The publishing world can be overwhelming, especially for new writers trying to share their work. And while opportunities have expanded with self-publishing, so have the number of companies looking to profit from hopeful authors.
The Trap Many Writers Fall Into
You’ve poured your heart into your manuscript. Maybe you even hired an artist to create the perfect cover. After countless rejections, an email lands in your inbox: “We love your work!”
It feels like a breakthrough—but read a little closer, and the offer comes with a catch.
They’ll help you publish—if you pay. Maybe $1,000 for “special editing.” Perhaps more for a package that promises distribution, a book signing, or a press release in your local newspaper. It sounds tempting. They dangle bonuses like royalties and sales incentives. But the math rarely works in your favour.
The Numbers Don’t Add Up
Here’s how it often plays out:
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$1,000 upfront for editing and packaging
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$14,000 for purchasing 1,000 copies of your own book
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Total spent: $15,000
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Royalties earned: $3,800
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Net loss: $11,200
Who wins? Not the author. The company profits while you’re left chasing sales just to break even.
How Publishing Should Work
In traditional publishing, money flows from the reader to the bookstore, from the bookstore to the publisher, and from the publisher to the author. That’s the natural order.
When that flow reverses—when the publisher demands money from the author—it’s no longer publishing. It’s exploitation.
The Best Advice I Ever Received
A seasoned writer once gave me a piece of advice I’ve never forgotten:
If a publisher asks you for money, run.
Publishing should cost you time, effort, and creativity—not a cheque to someone who promises the world. It’s fair for publishers to take a cut of book sales; after all, they handle printing and distribution. But you should never pay them upfront for the privilege of being published.
Final Word
If you’ve worked with one of these companies and managed to turn a profit, congratulations—you beat the odds. But for most writers, the outcome is discouraging and expensive.
So, from one writer to another: never pay a publisher to publish your book. Protect your work, protect your wallet, and remember why you started writing in the first place.