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Hey, How'd You Launch A Site To Protect New Novelists?

'There is a huge amount of misinformation -- so be a smart and informed writer!'

By Liz Funk – January 5, 2009
Victoria Strauss is the founder of the Web site Writer Beware, an interactive hub of information for new writers about literary scams, fake publishers, proprietary writing contests, and other pitfalls in the publishing industry. She runs Writer Beware as a volunteer from her Massachusetts home, along with two other writers who she met through her work with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She is the author of seven fantasy novels, mostly recently The Burning Land and The Awakened City.

Strauss compiles and investigates complaints of shady literary agents and vanity publishers so new writers know not to get involved with them, and sometimes she helps police investigations of fraudulent business. We spoke with Strauss and found out what it takes to advocate and get to the bottom of real-life publishing world miscreants and mysteries for new writers....

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