to send to author sites to warn others, mark the email as spam, and delete it.
• Do not send funds. Once you do either the scammer disappears, leaving you with nothing in return, or tries to upsell.
• Don’t send free copies or manuscripts. Some scams use tools that extract data.
  • If it’s a scam be sure to report it. You can report to: your email provider, anywhere authors can be found online—Goodreads for example, the Authors Guild, or other writing community groups. The more that’s reported, the faster the pattern becomes recognized.
  • While on the Authors Guild site I found a detailed explanation with examples of a book scam similar to the “Nigerian Prince” scam.
• Trust your gut. If it feels wrong, it likely is.

If you receive a tempting invitation step back, take a breath, and look again. Caution now may save you time, funds, frustration, and heartache later. Your time and your work are valuable.

Have you ever received scam email? What clued you in that it was a scam? How did you decide whether or not the email was truly a scam?

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About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written Parenting ... A Work in Progress, non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

Top Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay