It is a scam, apparently:
Don't use I Write Like; UPDATE
UPDATE: If you C&Ped from me, be sure to delete the link to the scamster's
site that I helpfully left in the first time. D'oh! Making Light is keeping
the links in, because the idea is to drive searches for the topic to
McDonald's post.
Jim McDonald did some digging into that "I Write Like" meme, and what he
found isn't pretty.
I looked at the rest of the text on the results page:
Great job! Do you want to get your book published?
"I have personally read through thousands of book proposals in my
career as a publisher and agent. I know what these professionals are looking
for-and what they are not looking for."
- Michael Hyatt, Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers.
That little bit includes two links, both to the same page: [redacted;
see Making Light post for link]
Yep, it's SEO. And they're using social engineering to get those links
wide-spread and high in the Google stats. Helpful little cut-n-paste code to
put in your blog!
But wait! There's more!
Go over to that advertised page, and you'll find a pair of $19.97
e-books by the above-said and afore-mentioned Michael Hyatt. These books
promise to tell you such insider secrets as how to avoid the three items you
should NEVER include in a fiction book proposal. Wow, I can't wait to find
out.
So, who's Michael Hyatt, and what is Thomas Nelson?
Basically, a former legitimate Christian publisher, now a vanity press.
This "I Write Like" site isn't remotely legitimate. No, they aren't
trying; or, anyway, they aren't trying to analyze writing samples: They're
trying to lure newbie authors to the rocks and shoals of vanity publication.
I will also note that there's a "sign up for our awesome newsletter!" box on
the side, which says that by doing so you can download FREE a "classic" book
on writing by Charles Raymond Barrett -- a book which is, it *doesn't* tell
you, also available at Project Gutenberg because it's from 1898.
I *strongly* recommend removing any links and code from "I Write Like" that
may be in your posts.
Boost the signal.
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 6:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [The Unique Geek] Who do you write like?
Crazy! Some of my old writing came back as Allen Ferris and Nick Horn!
The Irredeemable Shag
http://firestormfan.com
http://onceuponageek.com
http://twitter.com/onceuponageek
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [The Unique Geek] Who do you write like?
From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, July 20, 2010 5:56 pm
To: [email protected]
Put in some older stuff and got Terrance Dicks
-----Original Message-----
From: shag <[email protected]>
To: theuniquegeek <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 1:52 pm
Subject: RE: [The Unique Geek] Who do you write like?
That is the funniest thing I've read all day! LOL!!! Now I gotta know if
that really came up or if you are kidding.
The Irredeemable Shag
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [The Unique Geek] Who do you write like?
From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, July 20, 2010 4:46 pm
To: [email protected]
I got Alan Dean Foster!
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