Having a literary agent express interest in representing your book is a dream come true for most writers, and you might be tempted to sign on the dotted line without any hesitation. But the experts at Writer’s Relief keep a close eye on the publishing industry and know that there are good, legitimate agents—and unscrupulous literary agents and publishing scams to which even the savviest writer may fall victim. Here’s how to tell if that seemingly great opportunity is from a legit literary agent or a scam.
How To Tell A Legit Literary Agent From A Scam
It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you sign any contracts. Do an Internet search and check out a prospective agent’s social media presence to get a feel for who they are. You’ll learn more what kind of agent they would be for you and might also uncover evidence of unprofessionalism that you will want to avoid.
Look into the agents or agencies you want to query, and when in doubt, ask for more info. You can even ask other seasoned writers, whether that be in your own circles or online. Writers are a close-knit bunch, so if someone finds a sketchy agent, they will most likely warn others to steer clear. Having a community is definitely a great way to find the resources and support you need for success.
Here are some red flags to watch for:
Signs To Watch Out For
Fees. Agencies only make money through book sales. That’s it. Full stop. Reading, evaluation, and marketing fees are not the standard and are even looked down upon by the publishing industry. This wasn’t always a red flag, but the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR) abolished these kinds of fees after several agencies abused them, charging for material they had no intention of committing or even giving a chance to. And if an agent asks you to pay them for every small expense, they may not be legitimate.
Pie-in-the-sky promises. A good agent will never promise you’ll be the next J.K. Rowling, because that outcome is a fraction of a percent of what author success actually looks like. Agents who make outlandish promises of “best-seller sales” either aren’t familiar with the industry or are trying to bait you into signing with them—without ever intending to fulfill their end of the bargain. Instead, look for an agent who is more realistic about what they can offer and what you might achieve.
An offer from out of the blue. Dishonest agents sometimes troll online writers’ forums or purchase subscription lists from writers’ magazines to beef up their client list. Agents will never advertise in magazines or search for clients online, nor would they approach writers to offer representation. Yes, it may happen—but only for well-established authors. If you receive an offer from an agent whom you haven’t previously contacted, be sure to do some investigating.
Questionable submission methods. A literary agent who is unconventional may not be dishonest, but they might be inept. If an agent sends your work to editors who aren’t looking for your writing style or genre, or bundles several queries into one package, or uses shotgun types of submission methods, the outcome isn’t promising. These haphazard strategies show that the agent is trying desperate methods in hopes of randomly landing an editor.
Pay-to-play additional services. Reputable agents won’t push you to use specific products or services that they endorse. This could be a sign they are trying to take advantage of you, preying on your willingness to do whatever it takes—including spending more money—to get your book published.
Excessive flattery. A legitimate literary agent will be realistic with feedback and won’t shower you with gushing, over-the-top praise. If it seems like an agent is working extra hard to butter you up, it could be a sign they’re just trying to get you to commit to a contract—without really caring about you or your writing.
Signs A Literary Agent Is On The Up And Up
A good track record. A newer agency may not have a long list of published authors, but seeing how many authors the agent has represented and published shows their effectiveness and reliability. Keep in mind that a trustworthy new agent with no track record is better than a so-called established agent with a questionable reputation. Always check an agent’s claims and credentials.
Transparency. When asking you to sign on, the agent is the one being interviewed, not you. A reputable agent will be willing to answer questions, share evidence of their effectiveness, and explain how they will support and promote your work. An agent who is defensive or vague may not be trustworthy or reliable—and you wouldn’t want to work with someone like that anyway.
Professional attitude. A professional literary agent’s emails and web presence should not be filled with typos or grammatical errors. They should be respectful, responsive, and offer you common courtesy—and shouldn’t ignore your calls or emails.
If you’re worried about your ability to avoid publishing industry scams and to find a good agent on your own, the Writer’s Relief researchers are experts at vetting and targeting the best agents for your writing style and genre. You can rest assured the literary agents carefully selected for you by our team will be professional and reputable. Learn more about our services, and submit your writing to our Review Board today!
Question: What publishing scams should writers be on the lookout for?
How can I confirm this company is legit?
