Avoid Predators PT2: How to Get Writing Help

Who is doing the work? Get this in writing.I myself have a secondary editor who helps when I am swamped. It is a common practice for one leading industry professional to present himself or herself as a public figure, but have a student, intern, or employee do the actual work. This is not an uncommon or unethical practices, as long as there is a warning on the web page, or in the contract. If you do not hear about outsourcing, associates, assistants, or other help until the moment you ask, it is time to leave that professional behind forever.

Beyond this, there is very little information you need to make a good choice. Avoid high-pressure marketing tactics. Web sites with a title like ‘My editor is the most wonderful person in the world,’ are meant to solicit an emotional response, which makes it possible to overwhelm the potential client, and make them skip the fine print. It is the common ‘pat the puppy’ writing technique set to a different tune. Websites that tout an editor’s achievements in the writing world, and list all sorts of facts and figures, do not want to help the writer make a good choice.

These sites want to baffle the reader, in marketing we call this technique ‘branding’. The reader is now so impressed they do not care what the editor’s personality is, they want to belong to his or her world. Last, do not be impressed by college teaching, public speaking, or other important venues. I know several people in the writing world who feed off new writer’s, just to gain credibility, so they can promote their own careers. This type of predator can open a small publishing house, teach, edit, or coach, but offer their clients no value for their time or money.

Look for friendly web sites. Ones that spend more time answering new writer’s questions than promoting the professional. Look for editors or coaches that put back into the writing community, through e-groups, newsletters, and other resources. If the editor does not have a friendly, outgoing disposition, the editing process will be downright brutal.

The last question you should ask is “What’s in it for me."? While this is bold, and blunt to the point of being rude, it can save a writer hundreds of dollars, months of hard work, and a lot of heartbreak. When you finish a project, you should walk away with more than what you paid for.

An editor or coach should leave a writer with better writing and self-editing skills. A writer should be in a better career and bargaining position when their publishing contract runs out. A marketing company should produce results for all their clients, the same with an agent. Neither of these professionals should consider it ‘acceptable’ to shrug their shoulders and tell the client their product did not sell like planned. In fact, these professionals should be very reluctant to accept a project until the writer has prove their book is marketable. Agents are bad for boasting that they only want 10% of royalties, then after the writer signs the contract, they are billed for all costs associated with selling the book. (from stamps to trips)

Don’t Bid for Projects

Writers are often approached by organizations which promise to get them the best editor, coach, graphic designer etc., for the least amount of money. All they need to do is sign up, post their project, and professionals will bid on it. Then, they pick the lowest bid and this is considered a win-win situation, but it is far from it. There is enough work out there to keep everyone working as long as they please their clients.

Any professional who needs to work for less, to get a job, should be viewed in the same light as a lawyer who promises to work for $10.00. Realistically, do you want to trust your career to an editor or graphic designer who is willing to work for less than $5.00 an hour?

Kill Clause

Finally, do not work with any company that does not have a kill clause, or wants copyright to your work for more than three years. This is especially true with fiction publishers who tell the writer the contract is for five years, but fail to explain that they only print one run, and bookstores will return unsold copies after six weeks. These copies then go to clearance houses.

This means the publisher still makes a small profit, but the author receives no royalties for these copies. Freelance writers need to make sure they are only signing first serial rights in all countries. Many freelance writers are shocked to learn that a company published their article hundreds of times in other countries – legally.

Use common sense. Take your time. There is no reason to hurry into any contract or business relationship. See a lawyer. If you do not, be willing to loose your work forever. Talk to other writers. Find out what works for them. Collaborate with other writers and share work if possible. Just make sure this is not a case of the blind leading the blind.

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