Just for Authors: Writer Beware’s Go-To Online Resources
By Victoria Strauss | October 25, 2024 |
Writers often ask me why, with all of Writer Beware’s warnings about bad actors in the publishing world, we don’t also provide recommendations or endorsements of the good guys. “You’ve got this gigantic list of scammers on your blog; wouldn’t it also be helpful to recommend reputable agents and publishers?”
There are several reasons why we don’t do this.
Writer Beware has a very specific purpose: to document and expose schemes, scams, and pitfalls that target writers, and to educate authors on how to recognize and avoid them. As far as we know, we’re the only organization with this exclusive mission. In other words, we aren’t a general-purpose resource: we are quite narrowly focused. We are also a small, all-volunteer team, with limited time and resources.
Also, one size does not fit all. Agents, publishers, etc. have widely varying areas of interest and expertise, and the best agent or publisher or freelance editor or cover designer for one writer might be the worst choice for another. Lists of “good guys” won’t necessarily be very useful, depending on what you write and what your publishing goals are (not to mention, they are incredibly time-consuming and research-intensive to compile and maintain; did I mention that Writer Beware is a small team?). It really is better for writers to do their own research and vetting, armed against scams and bad practice with the tools and knowledge Writer Beware provides.
Finally, recommending or endorsing any particular publishers, agents, etc. risks raising questions of conflict of interest. How do you know, one of Writer Beware’s many haters might inquire, that the agents on that “good guy” list didn’t pay to be there? Of course this would not be true—Writer Beware doesn’t even accept charitable donations—but we want to avoid all possibility of such questions arising. (This is why, when scammers want to discredit us, they have to make stuff up—such as that I own my own publishing company and am badmouthing competitors).
So I can’t suggest which agents to query, which publishers to approach, which self-publishing platforms to consider. What I can do is try to cut through some of the fog and noise of the internet by recommending reliable resources to help with your publication journey. The internet is a goldmine of information for authors, but it is also a swamp of fake facts, bad advice, and scams—and it can be very difficult to figure out which websites are reliable and which experts are actually experts.
Following are a few of my favorite online resources. Some you’ll no doubt already be familiar with, but hopefully you’ll also discover something new. (And of course Writer Unboxed would be on the list, if I weren’t already here!) Most of the resources are free, but some require subscription or a membership fee. Writer Beware receives no consideration or compensation for mentioning them.
GENERAL RESOURCES
The Writer Beware Website. http://www.writerbeware.com/ The Writer Beware blog is WB’s most high-profile online presence, but many people don’t realize that we’re also a very large website. While the blog covers scams and publishing industry issues in real time, the website is a resource for general advice and warnings, designed to empower writers to recognize and protect themselves from schemes and scams when they encounter them. Detailed sections cover literary agents, publishers, freelance editors, contests and awards, and more.
Jane Friedman.com. https://janefriedman.com/ Writer Beware doesn’t have the bandwidth to be all things to all writers, but this resource comes very close to that goal. Author, editor, and publishing expert Jane Friedman’s website is one of the best general-purpose resources around, with deep and detailed information on every aspect of publishing, marketing, craft, and much, much more. Want tips on writing queries? There are multiple articles to help. Confused about where to start with self-publishing? There’s a complete tutorial. Just about every question you might think to ask is answered here. I send more writers to Jane’s website than to any other
Funds for Writers. https://fundsforwriters.com/ C. Hope Clark maintains this extensive resource, which focuses broadly on money (writers deserve to be paid!). Here you’ll find lists of paying markets, grants for authors, contests, and more. You can peruse the site, or sign up for the free newsletter.
NEWS AND VIEWS
The Hot Sheet. https://hotsheetpub.com/ Jane Friedman publishes and edits this bi-weekly newsletter, which offers the latest news in publishing and self-publishing, along with in-depth articles and links of interest. It’s a vital resource for keeping up to date on industry goings-on—not just now, but looking to the future. There’s a subscription fee, but you can try before you buy.
Publishers Lunch. https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/ Another important and timely source of publishing industry news, this daily newsletter comes free with a (paid) subscription to Publishers Marketplace (see below).
Shelf Awareness. https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ Actually two newsletters, one focusing on books and authors, the other on bookselling, libraries, and the book trade. Both are free.
Publishing Perspectives. https://publishingperspectives.com/ This daily free newsletter covers the international publishing world, with a focus on the business of publishing.
