When you market your short story, novel, or screenplay you may get rejected by agents, editors, and producers. This leaves some would-be authors in the position of wanting to have their work published so badly…they can make regrettable choices.

Enter the con artist.

They usually take the form of an agent who tells you that your work shows promise and they’ll read more (for a reading fee) or recommends that you send it to a particular book doctor (who they get kickbacks from).

There are as many variations to these scams as there are aspiring authors. As a general rule, however, in the publishing business the money always flows to the writer—not the other way around.

There are some legit expenses. Some agents charge for photocopying or long-distance calls, but anytime you are asked to pay for anything—warning bells should sound.

For an exhaustive study on these cons check out the Science Fiction Writer’s of America “Writer Beware” website. It’s free and makes for an interesting and educational read.