Aspiring novelists,

I have just received an invitation to submit some of my work to a what seemed like a legitimate literary agent: Sherwood Broome, Inc.

However, upon looking up the company within minutes of receiving the letter, found that they are listed as one of the top twenty writers should be wary of. Not to mention the letter was sent via bulk mail with an uncancelled letter. Huge giveaway to a scam.

If you are an aspiring writer and are ready to submit your hard work to a literary agent, please take the time to look at this website before you do: http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html

I hope no one is desperate enough to see his/her work in print to fall for something so obviously fake like this. Just wanted to pass the word along.

Devon :)

Hey, thanks for the heads up. There are many writers out there that are desperate to get their work published/looked at and will pobably be willing to give it a go. So thanks again and may I suggest that if anyone else has had similar offers to post them up to let us know.

I noticed that the link included the New York Literary Agency there as well. So I've contacted Sherry and asked her what she thought of it. And this is what she had to say:

I'll give you a couple of answers.. thanks for seeking first to understand.

1. We're new and our business model is different, and we're aggressive, so
we're an easy target for 'old-timers". Just for grins, ask anyone on the
boards what their total sales and revenues are.. and ask them to be your
agent. Frankly, they regurgitate each others drivel.

2. Creating a viable sales pipeline is a long term investment, by both
ourselves and our clients. We only work with edited clients. Our 'boot
camp' is too tough for many, and they whine and complain.

3. We have 20-25 works in serious review, by serious buyers at any one time,
and we expect contacts to begin to flow regularly. (I can back all this up
legally.) I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE IS ANY AGENCY THAT HAS GREATER THAN 20
WORKS IN REVIEW AT ANY ONE TIME. This is a very important point.

4. John Q. Public is a strange animal.. think about how hard it would be to
run customer service at a department store, or restaurant, and the people
that basically can't be pleased. These are the ones that whine, complain,
and populate BBBs and message boards. (Frankly, real business people don't
have time.)


So, what we're doing is working. Frankly, we don't give a damn about what
the internidiots are writing. We don't have time, and our buyers, who are
real business people, don't care either.

Here's a bit more of a rant, but the important points are given above.

I hope this helps with your decision.

I'm going to give you three answers to your question about what you've read.
The
first answer is the short one, and the second is the medium one, and the
third one is the long one. I apologize
in advance for any 'attitude' that you read in my reply, but it's a gut/core
issue for us and we feel pretty strongly about certain things.

But before I do that, please take a minute and read this unprompted email
from a client of our screenplay division.

================

Hi Sherry,

I am a writer currently in the ninth month of a year long contract with The
Screenplay Agency. Robert West is my assigned senior agent, and my
experience thus far has been satisfactory at best for what it is... I'm
writing this email to vouch for and/or defend the position you've been
unfairly placed in within numerous writer's message boards as of lately.

It took me the better part of fourteen years to get to the position I am
currently in, which is being a writer of professional-caliber literary
material with current representation that will hopefully lead me to other
script options and/or sales...no promises but I'm a pro and my job is to
keep going.

I can attest to the FACT that no worthwile literary agency is going to sign
ANY writer who has not demonstrated their ability to produce industry-ready
material. I have submitted material in the past to major Hollywood agencies
and have had my share of outright rejections. I have also been lucky or
fortunate enough to have been pulled aside in certain instances and
explained to that while my work(s) had potential and commercial
probabilities, that they COULD NOT take on the role of developing my
material no matter how "almost close" it was to being market-ready. What
several agents suggested I do "off the record" as some of them put it, was
to obtain the assistance of a literary manager and go to the various
"screenplay analysts entities" and get the work(s) professionally analyzed,
make the necessary developments and changes and ONLY then...attempt to
re-approach those agents. They have even went an extra "off the record"
venture of putting me in touch with writers they newly- represented so I
could inquire about these analysts. These writers have assured me that
getting the work(s) up to professional industry standards was the ONLY way
to go. They (writers) have to take control of their work and image, and go
get busy writing. Everything else is just trade journey.