Agents and Books. https://katemckean.substack.com/ From agent Kate McKean, this newsletter includes a wealth of information for authors seeking traditional publication, from resources for researching agents, to query letter how-tos, to discussions of platform-building, to publishing industry news. The bulk of what’s here is free, but a paid subscription upgrades you to more content.
TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING
Publishers Marketplace. https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/ This site hosts a huge amount of information on literary agents, agencies, publishing house editors, and publishing house imprints. You can look up the latest book deals, check agents’ track records, see publishing industry news, and more. Some of the content is free (such as agent/publisher profiles) but full access requires a membership fee. The fee is sizeable, but you get a lot for your money.
The Bewares, Recommendations, and Background Check forum at Absolute Write. http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22 Here, writers ask questions about agents and publishers, and share their first-hand experiences–both good and bad. Absolute Write is an aggressively moderated writers’ community and has generated a lot of haters as a result…but whatever you think of AW itself, this forum is an absolute goldmine of information, with thousands of discussion threads.
QueryTracker. http://www.querytracker.net/ This large, searchable directory of literary agents is useful not just because it allows you to check agents’ interests, submission guidelines, and clients, but because it allows users to leave comments, covering response times, staff changes, submission requirements–and, sometimes, complaints and other problems. You can sign up for Premium membership, which costs a small fee and offers more perks and tools—but the QueryTracker database itself is free to access.
Book Publishing Glossary. https://nathanbransford.com/book-publishing-glossary Like any specialist industry, traditional publishing has its own jargon, which can be confusing if you’re new to seeking publication. This extensive list of publishing industry terms, with definitions and explanations, helps to translate.
The Authors Guild’s Model Trade Book Contract. https://authorsguild.org/resource/model-trade-book-contract/ Includes not just the clauses and language you may encounter in a publishing contract, but extensive commentary on what the clauses mean and how you can negotiate with a publisher that has made you an offer. Great checkpoints here for anyone who is considering traditional publication.
SFWA’s Model Agency Contract. https://www.sfwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Agent-Agreement-3.1-2016-07-29-Final.pdf Author-agent contracts are simpler than publishing contracts, but that’s not to say they’re not complicated and, often, confusing. Similar to the AG’s Model Book Contract, SFWA’s Model Agency Contract includes common contract clauses, with commentary to explain them.
SELF-PUBLISHING
The Alliance of Independent Authors. http://allianceindependentauthors.org/ The only major membership organization for self-publishing writers, ALLi offers many benefits, including advice, advocacy, and reporting on the latest developments in self-publishing. It also keeps a sharp eye on scams and shady actors via its Watchdog Desk.
ALLi’s Self-Publishing Services Ratings. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ A huge (and I do mean huge) list of self-publishing platforms and service providers, with ratings (from “Excellent” to “Watchdog Advisory”) based on ALLI’s Watchdog Desk research. If you’re considering using a self-pub service provider (as opposed to a DIY platform like KDP or IngramSpark), this is a good place to check.
The Kboards. https://www.kboards.com/ The discussion forum for Kindle self-publishers. Tons of news, information, and experience here from all kinds of self-publishers, at every stage of their careers.
Kindlepreneur. https://kindlepreneur.com/ A free resource maintained by publishing expert Dave Chesson, with solid advice and information on all aspects of self-publishing.
The Creative Penn. http://www.thecreativepenn.com/ Another of my favorite resources for self-publishers, helmed by author and expert Joanna Penn.
CONTESTS AND AWARDS
ALLI’s Book Award and Contest Ratings. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/author-awards-contests-rated-reviewed/ There are a lot of predatory contests and awards, including awards programs that are run purely for profit, with exorbitant entry fees but minimal prizes and name recognition. If you’re considering entering an award or contest, check here first to see if ALLi has given it a caution or a Watchdog Advisory.
Winning Writers. https://winningwriters.com/ Founded in 2001, Winning Writers covers the world of writing contests, and runs some of its own. A subscription to WW’s free newsletter comes with access to its database of vetted writing contests; it also hosts a list of contests to avoid (and why).
MISCELLANEOUS
Lit Mag News. https://litmagnews.substack.com/ This Substack from author Becky Tuch covers the world of literary magazines, with news about openings and closings, submission calls, job and grant opportunities, controversies and scams, and more. A great resource for short fiction writers.
Genre Grapevine. https://jasonsanford.substack.com/ . Maintained by author Jason Sanford, this monthly column focuses primarily on news and issues in the science fiction and fantasy field, but also touches on other genres. There’s a paid subscription option that offers deeper content.
