The official blog of Writer Beware® shines a bright light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls. Also providing advice for writers, industry news, and commentary. Writer Beware® is sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
Well, in searching for a topic to post about today, it occurs to me that it might not hurt to discuss copyright from a writer’s point of view. Here are a few basic things I’ve learned over the years: 1. You cannot copyright an “idea.” Only the tangible execution of an idea. 2. Titles areRead More
I got a letter yesterday from a writer who signed with an agent who has long been on Writer Beware’s watchlist for charging reading/evaluation fees. (Reading and evaluation fees used to be the most common kind of upfront fee, but writers have become so aware of the fact that they’re non-legit that most fee-chargers haveRead More
News stories covering Martha Ivery’s guilty plea: AP articleShorter AP articleThe Buffalo NewsAlbany Times-UnionMid-Hudson News (oddly, this report gets it wrong, stating that she pleaded not guilty) My husband swears that he heard Martha mentioned on NPR’s All Things Considered, but I can’t find it on NPR’s website. Yippee! This really is a great feeling,Read More
You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen! Kelly O’Donnell/Martha Ivery/6 other aliases has just pleaded guilty in Federal Court to ALL 15 COUNTS OF FRAUD (INCLUDING BANKRUPTCY FRAUD) SHE WAS CHARGED WITH! Sentencing was set for April 28th, 2006. Victoria and I are planning to be there in court that day. Folks, this meansRead More
Speaking of ads, I remember that Kelly O’Donnell/Martha Ivery used to have a regular ad running in Publisher’s Weekly. Every week, there she was, with her little ad. She had one in Writer’s Digest, too. And now she’s facing prison for scamming authors. Basically, here’s a quick “check” for any of you writers who areRead More
Remember the agent I talked about in a previous post–the one who charges a $3,200 service fee for a year of representation, and in the nearly 10 years her agency has existed has never sold any books to commercial publishers? Well, I just discovered that she has bought a membership in Publishers Marketplace, and hasRead More
