The scammers never let up. Some of the notoriously bad ghostwriting companies that offer poor writing and useless services to people unfamiliar with the publishing industry are now putting out press releases warning people of ghostwriting scams. They are warning potential clients of the very practices that they themselves are guilty of. Why? Because they are finally being exposed by online watchdog groups run by agents, publishers, and authors, and they’re in full damage control mode.
Beware of companies that offer package deals as they attempt to upsell you on services that you don’t need. A ghostwriting/POD company rarely (if ever) has any legitimate agent contacts, and if the company is writing and publishing your book, be aware that agents will not look at these POD books unless they have sold 15,000 to 20,000 copies. Also keep in mind that the “promotional packages” offered have little effect. These companies usually write a few press releases and send them to inappropriate reviewers and magazines unrelated to your market. That’s all you get. Distribution of the ghostwriting company’s POD titles is also extremely limited, and POD copies are almost never carried by national brick-and-mortar chains such as Barnes and Noble.
Amen! I can’t tell you how many inquiries I get about ghostwriting from people who assume I can “hook them up” with an agent or publisher because they think this is what ghostwriters do. I have to tell them that anyone who promises a publishing contract or tries to sell them a POD package is not a ghostwriter they want to work with.
POD publishing is ruining the book industry, and it’s nice to read a coherent perspective for once. Thanks!