So...several years later here I am, a wiser, seasoned screenwriter with
several scripts, one option and new literary representation that is openly
willing to assist in the development of my writing endeavors...something
they DO NOT HAVE TO DO... but I am grateful that they are!!! And let me say
that NO ONE at this agency has asked me for ANY upfront money to be paid to
them, Sherry Fine, Robert West or anyone else!!!

So for all those bitter, pseudo-skeptical, whining, wanna-be screenwriters
out there...instead of wasting away on those message boards, they might do
better finding out the exact mechanics of securing representation which is
done best by COMPLETELY immersing themselves in their craft and then some...
they should be WRITING, WRITING, WRITING...DEVELOPING, DEVELOPING,
DEVELOPING...and it's going to cost them some time, some years, some sweat,
and some cold-hard cash to whatever industry analyst they may choose to
assist them.

In conclusion Sherry, let me say that I am currently finishing up the third
draft/rewrite of "The Mayor, The Journalist & The Crime Boss" which I am
under contract for with "TSA"...and I want to thank you for indirectly
opening my eyes further on what needs to be done to get material to market.
This really feels like a team effort and I will continue to do my part
completely, and have fun doing it!!!

I pray that you keep your head up and your purpose focused!!! You and the
TSA team are much needed pioneers... God Bless.

=============================

Here's the short answer, www.theliteraryagencygroup.com/positives.html . I
can put down 10 positive emails for every one whining writer. Don't you get
it, don't you see that these blogs are 'old school' and that's why new
authors can't get published? Ask the moderator to be your agent, at no
charge, on the hope that he can sell your work.

If you can't see beyond that blather and whining, then goodbye and good
luck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next let me describe for you a typical blog attack. Go to a blog and you'll
see exactly what I mean.
Someone just asks a simple "do you know these guys?" and the bloggers begin
to build up incredible amounts of unsubstantiated innuendo. Have a look and
you'll see what I mean. They frighten the timid and have done real damage
to those authors that tend to believe that kind of stuff.

If you really look with a discerning eye, you'll see that most blogging is
rumor-mongering at its worst.


Bloggers are rumor-mongers, and we're different, so we are good fodder for
their gossip.

We know we're different. And, we've incurred the wrath of the
traditionalists in the industry.
We've drawn the battle lines and we've said that unpublished
writers have very little chance of success unless they think differently.

We're like your worst English grammar teacher, we don't put up with
slackers, or writers
who want something for nothing. And those are the ones you see bitching
on the message boards. It's like boot camp, and when they wash out, they
whine.

Frankly, publishers love our model.. why? ... because it's less work for
them,
and they know that when we present a product, it is a quality product.

We're really just getting started and we expect 10 sales in the coming year.
Our
mailing programs are bearing fruit, and we have buyers almost every day
asking
to see our clients' work.

Sales take a long time, and the odds are still tough, but in the end, an
author
is better of with us than not.

We can't guarantee a sale, but we can guarantee that you will be a more
professional
writer after having worked with us.




Here's the longer answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We told the so-called watchdogs that they are hurting authors by maintaining
'old school' ideas. We explained that the agency business is so competitive
now, that we can only focus on one thing, selling the work. The author has
to take responsibility for bringing their work to industry standards. In
short, we told the industry watchdogs that they don't get it, and they are
promulgating old ideas that no longer apply. It didn't go over very well
and they chatter incessantly, but if you think a writer has thick skin, you
should try being an agent.

We've been in business now long enough to know that our model works, and
that buyers respect the fact that EVERY AUTHOR WE REPRESENT HAS BEEN THROUGH
A RIGOROUS CRITIQUE AND EDITING PROCESS. What you read on the boards is
just authors whining about having to do more work, which they want us to do
for free. Think about it for just a minute. If you were buying an
unpublished author's work, wouldn't you want to buy work that had been
through the proverbial wringer? And wouldn't you want to buy work that
could get to market faster, because the grunt work, the editing, had already
been done.

In the end, the truth of the matter is that you really want an agency that
is willing to break a few rules on your behalf. The 'old school' doesn't
want you to get in, and that's the truth. We have 4 sales, most agencies
only have 1 or two. We will double that this year we think and you really
need to consider whether some 'anonymous' board poster really has your best
interest at heart or if you should give us a try, eyes wide open, and see if
we don't keep our promises which are * We respect what you have accomplished
thus far as a writer, * We believe that great authors are made, not born. We
are willing to
develop talent. * We pledge straight talk in a confusing and old-school
industry. * We can't promise a sale. We can promise a professional
relationship.



------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's one author's reply to this email. We hope you are this discerning.
"Thank you for the trouble you took to explain what's on those boards. I
think I understand your frustration with the critics and nay sayers now. I
have reviewed again the on-line comments and sources and agree that there is
really nothing substantive in either their remarks or criticisms. In fact
most of them whine about nearly everyone".
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Here's the long answer:
----------------------------------------
We are keenly aware of the negative material on a lot of writer's message
boards. I thank you for 'seeking first to understand". Once again, sorry
for the length of this email, but there's a lot to try to communicate to
you.

I know it is confusing to authors. Luckily most authors can detect that
there's something very negatively one sided about most boards, and a good
author will ask for more information.

I think you would agree that it's tough to even get a reply from an Agency.
Most authors (98%) can't get the time of day from an Agent. Why? Because
invariably the author's work needs improvement and if an Agent takes the
time to say, "I like the idea, but you need a little help" the Agent is
blackballed by every writers blog on the net. So, it's easier to say no, or
not reply, than to actually try to help a writer with a good idea and a good
start.

Successful writers of books and screenplays use editors and coaches, always
have, always will.. if you've never worked with an editor, you should. I
would say that 95+% of the books on the shelves today have had an editors
touch, either through the publishing company or as directed by an agent.
There are two levels of editing. The first is our internal level. The second
is the publisher level. When you pass our first level, it means that we
will put our reputation on the line for you, however, it doesn't mean that
it has been exhaustively edited, like a publisher would do. Their edit is
MUCH more extensive. Our edit requirements are related to pitching and
selling only.

THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE: If an agent assists the writer by telling them to
get editing and then the agent will represent them, they get blackballed.
So, here's a situation where potentially great work is 'waiting in the
wings' so to speak, and can't get access to the market because Agents are
overwhelmed and gun-shy.

Luckily (for those authors that can see through the bs), we've decided that
the old model is dead and we want new fresh talent. We want authors that
want to improve and have their chance. And, our management team is a group
of business warriors that basically say, "screw the naysayers because buyers
love our model".

Why do buyers (publishers and producers) love our model? Because they know
that we've forced the writer to jump through a series of hoops to prove
their mettle. And the writers whine, whine, whine, and the publishers say,
"whew, thanks for bringing us great work and for filtering out the crackpot
writers that want the world and don't have an understanding of how
competitive the market is." BUYERS WANT WRITERS THAT HAVE INVESTED IN
THEMSELVES AND THEIR WRITING.

But why all the negative press you might ask? In short, the message boards
attract unsuccessful writers. It's quite a statistical anomaly isn't it.
A successful writer isn't sitting around responding to message boards, a
successful writer is improving their craft, making submissions, and writing.
As I'm sure you've seen the pettiness on the boards.. That pettiness is, to
me, worse than a National Enquirer that you read in the grocery line, and
frankly, I think the message boards attract the same caliber of people.
Also, just for the fun of it, you should ask the people that work the boards
to be your agent, and see how many writers run to help you.

