Writers of the westReviews of writersofthewest.net

I want to share my experience working with Writers of the West to help other authors make informed decisions. I began working with them in late February and paid a $600 deposit toward a $1,200 publishing package. Within approximately two weeks, the only work completed was early-stage cover design. However, the designs I received did not align with my vision at all. I ultimately had to create and provide my own concept (including sketches and direction), and even then, the process remained incomplete and not finalized. Based on the communication, it was clear that I was leading the creative direction rather than receiving guided design support. More concerning was the lack of clear communication. I asked multiple detailed questions about the publishing process, timeline, formatting, and how I would be involved in reviewing drafts. These questions were not directly answered, which created confusion about how the project would actually proceed. At one point, when referencing a prior conversation about payment flexibility, my understanding was dismissed in a way that felt unprofessional and unnecessarily defensive. Rather than clarifying collaboratively, the response came across as accusatory. Due to these issues, I chose to discontinue the project early—before any proofreading, formatting, or manuscript work had begun, and before receiving any draft deliverables. Despite this, I was offered only a 50% refund of my deposit, which does not reflect the very early stage of the project or the limited services provided. Overall, my experience was marked by unclear communication, lack of transparency, and a level of service that did not meet expectations for a paid publishing package. I would strongly encourage other authors to ask very detailed questions about deliverables, timelines, and level of involvement before committing.