PREYING ON DESPERATION

The glorious Miss Snark had a comment on a website in one of her posts yesterday and it really brought the stark realities of writer's desperation to the forefront of my mind.

There are so many of these types of sites online that I won't even bother to mention which site she mentioned. It's just a clone of a million others. It really doesn't even matter which exact one it is. It's the idea of it, and them, that riles.

It's a sad fact that hopeful writers are a desperate bunch as a group. It's an uncomfortable position to be in. At the mercy of the powers-that-be, and when you're struggling for notice, EVERYONE seems like a member of the 'big boys' club but you.

You just need an in, you think. If you could just get that one person to see your work for what it is, you'd be in gravy. Well, that's true, of course. But that's the trick of the mind that these sites prey on like a hungry group of swarming vultures.

Submit your manuscript for the low, low price of $40.00 (whatever, the price varies) and get reviewed by our large group of writers, or staff, or small group of top lit agents (like they'd be bothered to add to their slush any more than it is if they were really top agents). The gimmick is slightly different for each, yet disgustingly the same. The bottom line is the $40.00. That's all it's about for them. Face it there are millions of hungry writers out there, and if they can hook even 1% of them, they're making out like a bandit.

Regardless of any claims to the contrary, these types of sites (or emails, or letters by snail mail--they are inventive in their marketing approach) are worthless to the writer. The only one that benefits is the receipient of the $40.00.

DON'T DO IT.

Don't fall for it. Stick with the tried and true, and as of this moment ONLY way to really get the recognition you need. Submit to legit agents via their guidelines, or publishing houses via theirs. No ifs, ands, or buts, on this one. Don't be fooled into thinking there's got to be an easier way, there isn't. And remember always the mantra~money flows TO the author.