This is just sad. Goodreads is overrun with con-artists threatening authors with 1-star reviews…and delivering those reviews…if the authors don’t pay a ransom. You can read the Time article here.
Publishing is a shit show of gargantuan proportions. You don’t get rich as a writer unless you make the NYT bestseller’s list. Seriously. Writing doesn’t pay much unless you manage to sell something amazing or are prolific. Then there’s the revolving door and waiting game as you submit stories and manuscripts only to have them rejected for one reason or another. If you’re not dedicated to writing and making a living with writing, you won’t make much.
For some of us, the prospect of getting rich with our writing is simply laughable; so, we go for writing something profound, something that will inspire and motivate new art. Still, we get targeted. I’ve never been targeted for money, but I’ve been targeted to change my political views and my reviews have suffered. Oh, well–I can always print my files, delete the originals, and play Kafka with the stack of papers and a cigarette lighter.
If we aren’t careful, we’ll lose good storytelling and new stories forever. Of course, they’ll always be able to reboot Spiderman, so there’s that….
My Job Is Scaring You 
Wow that’s interesting. I’d hate to have my hard work shat on just for a scam. Thankfully I’ve not had to deal with things like this yet. Anyway, thanks for this post!
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