QUANTUM DISCOVERY LITERARY AGENCY
Hi Carmel,
A literary agent or agency does not charge for services. A quick internet search shows a number of posts that suggest Quantum Discovery Literary Agency may not be functioning in this capacity.
20twenty literary. Nicole@2020literaey.com is this a real company they called me about a book writing deal
Hi Rosetta,
You may find this Reddit thread of interest: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/12thyf3/anyone_heard_of_2020_literary/?rdt=62974
I was contacted by Kelsey Garcia from Tyler Literary, can’t find anything on her and not much on Tyler Literary. Looks like they have a rented office in Chicago for $50 a month. What do you think?
I write books under the name JP Rosselle
Hi Jim,
We have no insights into this agency, however, we would recommend proceeding with caution if this agent contacted you out of the blue. You may find more info about this agency here: https://tylerliterary.com/
We received an email requesting a time to talk about our book. We scheduled the meeting and met with Michael Page. He sounded Pakistani, but said that he represented Sony Pictures. He mentioned that Sony is working with Netflix to source out existing material from new artist and found our book. They read it and thought it would be a good series for Netflix. He said that he does not need anything from us but a script for screenplay, which we already have. We also have a soundtrack, but we didn’t share that. He then said that he would follow up with us by November to see if we have the script/screenplay complete. Again assuring us that he is not looking for anything from us financially. He shared that they would offer $450k as an advance and a percentage in royalties or views? I’m not quite sure here, because we were excited about this potential opp. The only catch is his email was michaelpage.sonypictures@gmail.com. That’s an odd email address. Equally off that our book is copywriter, we already have a script for screenplay and a soundtrack that we were hoping to launch one day, so how would they know this? Is there any way to find out if he is legit, or that he works for Sony pictures/Netflix?
We do not work with screenplays so do not have any insights into this industry. But we would recommend caution and speaking with a lawyer familiar with the film industry.
I was contacted through email by a Book Business Executive and a Marketing Consultant, they explained that they would need to rebrand and republish which would cause a fee. Their not very transparent and the reason for this is because of a strict non-disclosure agreement, so I’m unable to see other books they have either rebranded or published. What do I do?
We are not lawyers so cannot offer any legal advice. We would recommend talking with a lawyer who is familiar with the publishing industry.
Having already been scammed once, I am very cautious but only recently had almost believed a literary agency about acquisition by a traditional publisher for my first written book.
All had appeared legit as they were asking for no fees until, suddenly they wanted $3250 for a book license.
Thompson Literary agency have now emailed me about my book. Are they legit?
Hi Judy,
You can find more info about Thompson Literary Agency here: https://thompsonliterary.com/
I received a message on instagram on my book account from a Chris Daniels, asking me to call to discuss acquiring an agent because my book was looked over due to the lack of it. So when I called the number I end up speaking to someone else named Felix Cooper. He claims to be with Authors Empire Agency located in New York. But his heavy Chinese accent and other circumstances make it hard to believe. Every time he calls I can barely hear him because of all the static and noise in his background.
First he say’s everything is free and I only have to expect a book deal. Then he mentions I should work with an agency to correct some stuff a Traditional Publishing Company requested. This agency is charging $2,500 and that’s the only charge I’m expected to cover. That sounds shady.
He also mentioned the possible book deal is with Penguin House Publishing.
How do I confirm if any of this is real?
Hi Onye!
We agree there are a lot of red flags here. And there has been an uptick in people posing as literary agents and scamming writers out of cash. You may find this article from Poets & Writers informative: https://www.pw.org/content/scams_bait_selfpublished_authors
I received a letter from Eaton Literary Agency saying that they liked the manuscript I submitted but that it needs “in-depth analysis to bring it up to professional standards.” They charge $225 for this fee. Does that sound legit?
Hi Mary,
When a literary agency requests upfront fees. it raises a red flag. You many find this article from Poets & Writer’s informative: https://www.pw.org/content/scams_bait_selfpublished_authors
I have been approached by a. Literary agent called James McGowan at bookend’s literary agency
He guarantees me that he can get my self published children’s book published by a traditional publishing company
Is he legit?
Hi Marie,
We have no insights into this agency, however, we would recommend proceeding with caution if this agent contacted you out of the blue. You may find more info about this agency/agent here: https://bookendsliterary.com/myauthors/james-mcgowan/