Reclaim the Page: A Call to Arms Against Deception and scams in the Publishing Industry
In recent months, a curious, unsettling phenomenon has emerged across the publishing industry: the sudden influx of 'entrepreneurs' – or as they have proven themselves, fraudsters – who have cleverly hidden behind the appeal of ease and automation. Driven by their self-serving interests, these individuals leverage popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to propagate their deceptive tactics.
You’ve probably seen plenty of ads like this one. These are scams.
The rise of AI and the scammers
Their strategy is startlingly simple, and as such, highly effective: they advertise programs that supposedly automate the writing process, claiming that they've been successful in selling thousands of books on Amazon without writing a single word. In essence, they reduce the craft of storytelling to a mere commodity, cheapened by a lack of authenticity and originality. They play on people's desires for quick, effortless success, shunning the commitment and hard work that lies at the very heart of quality writing. And sadly there are plenty of people falling for it.
Since I started being an indie author over a decade ago now, the scammers have always existed, but with the rise of ChatGPT and other Ai tools the sheer number of them has exploded onto the scene. We could blame the AI, but its not the Ai pushing these scams, it’s the scumbag human fraudsters that have adopted a new tool. Like every new technology scammers seek to exploit it and those ignorant of how said tech works. I’ve used AI and trust me, it’s nowhere close to being able to write decent stories or surpass human creativity when it comes to art.
While our initial response might be to leave angry comments under these fraudulent ads, it's crucial to understand that such reactions, while cathartic, do little to tackle the problem at its roots. Instead, we must rally as a community and adopt a more strategic, coordinated approach.
Public Domain is being abused
Another alarming development that deserves our attention is the exploitation of works in the public domain. Many of these 'entrepreneurs' have begun to snatch these freely available works, republishing them via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) as their own.
While the law may allow for the republication of public domain works, this practice becomes morally dubious when these works are marketed as original or under false pretences. It deceives unsuspecting readers and undermines the original authors' contributions, regardless of whether they're still with us or not.
Amazon, as a significant player in the publishing industry and the primary platform for these practices, holds a substantial share of responsibility. It's imperative for the company to tighten its regulations and scrutiny over the content published on KDP.
Amazon needs to act proactively in preserving the integrity of public domain works. This action includes implementing stricter content vetting procedures before publication and maintaining transparency regarding the original authorship of public domain works.
Furthermore, Amazon should educate its users about the importance and value of public domain works. It can ensure that readers understand that while these books are freely available for republishing, their origins must be acknowledged out of respect for the original creators. Such a step would not only protect the intellectual property rights of authors but would also foster a more respectful and ethical publishing environment.
As consumers, we also have a role to play in this scenario. We can choose to support platforms and publishers that adhere to ethical standards, and voice our concerns to those that don't. Let's use our power to demand transparency and accountability, and in doing so, preserve the dignity and value of literature.
What can be done?
So, what can we do to counteract these scammers?
Firstly, report these fraudulent ads wherever you encounter them. By doing so, we hold the social media platforms accountable for the content they allow, urging them to enforce stricter policies against such misleading practices. Reporting these ads is a simple yet potent way to signal that the writing community will not tolerate the bastardization of their craft.
Secondly, raise awareness. Share these incidents with your fellow writers, authors, publishers, and readers. Inform them about the dishonest practices plaguing the industry. Use your voice on blogs, podcasts, social media platforms, or any medium that can help illuminate the issue. Education is our strongest tool against deception; the more we expose these fraudulent practices, the less likely they are to succeed.
Thirdly, support legitimate authors. Show your solidarity with the authentic voices who have poured their hearts and souls into their works. Whether it's buying their books, sharing their work on social media, or leaving positive reviews, every little action contributes to preserving the integrity of our industry.
Lastly, we must advocate for stronger regulations and penalties for fraudulent practices within the publishing industry. We’re already seeing the likes of Amazon being flooded with such books, even to the point where the bestseller charts in several genres have been filled with them. We need to put more pressure on Amazon and other retailers to better curate the books it sells as well as introduce new quality checks.
Reach out to relevant authorities and platforms, pushing for more substantial action against those exploiting the system for ill-gotten gains.
A Rallying Call
This recent onslaught on the publishing industry may seem disheartening, but it's also a rallying call. A call for us to protect the sanctity of storytelling, to support the genuine authors amongst us, and to champion the beautiful, transformative power of the written word. Together, we can ensure that our stories continue to be told with authenticity, passion, and integrity.
Let this be our collective call to arms – a call to action for everyone who believes in the power of genuine, heartfelt storytelling. Let's stand up against this wave of deception, and reclaim the narrative that true creativity cannot – and should not – be artificially manufactured.
