banned from CreateSpace

ForrestCraig · 12-12-2010, 01:26 PM

I was just banned from CreateSpace and therefore by default, Amazon and Kindle. I am a 1st timer, nobody, wantabe writer who submitted a book for their editorial evaluation. It had already been through one round of comprehensive editing and I wanted one more opinion of a cleaned up version before going through the final setup for self publishing. I received a terse, cryptic email informing that they were terminating their service. This is it in its entirety:

"Thank you for your reply. During our review process, we found that your title contains content that is in violation of our content guidelines. As a result, we will not be offering this title for sale through the CreateSpace platform and will be unable to continue with service fulfillment."

I got another email suggesting that I could appeal the decision, but when I inquired why I was banned, I got no response.

I knew my book would be controversial but no more than many (in my opinion). My biggest gripe is that they will give me no reason, only lawyer-speak. Any one have a similar experience? They say they are refunding all my money, including the original editing expense.

James_Wilde · 12-12-2010, 01:45 PM

So what was the subject matter of the book? We can't have much of an opinion one way or the other without knowing that.

ForrestCraig · 12-12-2010, 02:29 PM

It is what I call religious fiction. A story about a nun who comes to realize she has a higher calling, and outgrows her uniform. It has a little sex and violence and religious (sacreligious) controversy mixed in. It was still a work in progress and I hadn't gotten to the point that even I thought it was ready to be published. I was looking for feedback from an editor.

desertgrandma · 12-12-2010, 02:35 PM

[QUOTE=ForrestCraig;1267839]

"Thank you for your reply. During our review process, we found that your title contains content that is in violation of our content guidelines. As a result, we will not be offering this title for sale through the CreateSpace platform and will be unable to continue with service fulfillment."

/QUOTE]

Title of the book?

mr ploppy · 12-12-2010, 03:04 PM

"Banned by Amazon" would be a good advertising tagline for something sold on Smashwords.

neilmarr · 12-13-2010, 04:35 AM

Whatever. It's not a good idea to look for editorial evaluation of a WIP. Complete the MS and then seek experienced advice -- and not from Amazon, which is not a publisher but a retailer. Neil

ForrestCraig · 12-13-2010, 01:00 PM

The title is Five Weeks and 5 days. As I said above I completely new to the process and appreciate the advice above but trusted that CreateSpace would be able to guide me through the process. It had already gone through one round where all the technical/gramatical issues were address and I simply wanted an editor's opinion as to the story line. It seems they got a Catholic theologian to review it but they won't tell me what about the story they found so offensive.

queentess · 12-13-2010, 01:14 PM

Here are the Content Guidelines. Are you violating any of these?

Kemp · 12-13-2010, 01:34 PM

Forgive me if I'm missing something, but I didn't find anything there suggesting that you were actually banned from the use of Createspace or DTP. Was there something else where Amazon mentioned you could no longer submit either that work or any other?

Secondly, and again I apologize if some other information makes this issue clearer, but why is it assumed that the controversial nature and content of your book is the reason why they kicked you to the curb? Is it possible that there was something else at play?

For example, they might not like to publish unfinished works, though I can't confirm it. Or, assuming you paid for one of the editing services, perhaps they felt you were going beyond the stated contract terms by inquiring about further editing of content without going through their paid service. I glanced through their editing packages, and it seemed that only the Editorial Evaluation package held any sort of full copy and content editing, but of course forgive me if that's the one you utilized.

The "title contains content in violation" statement may just be a form letter used in rejection. Perhaps read through their Terms of Use and see if something pops out as clashing with your book. I definitely agree that Amazon sucks when it comes to their partner services. They respond slowly and often give cryptic answers, but that's just the way it is with them.

Finally, I have to strongly agree with Neil. Using a retailer as a method of guiding probably won't help you all that much, especially if its only a work in progress. Personally, I'd recommend doing a considerable amount of research on the publishing field, including distribution, marketing, querying (if you're interested in that sort of thing), genres, and everything else you are curious or in the dark about. With absolutely no offense intended, the statement, "I'm very new to this," will not gain favor with any professional in this field.

mr ploppy · 12-13-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Here are the Content Guidelines. Are you violating any of these?

I'm struggling to see how any of those would apply to an ebook?

mish · 12-13-2010, 07:16 PM

Is this possibly related to the OP's issue?

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/1...lena-kitt.html

ForrestCraig · 12-14-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kemp

Forgive me if I'm missing something, but I didn't find anything there suggesting that you were actually banned from the use of Createspace or DTP. Was there something else where Amazon mentioned you could no longer submit either that work or any other.

I am allowed to submit new works but the title/work I submitted is blocked. My primary complaint is that they won't give me any information as to what they in my work they deemed violated their content guidelines so I don't know if it was the storyline or what. I clearly get a form letter designed to give you no hint, so therefore by definition you have no way to appeal. In my opinion I don't feel I violated the guidelines and would even consider modifying to come into compliance.

wvcherrybomb · 12-14-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForrestCraig

I am allowed to submit new works but the title/work I submitted is blocked. My primary complaint is that they won't give me any information as to what they in my work they deemed violated their content guidelines so I don't know if it was the storyline or what. I clearly get a form letter designed to give you no hint, so therefore by definition you have no way to appeal. In my opinion I don't feel I violated the guidelines and would even consider modifying to come into compliance.

Did you read the content that mish supplied a link to? It explains that there is some subject matter that Amazon will reject without getting specific about the reasons.

