Saturday, May 27, 2006

Beware Scam Agents? No, Scam Agents Beware

There’s been some discussion over at Romance Divas and around the web about scam agents and one in particular whose utter gall and personal lack of morals got a well known writers’ site pulled from the web.

I don’t like to name names or get involved in stuff I don’t know all the facts about, but I have this to say about [and to] scam agents:

Writers talk to each other. They frequent boards and blogs and loops to share their experiences in this business. If you want to play fast and loose with a writer, you may get away with it once or twice, but eventually you’ll choose a victim who is knowledgeable and vocal and has a LOT of friends.

If you don’t believe it, check out this list: 20 Worst Agents. If your name is on it, you can bet it won’t be easy to find victims any more.

For writers interested in learning more, stop by the Romance Divas forum thread and follow the links to the places where this battle is taking place.

If you are interested in finding an agent the best place to look is the listings at Romance Writers of America. With any agent you submit to, look them up in Predators and Editors and never, EVER, EVER pay an agent a fee up front or a fee to read your manuscript.

3 comments:

Shelli Stevens said...

I agree! I started a thread in Divas the other day about really bad agent/editor rejections too. There's some horror stories in all agent related departments.

Two Voices Publishing said...

I read that thread, Shelli! Good topic. It's funny, but a little sad to see how agents and editors sometimes treat authors. This business is not for the thin skinned. That's for sure.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed a lot! »