LET ME STATE THIS AGAIN.. ASK THE PEOPLE ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS, BECAUSE THEY
ARE SO SMART, WHAT THEY'VE SOLD, AND WHO THEIR AGENT WAS... And whether
they'd be your agent. <I'm sorry to be a bit cynical here, but I'm sure you
can see why? Nobody on those boards is going to work for you.. they aren't
going to coach you, prep you, and try to sell your work.>

That said, we've come to thank these boards. The boards weed out three main
categories of writers that we are actually glad to be rid of: 1) Authors
that don't have a clue, 2) Authors that can't make up their mind for
themselves and don't have any "grit", and 3) the SFN's (writers that want
Something for Nothing). I hope that you aren't in any of those three
categories. The Something For Nothing authors really get my goat, but
that's another rant. Those are the authors that think we'll bear all their
expenses because they've 'written the next bestseller'... egads...


Reread the 4 bullets under my signature. That's our promise. It's simple
and it's understandable, and we deliver on it all day, every day. (Like
this email really).

So, in conclusion, this is what I would do, if I were in your shoes, I'd
proceed with us, eyes wide open, and see if we meet or exceed our four
business tenets below, A) Respect, B) Building Talent, 3) Straight Talk, and
a 4) Professional Relationship.

Just for grins, and so that you know we provide a service of value to
aspiring authors, I would like you to see some of the unprompted quotes that
we receive on a daily basis. Our clients say it best. The quotes below are
unedited and as you can see, quite from the heart. (We have lots more of
these.) If you are really cynical, you will probably believe we made them
up, but I promise you, we can prove every one of them.

=======================

"Just a note to say, whatever the outcome of my submission, it's refreshing
to engage an agent who will a) take an email submission, b) turn it round as
quick you've committed to do and c) actively work with a writer. Submissions
are daunting enough anyway without having to wait ten weeks for an
impersonalized slip of paper. Here's to you."

"It is refreshing to get an honest professional opinion of my work, it make
me realize just how much I don't know about the written word and its
presentation."

Dear Georgina, I'd like you to know how highly and gratefully I regard the
clarity with which you explain the process as well as your reliability. I
have complete trust in both your abilities and ethical standards. Best
wishes, Judith

It's been a long time since I left school with considerable number of years
passing before I became interested in writing again. I would like you to
thank you for working with me and let it be known that I look at this as a
new beginning and rebirth of my education.

You don't know how nice it is to have such timely responses. I am sure I am
not the only writer that puts a lot of heart into their work and I have to
say, I have "kept mine tucked away in the closet" for many, many years. I
just enjoy writing, but didn't know if I would ever try and submit it to
anyone. Making the decision to do that has been somewhat of a
nerve-wracking process. Your timely responses and professional, yet
"down-to-earth" responses are making the process a lot easier. At this time,
I am not submitting my work to anyone else, because you have impressed me
the most up to this point. Even if we do not end up working together, I
felt it was important to pass this along to you.

Dear Georgina: Your professional zeal and resourcefulness cannot be
overemphasized seeing the volatile-oceanic-wave called the American
Hollywood with its impregnable sales frontiers. I hold you dearly to my
heart in my every prayers towards our mutual success now and...very soon in
subsequent works. I doff my heart after your every professional spirit
imagining the energy, sweat and traveling involved. Thanks for everything
you stand for professionally.

Thank you for your constructive feedback. I found your critique of my work
very informative, and it concluded many things that I already knew. I really
do need to improve on my punctuation skills, and that has been something I
have struggled with for some time. I appreciate your suggestions on
materials to improve this, and I plan on taking an advanced grammar and
punctuation class at the college I am attending. Several other points you
made were also very informative. I know I have a long way to go before I am
a "professional" writer, but I am glad that you agreed that the potential is
definitely there. I'd also like to thank you and your company for staying in
contact with me through this process. I would, and will, come back to your
company if I need further material critiqued. Thank you again for your time.

I just want to say I have been rejected for years by Agents and Publishers.
After awhile it all seems pointless. But I am in this for the long run and
will never give up and never give in. Whether you accept me or not you have
restored my faith and hope that someone out there is concerned and listening
to what writings go through. I look forward to learning all that I can from
you and your associates.