Joseph Mitchell · 12-18-2010, 02:05 PM

If I'm understanding this correctly, they've rejected any involvement in editing your book, not publishing it. Can't you still edit it yourself, or get someone to help you, and then submit it to them for publishing?

ForrestCraig · 12-22-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Mitchell

If I'm understanding this correctly, they've rejected any involvement in editing your book, not publishing it. Can't you still edit it yourself, or get someone to help you, and then submit it to them for publishing?

If you read the second paragraph of my original post, I quote the entirety of their notice to me stating clearly they will not be "selling" my title. Sounds pretty absolute, and to date I cannot get them to even discuss the reasons behind. I find it odd that it could be banned by a company that sells Pedophile how to books.

12-12-2010, 01:26 PM	#1
ForrestCraig Member Posts: 10 Karma: 100 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ohio Device: none	banned from CreateSpace I was just banned from CreateSpace and therefore by default, Amazon and Kindle. I am a 1st timer, nobody, wantabe writer who submitted a book for their editorial evaluation. It had already been through one round of comprehensive editing and I wanted one more opinion of a cleaned up version before going through the final setup for self publishing. I received a terse, cryptic email informing that they were terminating their service. This is it in its entirety: "Thank you for your reply. During our review process, we found that your title contains content that is in violation of our content guidelines. As a result, we will not be offering this title for sale through the CreateSpace platform and will be unable to continue with service fulfillment." I got another email suggesting that I could appeal the decision, but when I inquired why I was banned, I got no response. I knew my book would be controversial but no more than many (in my opinion). My biggest gripe is that they will give me no reason, only lawyer-speak. Any one have a similar experience? They say they are refunding all my money, including the original editing expense.

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12-12-2010, 01:45 PM	#2
James_Wilde Guru Posts: 802 Karma: 4727110 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Iriver Story	So what was the subject matter of the book? We can't have much of an opinion one way or the other without knowing that.

12-12-2010, 02:29 PM	#3
ForrestCraig Member Posts: 10 Karma: 100 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ohio Device: none	It is what I call religious fiction. A story about a nun who comes to realize she has a higher calling, and outgrows her uniform. It has a little sex and violence and religious (sacreligious) controversy mixed in. It was still a work in progress and I hadn't gotten to the point that even I thought it was ready to be published. I was looking for feedback from an editor.

12-12-2010, 02:35 PM	#4
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	[QUOTE=ForrestCraig;1267839] "Thank you for your reply. During our review process, we found that your title contains content that is in violation of our content guidelines. As a result, we will not be offering this title for sale through the CreateSpace platform and will be unable to continue with service fulfillment." /QUOTE] Title of the book?

12-12-2010, 03:04 PM	#5
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	"Banned by Amazon" would be a good advertising tagline for something sold on Smashwords.

12-13-2010, 04:35 AM	#6
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Whatever. It's not a good idea to look for editorial evaluation of a WIP. Complete the MS and then seek experienced advice -- and not from Amazon, which is not a publisher but a retailer. Neil

12-13-2010, 01:00 PM	#7
ForrestCraig Member Posts: 10 Karma: 100 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ohio Device: none	The title is Five Weeks and 5 days. As I said above I completely new to the process and appreciate the advice above but trusted that CreateSpace would be able to guide me through the process. It had already gone through one round where all the technical/gramatical issues were address and I simply wanted an editor's opinion as to the story line. It seems they got a Catholic theologian to review it but they won't tell me what about the story they found so offensive.

12-13-2010, 01:14 PM	#8
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Here are the Content Guidelines. Are you violating any of these?

12-13-2010, 01:34 PM	#9
Kemp Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 271834 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: none	Forgive me if I'm missing something, but I didn't find anything there suggesting that you were actually banned from the use of Createspace or DTP. Was there something else where Amazon mentioned you could no longer submit either that work or any other? Secondly, and again I apologize if some other information makes this issue clearer, but why is it assumed that the controversial nature and content of your book is the reason why they kicked you to the curb? Is it possible that there was something else at play? For example, they might not like to publish unfinished works, though I can't confirm it. Or, assuming you paid for one of the editing services, perhaps they felt you were going beyond the stated contract terms by inquiring about further editing of content without going through their paid service. I glanced through their editing packages, and it seemed that only the Editorial Evaluation package held any sort of full copy and content editing, but of course forgive me if that's the one you utilized. The "title contains content in violation" statement may just be a form letter used in rejection. Perhaps read through their Terms of Use and see if something pops out as clashing with your book. I definitely agree that Amazon sucks when it comes to their partner services. They respond slowly and often give cryptic answers, but that's just the way it is with them. Finally, I have to strongly agree with Neil. Using a retailer as a method of guiding probably won't help you all that much, especially if its only a work in progress. Personally, I'd recommend doing a considerable amount of research on the publishing field, including distribution, marketing, querying (if you're interested in that sort of thing), genres, and everything else you are curious or in the dark about. With absolutely no offense intended, the statement, "I'm very new to this," will not gain favor with any professional in this field.

12-13-2010, 07:16 PM	#11
mish Addict Posts: 215 Karma: 1930065 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Device: PRS-350, Kindle 2	Is this possibly related to the OP's issue? http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/1...lena-kitt.html

12-18-2010, 02:05 PM	#14
Joseph Mitchell Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, US Device: PC, other	If I'm understanding this correctly, they've rejected any involvement in editing your book, not publishing it. Can't you still edit it yourself, or get someone to help you, and then submit it to them for publishing?