I am a short story writer looking to get representation so I may publish a collection of my work. I came across a web site called the New Writer's Market. It promised to take my work, if accepted, and post it on their site for viewing by professionals in the industry and eventually, being published. They charge according to word count. I sent a 25,000 word manuscript and a $75 processing fee to an address listed in Spring Hills, Florida.
I sent the money order first. Mistake number one. I sent my story three days later. It was returned to me a week later unopened with "not an address" written on the face of it. My money order was never returned.
I went back on the web site. There was a new address listed in Englewood Colorado. I resent the story and another $75 fee. Mistake number two. They ask for two weeks to review the manuscript, so in the mean time I have been emailing them asking about the return of my previous fee. I get no response at all. It's not so much the loss of money as the total lack of acknowledgement from a site that says it is dedicated to getting exposure to new (and naive) writers like myself. I don't know if sending the money and the manuscript together would have made any difference. I now have to wait another week for an evaluation on my story and hopefully the return of it and my fees.
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