WRITER BEWARE'S 20 WORST AGENCIES LIST

Accumulated by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America: SFWA

Reprinted by permission

I have seen this list in many places as well as discussions of its applicability. I cannot verify everything that is said here, but I have had emails from several of these agents, asking, in poorly written emails, if they could represent me. And when I looked them I on the web, I found many "beware" messages.

In any case, always carefully investigate any agent who wants to represent you. There are many good sources and lists around on the web, including Firstwriter.com. Also there are many books out there, the best being, in my opinion, Writers Digest Guide to Literary Agents and also Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents.

In any case... if you get a soliciation for your work, be very very careful. If you are asked to pay a reading fee, don't... Legitimate agents do not ask for reading fees. Illegitimate ones, preying on our hopes and dreams, do.

Check out any agent or editor! It's easy to do these days.

Here the SFWA report. The SFWA is reputable and has been around since 1965. Check out their website and credentials at: http://www.sfwa.org/

This list, according to the SFWA website was updated: 8/28/06


Below (in alphabetical order by last name) is a list of the 20 literary agencies about which Writer Beware has received the greatest number of advisories/complaints over the past several years.

None of these agencies has a significant track record of sales to commercial (advance-paying) publishers, and most have virtually no documented and verified sales at all (book placements claimed by some of these agencies turn out to be "sales" to vanity publishers). All charge clients before a sale is made--whether directly, by levying fees such as reading or administrative fees, or indirectly, for editing or other adjunct services.

Writer Beware recommends that writers avoid questionable literary agencies, and instead query agencies that have verifiable track records of sales to commercial publishing houses.

While the 20 agencies listed here account for the bulk of the complaints we receive, they're just the tip of the iceberg. Writer Beware has files on nearly 400 questionable agencies, and we learn about a new one every few weeks.

We'll updating the list from time to time, as questionable agencies sometimes change their names, or sprout clones. Be sure to check back regularly.

* The Abacus Group Literary Agency
* Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to "book doctor" Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
* Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
* Benedict Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
* Sherwood Broome, Inc. (also d/b/a Stillwater Literary Agency, LLC)
* Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.; also d/b/a Washington Agency and Washington Literary Agency)
* Desert Rose Literary Agency
* Arthur Fleming Associates
* Finesse Literary Agency (also d/b/a/ Elite Finesse Literary Agency)
* Brock Gannon Literary Agency
* Harris Literary Agency
* The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:
-Children's Literary Agency
-Christian Literary Agency
-New York Literary Agency
-Poets Literary Agency
-The Screenplay Agency
-Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency, formerly Sydra-Techniques)
-Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
* Martin-McLean Literary Associates
* Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
* B.K. Nelson, Inc.
* The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
* Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency, Simply Nonfiction, and Michele Glance Rooney Literary Agency)
* Southeast Literary Agency
* Mark Sullivan Associates (also d/b/a New York Editors and Manhattan Literary)
* West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)


Copyright © 2006 Victoria Strauss and A.C. Crispin.

Return to the most recent newsletter of the Fiction Writer's Journey