by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

The most important thing you can remember as your writing career progresses is “Do your homework.” Here’s why:

“I can help you with this.” Ned slipped a business card onto Sally’s notepad. “I notice you’re talking tons of notes. No need. I can help you.” She nods and takes the card. After class Ned continued to tell Sally about his qualifications. He’d made videos for years. In fact, he worked for a company that specialized in video promotion and his prices seemed fair.

When Sally returned home, she contacted Ned. She signed an agreement for a 60 second promotional video and sent a check. After three months, Sally still only had a sample video and several weeks later she was getting nowhere with Ned. Sally decided to cut her losses. She’d made mistake and it cost her. 

Conferences are wonderful places to seek and find the help we may need to further our writing career. It’s important to know that conference directors and their staff work diligently to vet and invite qualified faculty and vendors that will aid conferees. 

Beware. There are always those who seek out willing prey, even at Christian writers conferences. Sadly, it happens more frequently than we like. Conferees pay individuals (not those vetted) for services and never receive what was promised, so let’s begin by saying, conferee beware.

When you speak with vendors, editors, and publishers that are part of a conference faculty, you are safe to assume you will not be misguided. How do you know if you are being misled? Truthfully, there are times it’s very difficult, but you can start by doing your homework.

Be it an editor or a promoter, do your homework. Be a wise consumer. Just as you would do research for a new car or home loan, the same research is necessary for services you may purchase. Simply because you receive a business card from a person sitting next to you at a conference does not a professional make. There are many who claim to be editors, who actually believe they are good editors, but the real fact is, they may have only helped a college friend make sure all the commas are in place and the spelling is right. The same is true with promotions and with individuals who can “self-publish you” for a nominal fee.

Here are some suggestions to help you make wise decisions for services you may purchase.

• Search sites that train and test – If you are looking for an editor, search places like The Christian Pen. Editors from this site undergo continued training and their skills are tested before they are allowed to be a part of the site. Know what type editor you need before you hire someone. If you need proofing, look for a proofer. If you need an overview of your manuscript, if it flows or there are holes, and the rules are working, see a content editor. Take caution to hire the service and vendor that serves your needs.
• Ask for sample editing – When seeking an editor, ask for a one page sample editing of your work. This will help you see the level of skill the editor holds and if they are a fit for you.
• Social Media assistance – It’s easy to find someone willing to make your social media posts and tweets, however, are they willing to maintain the daily grind you may be seeking? Ask for references. Good social media promoters are happy to provide you a list of clients that they regularly post. Ask for a list of dates and times they post and if you hire them, ask for a weekly or monthly report of posts and tweets.
• Promotional assistance – Building your platform and promotion are two different things and often it is easy to get the cart before the horse. You cannot promote until you have a product to promote. But you can work to build a social media presence by posting and offering useful information for readers. Before you hire a promoter 1) have a product to promote 2) look at their sites for number of views. If they do not have a strong following to promote your work, you are wasting valuable dollars. Promote your product, not the fact that you are seeking an agent or a book contract. Publishers and agents do not watch videos in search of clients. Again, be sure you are choosing the correct method before you sink big dollars into paying for something you may not need.
• Self-publishing – Vigilance is vital. Take time to look at self-publishing as a business decision. Regardless of what you are told, when you spend any money to publish – you are self-publishing. Therefore, make sure your work is the ultimate best it can be. Don’t skip valuable editing steps and don’t skimp on a book cover. Be sure you are publishing for the right reasons and that you are not putting yourself or your family into debt by jumping the gun.

Be a wise consumer. Because we are writers, our burning desire to find publication will sometimes overcome our need to be vigilant. Whether you are in the writing business or a childcare business, it doesn’t matter. . . be aware of scams and folks selling services they are not qualified to sell. Make good decisions. Don’t rush. Be sure you are moving in the right direction and that you are not jumping steps. 

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conferenceteacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and InspireaFire.com. Cindy is the managing editor forStraight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, both imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is an award-winning and best-selling author and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com. @cindydevoted