Duotrope. https://duotrope.com/ Here you’ll find thousands of searchable listings for publishers, literary agents, literary journals, and writing contests, with information about genre and focus, submission requirements, publication schedules, response times, any fees that may be charged, and more. It’s subscription-based, but the depth and detail of the listings can’t be beat.
Kitboga. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm22FAXZMw1BaWeFszZxUKw YouTuber Kitboga uncovers phone and online scams, and baits scammers with hilarious phone calls—including, most recently, some epic trolling of one of the fake literary agencies Writer Beware has gotten loads of complaints about. Hours of entertainment here if, like me, you’re fascinated by scams and the psychology of the people who perpetrate them.
Publishing with Integrity. https://predatory-publishing.com/ This website and blog names and shames predatory scientific journals (journals that charge fees and do little or no peer review). Maintained by scholars, it’s the academic equivalent of Writer Beware.
If you’ve used any of these resources, what’s your experience with them? Are there other great resources you’d recommend?
Victoria Strauss is the author of nine novels for adults and young adults, including the WAY OF ARATA epic fantasy duology (THE BURNING LAND and THE AWAKENED CITY) and PASSION BLUE and COLOR SONG, a pair of historical novels for teens. In addition, she’s written a handful of short stories, hundreds of book reviews, and a number of articles on writing and publishing that have appeared in Writer’s Digest, among others. In 2006, she served as a judge for the World Fantasy Awards.
She is the co-founder, with Ann Crispin, of Writer Beware, a publishing industry watchdog group that provides information and warnings about the many scams and schemes that threaten writers. She received the Service to SFWA Award in 2009 for her work with Writer Beware.
She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.
WOW! This is a treasure trove. Thank you for pulling these together in one spot. When I was an assistant to a literary agent, I’d direct people who wanted her advice (which she didn’t have time to give) to a couple of these sites, but a resource like this is amazing. I’m bookmarking and pinning it and anything else so I don’t forget where it is :-)
Yes…thanks for this and all your research and work to compile it. Writers helping other writers is a great thing.
I have used Writer’s Beware a lot. I’m now getting a lot of scams for movies and scripts. One even looked somewhat legit until you understood that the “agency” he was working for didn’t exist. It was a take off on a real agency. Always check that email address. a gmail, yahoo, AOL. or any other type of generic email is a give away that it isn’t legit.
My rule of thumb–If I didn’t contact you and you are a “offering” publicity, representation, marketing, movie deals, etc. You go to spam. Same way with the calls that offer things that I can do myself for a high price.
I got caught once and said never again.
Yeah, I get those emails about once a week. One of them said I had to write a screenplay and prepare a video trailer of my novel and send it to them to qualify for them to represent me – and gave me one month to do it. All such emails go into my “They Wanna Make Me Famous” file folder. Sometimes I find them amusing.
I get them too, about once a week. Most of mine also say I have to write a screenplay and or create a video trailer. And if I can’t do these things the agency will do it for me for big bucks. What a scam. Authors be aware.
“All that glitters is not gold,” as the old adage says. These scams sprinkle glitter into the eyes of the unwary and naive. Ain’t no gold in them thar hills (or eyes).
Invaluable as always, thanks Victoria.
As always, a very informative article with so much useful information. Thanks for all you do!
The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2025. This came out in July, and it is a thick tome of information if you would like a British publisher, agent, and to understand the editing marks which will appear on a manuscript, the percentage for royalties, way to approach a publisher, and genres. Something top of mind is please don’t say: “my website is ….. ” because the publishing house will just lose interest. You’ve given them a job before even engaging.
Thanks so much for this list of valuable links, Victoria. Reminds me of a time we had links on WU’s sidebar, but your list is much more comprehensive. I’m sure it’ll help many a writer.
Thank you, Victoria. I love it that you are an author helping other authors. I too am getting a lot of offers for movies and scripts. It is wonderful to have a place to check out these scammers. Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing.
I’m a long-time reader of Writer Beware and I’m in awe of Victoria and her associates who provide such indispensable information for authors. Although I’m familiar with most of these Writer Unboxed resources, it’s great to have them in a listing. Thanks so very much for all you do!
Always so grateful for all your work to protect authors, Victoria. I’m sharing this in my newsletter for writers. Thanks!
Wonderful! Thank you, Victoria.