"After having reread all the information sent to me, I must say that I am
impressed by the way your agency has handled the science, or art of
appreciating new sources of writing. If only all agencies displayed your
model the world may be a better place. Your FAQ has answered all of my
questions and I am eager to get to work."

===========================

WE ARE CREATING THE MOST POWERFUL AGENCY GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. Every
author that we represent has been fully edited and we know, beyond a shadow
of a doubt, that their work is good enough for publication. Unfortunately,
the ones that 'wash out', tend to grouse and bitch. If you can make it
through our process, then you will be in an elite group that buyers respect.
We never promise a sale, but we can promise that if we present your work, it
will get respect from our buyers.

It's a bit longwinded, but take what use you see from it.

Nice post, Max. Thanks for posting.

One word of caution though, technically it's subject to copyright - have you checked with the author that it's okay to post it in a public forum? Just asking, because if you haven't it could cause a problem.

Very interesting though.

Cheers,
Rob

Nice post, Max. Thanks for posting.

One word of caution though, technically it's subject to copyright - have you checked with the author that it's okay to post it in a public forum? Just asking, because if you haven't it could cause a problem.

Very interesting though.

Cheers,
Rob

I doubt there could be any copyright issues over a correspondence in e-mail. It was written in such a fashion as to persuade me to repost it and I think that Sherry would appreciate me doing so.
A lot of it I thought was pretty much a stock response, meaning it was probably cut and paste.

Regardless, people should use their own judgement when posts like this pop up on internet forums and take it upon themselves to do some research just in case that posts like these are meant as character-assasination (nothing personal towards you Devon). This is not the first time I have seen posts like this made from some people who I thought were ranting a bit.

And also, it's not also uncommon to ask these agencies and publishers for a reference of their past successes.

I know that the Christopher Little Agency has a website of its own that has listed some of their past writers and successes including J.K. Rowling. If agencies refuse this information then you might want to be wary.

http://www.christopherlittle.net/

I doubt there could be any copyright issues over a correspondence in e-mail. It was written in such a fashion as to persuade me to repost it and I think that Sherry would appreciate me doing so.
A lot of it I thought was pretty much a stock response, meaning it was probably cut and paste.
I imagine copyright law varies from country to country, but I recall looking into it a year or so back due to some issues at work, and emails, letters, all that kind of stuff, is subject to copyright too. At least, it is here in the UK.

If Sherry hasn't explicitly given you permission to post it, you might want to check, but it's entirely up to you. Might save you problems down the line.

Cheers,
Rob

I imagine copyright law varies from country to country, but I recall looking into it a year or so back due to some issues at work, and emails, letters, all that kind of stuff, is subject to copyright too. At least, it is here in the UK.

If Sherry hasn't explicitly given you permission to post it, you might want to check, but it's entirely up to you. Might save you problems down the line.

Cheers,
Rob

This is assuming, of course, that she knows my identity and where I live before sending the boys over for a "nice chat". :eek: ;) :D :D

You mean Max Vantage isn't your real name? :confused:

You mean Max Vantage isn't your real name? :confused:

No. I keep my ID locked down real tight when concerning anything on the net.

I wasn’t happy with the answers to my question (assuming it was nothing more than a typical cut and pasted effort every time they may have been questioned by others also suspicious) so I decided to make some more enquiries with Sherry at the New York Literary Agency.
What follows are e-mail responses over the last couple of weeks back and forth between her and myself.

This first one comes after the ultra-long response above:

Thank you Sherry.

Yes, the URL did appear on a writing message forum that I am a member of and wanted something to respond with before getting involved in the debate.
I'll relay this message to the rest of the members concerned.

Thank you.

And, while you are at it, see which of them wants to be your agent. You get my drift.


