Those of you who follow the articles I write, (of course that is all of you, right?) should pick up these similarities without reading the title of this article. But this new Penguin/Putnam development almost makes iPublish.com tame in comparision. Almost.
Freelance writers like myself, tend to subscribe to numerous online newsletters and ezines that support and inform them about job possibilities, publications in need of writers, contests and similar information. Of course, many of these publications support themselves through various advertisements that are placed in their pages. Whether placed as an ad in an ezine, or as a banner ad, these are by far one of the best set-ups and come-ons I've ever seen.
It goes like this:
"Internet-based learning program that teaches you everything you need to know to transform your passion for writing into a published work"
Or
"Get your manuscript critiqued by a Putnam editor!"
Better hang onto your wallet! And buff up those bi-focals! There's a lot more going on here than would appear.
You have now entered the world of a place innocently named "Inside Sessions". So, what's wrong with this, you ask?
Inside Sessions is a new joint venture between Universal Music Group and Putnam Penguin Publishers, and since the original hook got you there, beware of those hooks that follow.
Strangely reminiscent of the now-defunct AOL/Time-Warner's iPublish.com, this "school" takes the concept even further into deceptive practices by giving the prospective "student" the option (for a mere $119.00 more!) to have your manuscript read and critiqued by a Penguin editor.
This writer always considered the procedure of submitting a manuscript to a publisher for their consideration to be exactly what Inside Sessions is offering for their "mere" $119.00. Isn't this the business process that is standard business policy in the publishing industry?
And, this is not even amusing- "Inside Sessions" has been so deluged with wannabes who have coughed up their $ 119.00 that they had to hire "other" Editors to portray the Putnam editors. And even though they are still accepting the $ 119.00 fees, they really cannot guarantee that any of these "new" Editors have ever or will ever work for Putnam. The only promise they now make is that these new Editors have "many years of experience in publishingS
What a conundrum! Bad enough to straight-up PAY for the "privilege" of having your work considered for publication by such a large and prestigious publishing house, but add to this dubious mix the questionable background of these Editors-well... (And "Inside Sessions" cannot deposit the money fast enough!)
Obviously taking a position of "oh well", Inside Sessions has not pulled ads or 'fessed up. If anything, they've upped their concentration and number of ads.
This entire arrangement circumvents established publishing business practices, and enters a new, VERY dark GREY area of actually paying the Editor's salaries on behalf of the publisher.
"Psst! Wanna get published?" Be very careful before you pay- anything!