Victoria Strauss
@victoriastrauss.com
Adult/YA novelist, fanatical gardener, co-founder of SFWA's publishing industry watchdog group Writer Beware. Casting a small light in a wilderness of writing scams (plus an occasional cat pic)
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
https://writerbeware.blog
https://victoriastrauss.com
A message for Unbound authors
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A message for Unbound authors
For anyone who has been confused by the disappearance of the official Anthropic Settlement website, it's back online: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
It was temporarily removed thanks to concerns by the judge in the case, who stipulated a number of changes that had to be made.
It was temporarily removed thanks to concerns by the judge in the case, who stipulated a number of changes that had to be made.
Homepage | Bartz v Anthropic Settlement Site
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
For anyone who has been confused by the disappearance of the official Anthropic Settlement website, it's back online: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
It was temporarily removed thanks to concerns by the judge in the case, who stipulated a number of changes that had to be made.
It was temporarily removed thanks to concerns by the judge in the case, who stipulated a number of changes that had to be made.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Our next goal is getting the freedom to read bill out of the House. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter for updates & actions. www.massfreedomtoread.org
Mass Freedom To Read
www.massfreedomtoread.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Our next goal is getting the freedom to read bill out of the House. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter for updates & actions. www.massfreedomtoread.org
A judge has permanently blocked Trump's destruction of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Really good news for libraries (and those like me, who love them! www.ala.org/news/2025/11...
Court permanently blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle federal agency for America’s libraries
Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
www.ala.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A judge has permanently blocked Trump's destruction of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Really good news for libraries (and those like me, who love them! www.ala.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Posting this partially as service to fellow writers, partly to motivate myself to get it done today. November 30 is deadline to log your year's work at @alcs.co.uk, in return for which you *will* get free money, possibly quite startling quantities of it. If you haven't signed up, do. www.alcs.co.uk
ALCS
www.alcs.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Posting this partially as service to fellow writers, partly to motivate myself to get it done today. November 30 is deadline to log your year's work at @alcs.co.uk, in return for which you *will* get free money, possibly quite startling quantities of it. If you haven't signed up, do. www.alcs.co.uk
Fair, although my rustic pottery phase ended fifteen years ago and the obsolete cables are my packrat husband's fault
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Fair, although my rustic pottery phase ended fifteen years ago and the obsolete cables are my packrat husband's fault
Here's another XTwitter scammer account outed by geolocation--this one refers writers to a (real) literary agent with a fake address, then impersonates the agent to recommend "professional editor" services
November 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Here's another XTwitter scammer account outed by geolocation--this one refers writers to a (real) literary agent with a fake address, then impersonates the agent to recommend "professional editor" services
And...what's this? The fake Lois McMaster Bujold account that's running a Famous Author scam
November 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
And...what's this? The fake Lois McMaster Bujold account that's running a Famous Author scam
I'm enjoying the freakout over on XTwitter about geographical locations being exposed...it's exposing some literary scammers as well. Here's "literary agent" Joyce Momoa, about whom I get occasional inquiries.
November 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I'm enjoying the freakout over on XTwitter about geographical locations being exposed...it's exposing some literary scammers as well. Here's "literary agent" Joyce Momoa, about whom I get occasional inquiries.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
The wonderful @victoriastrauss.com of Writer Beware reveals all the versions of the Famous Author scam. writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The wonderful @victoriastrauss.com of Writer Beware reveals all the versions of the Famous Author scam. writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
This week on Practicing Writing: anatomy of (another) scam; on re-reading past work; dealing with internet hate; more. W/thanks to @victoriastrauss.com @writingelizabeth.bsky.social et al. www.erikadreifus.com/2025/11/find...
Finds for Writers - Erika Dreifus
Writing- and publishing-related tidbits.
www.erikadreifus.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This week on Practicing Writing: anatomy of (another) scam; on re-reading past work; dealing with internet hate; more. W/thanks to @victoriastrauss.com @writingelizabeth.bsky.social et al. www.erikadreifus.com/2025/11/find...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
New #WriterBeware blog post: Among the most frequent publisher complaints I receive: non-payment of royalties and failure to provide sales reports. A look at three recent offenders, who collectively owe thousands that it seems unlikely authors will be able to recoup writerbeware.blog/2025/11/21/r...
Royalties in Arrears: Mango Publishing / Blushing Books / Bottlecap Press - Writer Beware
Publishers do a lot of bad things (as the archives of this blog attest), but among the most infuriating–and, often, the hardest to remedy–is the failure to pay authors the money they are due. Non-paym...
writerbeware.blog
November 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: Among the most frequent publisher complaints I receive: non-payment of royalties and failure to provide sales reports. A look at three recent offenders, who collectively owe thousands that it seems unlikely authors will be able to recoup writerbeware.blog/2025/11/21/r...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
New! SFWA's Anthropic Settlement FAQ #3: Anthologies and other Less Common Questions. www.sfwa.org/anthropic-fa...
Anthropic FAQ - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
Frequently Asked Questions about the Anthropic/AI Settlement SFWA wishes to extend its thanks to the volunteers of our Legal Affairs […]
www.sfwa.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:10 AM
New! SFWA's Anthropic Settlement FAQ #3: Anthologies and other Less Common Questions. www.sfwa.org/anthropic-fa...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Whew! Everyone recovered from our wonderful whirlwind of a weekend at Quasar? 👀 Today, we're excited to lean in to Winter Worlds of Giving - and we've got great content waiting for you in our newsletter. Have you signed up to receive writing resources and motivation yet?
mailchi.mp/c940e88339bd...
mailchi.mp/c940e88339bd...
SFWA 2025 Winter Worlds of Giving
We are fundraising to build deep and focused support for writers and the next sixty years of SFWA.
mailchi.mp
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Whew! Everyone recovered from our wonderful whirlwind of a weekend at Quasar? 👀 Today, we're excited to lean in to Winter Worlds of Giving - and we've got great content waiting for you in our newsletter. Have you signed up to receive writing resources and motivation yet?
mailchi.mp/c940e88339bd...
mailchi.mp/c940e88339bd...
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
I've been really disappointed by the publisher's responses to this. There are reasonable indemnification clauses, and there are boilerplate contracts that don't try to grab every right under the sun. .
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I've been really disappointed by the publisher's responses to this. There are reasonable indemnification clauses, and there are boilerplate contracts that don't try to grab every right under the sun. .
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
In light of the astronomical increases for my health insurance next year, I thought it would be a good time to encourage people to subscribe. (A few hundred should cover it. Sigh.)
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
November 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
In light of the astronomical increases for my health insurance next year, I thought it would be a good time to encourage people to subscribe. (A few hundred should cover it. Sigh.)
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
I've updated my blog post about Must Read magazines with information about how the Must Read contracts have changed--and the negotiation difficulties that some authors still encounter writerbeware.blog/2025/07/25/c...
Contract Controversy (and Change) at Must Read Magazines - Writer Beware
In a surprise move this past February, a new group called Must Read Magazines acquired five well-known genre magazines: Asimov’s Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, The Magazine of Fanta...
writerbeware.blog
November 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I've updated my blog post about Must Read magazines with information about how the Must Read contracts have changed--and the negotiation difficulties that some authors still encounter writerbeware.blog/2025/07/25/c...
That famous Groucho Marx quote about not wanting to belong to any club that wants you as a member also applies to social media contacts from accounts offering publishing or marketing services
At what point does this person figure it out? Are they even a person? Or a bot?
November 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
That famous Groucho Marx quote about not wanting to belong to any club that wants you as a member also applies to social media contacts from accounts offering publishing or marketing services
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
I hung out with Lois yesterday and we talked about these things. She is NEVER involved in ANYTHING like this. If you get a message or a social media DM claiming to be her, IT NEVER IS.
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I hung out with Lois yesterday and we talked about these things. She is NEVER involved in ANYTHING like this. If you get a message or a social media DM claiming to be her, IT NEVER IS.
Reposted by Victoria Strauss
Folks, a famous author isn't ever going to contact you out of the blue to offer you literary services. It's always a scam. Also, speaking as an at least semifamous author, you wouldn't want any services we did offer, we're just barely handling our own shit, much less anyone else's.
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Folks, a famous author isn't ever going to contact you out of the blue to offer you literary services. It's always a scam. Also, speaking as an at least semifamous author, you wouldn't want any services we did offer, we're just barely handling our own shit, much less anyone else's.
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
My 2022 article on ghostwriting scams: a little dated now but still current: writerbeware.blog/2022/01/24/h...
You can see the other pieces I've written by clicking the Ghostwriting Scams tag on the Writer Beware blog. Angela Hoy's Writers Weekly has also been reporting on this type of scam.
You can see the other pieces I've written by clicking the Ghostwriting Scams tag on the Writer Beware blog. Angela Hoy's Writers Weekly has also been reporting on this type of scam.
Good article on the targeting of Australian authors by scammers posing as publishing service providers (I've been reporting on these scams since 2022--one of the markers for them is that, unlike other publishing scams, they sell ghostwriting services) www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Lost in the plot: how would-be authors were fooled by AI staff and virtual offices in suspected global publishing scam
Book publishing websites in Australia, the UK and New Zealand appear to be using fake testimonials and AI staff pages to lure aspiring writers into handing over their money
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
My 2022 article on ghostwriting scams: a little dated now but still current: writerbeware.blog/2022/01/24/h...
You can see the other pieces I've written by clicking the Ghostwriting Scams tag on the Writer Beware blog. Angela Hoy's Writers Weekly has also been reporting on this type of scam.
You can see the other pieces I've written by clicking the Ghostwriting Scams tag on the Writer Beware blog. Angela Hoy's Writers Weekly has also been reporting on this type of scam.