Best regards,
Sherry Fine - VP Acquisitions


In the meantime, are you able to also submit the names of those who have become successful writers since signing up with the New York Literary Agency in order to give a double-handed strike to the members on the forum?

Thank you in advance.

Let me tell you what happens, since you seem to listen. The instant we post a sale and the publisher, the overzealous authors and the internidiots have actually gone all the way to the publisher's representative with their intrusive questions. Frankly we don't list them because of this. Legally, we have the deals and we can back them up, but we don't post them. You have no idea the psychoses that run throughout the writers in the world. If I seem guarded, I am. I'd rather lose 100 authors than a single buyer.
Period.

Best regards,
Sherry Fine - VP Acquisitions

This is quite an unusual response as many agencies do post the names of authors they represent on their sites without these problems in order to help promote themselves with legitimate clients.
If this is not the case with NYLA then may I be so bold as to ask how you encourage genuine writers to get involved and in touch with you and your agency?

Thank you.

We have too many applying authors. I get 3000 applications a month. Why spend time cajoling more?

It's a strange world that's for sure.

Best regards,
Sherry Fine - VP Acquisitions


I personally found the responses to be unsatisfactory and a load of horse****! However, no one who professes to be in the industry that owns an agency has to provide anything of what I have asked for in terms of “proof” of their legitimacy as trusted professionals.
All in all, for those reading this, stick to the number one rule and do your research and formulate your own thoughts.
I recommend you work really hard to become as professional in your approach to writing as well as business approach as much as possible. And network any stories and/or poems in magazines, reputable online sites, competitions et al so then you’ll have some clout under your belt so that you will be in a position to bargain with the major agencies and publishers that feature in publications such as the Writers & Artists Yearbook, amongst many other avenues.

Personally I would skip the New York Literary Agency as something definitely doesn’t seem right.

Their website is here: http://www.newyorkliteraryagency.com/

Mailing address:

New York Literary Agency
275 Madison Avenue,
4th Floor
New York,
NY 10016

E-mail address (enquiries and such): question@newyorkliteraryagency.com


I encourage anyone reading this to formulate their own thoughts and research by getting themselves in contact with the above address, but I’m satisfied in knowing that these are definitely not the professional responses that I was expecting, especially with that almost juvenile “We have too many applying authors. I get 3000 applications a month. Why spend time cajoling more? It's a strange world that's for sure” comment.
True, many agencies and publishers do put a cap on how many submissions they’ll deal with. But this one just doesn’t give me confidence in them in anyway.

(And seeing as I don’t live in the US, maybe someone here who does and who lives anywhere near Madison Avenue, New York can make a better judgement by actually visiting them in person if possible and post their findings here).

And if all else fails and you too feel at odds with the NYLA then console yourself in the fact that they don't really need you to get in contact with them as they already have as many as 3000 submissions a month so that they don't need to conjole any more submissions from you/us. :rolleyes:
Oh well, strange ol' world isn't it!

And to sign off, here's the NYLA agency's final words/signature pledge:

Our Pledge To You:
==================
* We respect what you have accomplished thus far as a writer.
* We believe that great authors are made, not born. We are willing to
develop talent.
* We pledge straight talk in a confusing and old-school industry.
* We can't promise a sale. We can promise a professional relationship.

p.s. Missed Emails, Spam, Whitelists, and other reasons for lapses in
communications. There's an old joke in showbiz that asks the question, "What
do you get if you cross an agent with a turnip?" The answer is "A turnip
that doesn't return your phone calls." That won't happen with us. We are
very, very diligent about returning every email that we receive within a
couple of days. The same is true for our vendors and suppliers. IF YOU DO
NOT RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION AND YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE, PLEASE,
CHECK WITH US AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENED. Please don't jump to negative
conclusions. The Internet is not 100% foolproof and we are very sensitive to
our clients' expectations and our promises about timely communications.

(Kinda contradicts some of Sherry's responses, huh!)

Thanks for posting a follow-up, Max.

Cheers,
Rob