Are we hosting parasites?

I set aside a budget for my launch and quickly found it seriously challenged by the numerous fee-based services available to authors. ProWriting Aid, Atticus, Canva, ChatGPT, K-Lytics, Shutterstock and its lookalikes, , newsletter-sharing apps, Publisher Rocket and numerous other intriguing apps vie for my hard-earned dollars. The most recent to appear in my inbox is MockUpShots, which offers fancy backdrops for my book cover. All of these, of course, get their money whether I earn a dime from my book or not.

These are on top of the more essential, craft-related book coaches, developmental editors, copyeditors, cover designers etc. It never stops, and the ante to get into the game keeps increasing.

I’ve been in publishing since 1990, and all this reminds me of general changes in communication. For example, students in my 1960s-era school received simple worksheets on mimeograph, perhaps embellished by a hand drawing. To convey the same information today, we need to dress it up with special fonts and graphic design plus an illustration or two—preferably in color.

My point is that it takes SO MUCH MORE EFFORT to present any kind of information today, without greater reward.

Sorry to be so depressing, but this trend truly concerns me. Authors (whether trad or indie) have always received their payment after agents/publicists, wholesalers, retailers, and cover designers. But if we’re not careful, this plethora of service providers will rob us of the rest of our profits.

I’d love to hear your responses. Do you think all these apps are worth it? Do any strike you as worthless? Do you think it’s necessary to keep up with this trend just to stay in the game?