In a surprising development, Scribe Media, a company known for its book writing and publishing services, recently ceased operations and started selling off assets. This abrupt turn of events has left both clients and employees in a state of shock, raising numerous questions about the unexpected circumstances that caused these recent events.
Claims state that as many as 300 authors currently have open contracts with the publishing company, which have either been fully or partially paid. Authors were reportedly left in the dark, with feelings of confusion and uncertainty swirling around the events taking place at Scribe Media.
Many have taken to their online platforms to share their personal experiences throughout the last couple of weeks and look for Scribe Media alternatives.
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What is Scribe Media?
Scribe Media, originally founded as “Book in a Box” in 2014 by Tucker Max and Zach Obront, had established itself as a reputable provider of book publishing services.
The private company was dedicated to helping aspiring authors write, edit, publish, and market their books.
Scribe Media carved out a niche for itself in the publishing industry, which at its peak employed 133 staff.
What happened to Scribe Media?
On May 24, 2023, Scribe Media unexpectedly laid off 90 employees and abruptly stopped all operations.
Since then, members of leadership have stated that this is intended to be a strategic decision, and they do plan to hire back their workforce – while insisting that no deadlines will be missed for their existing customers. Scribe Media is currently operating but is in the process of selling off all assets.
On June 5, 2023, JeVon McCormick took to LinkedIn to announce his resignation as Scribe Media CEO, stating, “I did not fulfill my [Scribe Media] CEO role in the way I was capable and trusted to, and I have let down many people who put their faith and trust in me.”
He noted that the company was actively looking for buyers, and a recent official release announced that a company has since acquired Scribe Media.
However, the sudden workforce lay-off and uncertain future of Scribe Media remains a shock to its employees and customers, many of whom were unaware of the company's precarious situation until the announcement was made.
The company's website, as of now, fails to acknowledge the events, leading to confusion and frustration amongst stakeholders and paying customers.
This lack of communication has cast a negative light on the company's handling of the situation, exacerbating the uncertainty surrounding its future.
Is the future of publishing dead?
No. Publishing your book, especially with the support of a highly-experienced coach, a community of fellow authors, and a team of experts, remains one of the best ways to leverage your impact, highlight your expertise, launch a business, and grow an existing one.
The collapse of Scribe Media around a time that AI-generated content and ChatGPT have caused some people to speculate whether this is a foreshadowing of what’s to come for the publishing industry.
The truth is that AI writing software can be leveraged to quickly edit, enhance, and inspire your writing. But it cannot replace your individual experience, creativity, or expertise.
What's next?
If you want to learn how to self-publish a book and aspire to become a bestselling author, you have options.
And for those left in the lurch by Scribe Media’s acquisition and still wishing to bring their book projects to fruition, tried and tested Scribe Media alternatives do exist.
Among these, SelfPublishing.com stands out as a reliable choice and the leader of self-publishing companies. This platform offers a comprehensive range of services to guide aspiring authors, simplifying the complex process of publishing their own books.
By choosing a proven platform like SelfPublishing.com, authors can ensure their current book projects remain on track – with the guided support of a team of experts – despite the unfortunate passing of events at Scribe Media. Discover which company is right for you:
