The one thing I did not expect when I started this book writing venture, was the number of times a day people would try to scam me. I mean, sure it is flattering to be a target, but it sure is exhausting!
1. Phone Calls – When you make your phone number available, in hopes that someone within a publishing company will call begging you to join their “team”, you need to expect the occasional unsolicited phone call. I did not expect the quantity of them, nor did I expect them to be so persistent. I did learn very quickly that if you ask them to send you a contract via email detailing your phone conversation, they give up. My favorite phone calls so far have been with an organization that offered to feature me in their Hispanic book fairs throughout California, even though I kept telling them I married into my name, and that I was not in fact Hispanic. They did send me a contract, and after quickly adding it all up, it would have cost me nearly $9,000 to be one of their “featured Hispanic poets”.
2. Facebook – This one should have been obvious to me, because I know how poorly Facebook monitors scams and hackers. Things were quiet on this front until I decided to use their handy little “Boost Post” function. It boosted me all right, straight into a mosh pit of would-be opportunists. Yes, my posts were boosted, and I did make some sales. And yes, I will use that feature again, but I am prepared with a few entertaining Gifs to send back to anyone who sends me a message informing me that I am in copyright violation of my own work.
3. Groups – Facebook Groups can be a wonderful experience, but I have left four groups in the last two weeks because they consistently allow predatory “marketing” firms to hang around. These people make generic posts throughout the day asking people to, “Explain your book to me in two words.” My standard answer is now, “F@!# Off.” The standard response I receive is, “Please check your messages for how I can help you market your book!” The fees for this unprompted service ranges from $499 to $4,999.
4. Other “Writers” – The amazing thing about Facebook Groups and Pages is that you find people who want to share their writing experience and will give you good advice. It is a fantastic way to highlight what you are working on, see what others are doing, and exchange ideas when you are experiencing a little writer’s block. Unfortunately, this leaves everyone open to the possibility of plagiarism, and those little gremlins who are trying to take advantage of the fact that writers just want their work published without losing their shirts. Daily offers of, “Hey, I like that poem, and I would like to publish it in my anthology. I will not be paying you for your work, and I cannot afford to send you a copy of the book, but what do you say?” Sometimes the first message is swiftly followed by an additional message, “By the way, this will cost you $20, here’s my Venmo.”
I would think scamming people would be more lucrative than being an indie author, and the money would be nice, but I hear prison food is not that great. I will stick with the writing!
© Stacy Hinojos, May 2024
I'm sorry you're dealing with all of it. Unfortunately, they seem to be in every industry now. On the other side of things, it sounds like you'll get some entertainment with them from your responses to their bullshit. And yes, please! Continue writing!