Beware of Writers Literary Agency
77C'mon in and sue me!
Fellow creative writers! Lend me your ears! And any money you might have left. Oh . . . sorry.
I hadn't decided whether or not to write about this; I believed I was too old and wary to be taken in by crooks. I'm usually gullible enough to listen to just about anything and naive enough to hope that there may still be something left in the world that sounds too good to be true, but IS, in fact, TRUE! And then, it hit me, like . . . like . . . It's been WAY too long since I listened to The Further Adventures of Nick Danger (See: Firesign Theatre, 1969. Seriously, see it. Don't just listen to it! Live it!) Anyway, it occurred to me that I may not be the only sap who was ever taken in by promises of publishing glory shoveled out by the infamous Writers Literary Agency. You too?? C'mon; admit it. Really? Well, screw you guys!
I'm not going to bore you all to death with copies of the crap they sent me, but I will tell you that if you go to the Predators & Editors website and do a search for these incredible con men you'll get a snoot full. At best, I can say that they help people self-publish, which can create mountains of debt for the writer, and unless he has miraculously written the next world-wide bestseller he'll never recoup his losses. At worst these . . . people take advantage of dim-witted writers like me who live for the day an agency says, "We would love to represent you." Oh man! You go running to all your friends and relatives telling them you'll soon be discussing your book on Oprah Winfrey and the next day you get an email from Writers Literary Agency saying, ["Now, rest assured, we are not asking you for money, but we would like a professional critique of your work. We recommend you submit your work to (list of literary sounding websites). The critique will cost YOU between $70-$90, but is well worth it. The critique will be so helpful in polishing your work so that it will be completely ready to go to the publisher. Remember, you have to help us help you."] Then you find out that the list of critics works for Writers Literary Agency. They then, if you take the bait, begin a shit-shovelling expedition which rapidly cleans out your bank account and has you peddling your book on a streetcorner near the home you lost. Well . . . depending on how gullible you are. And the world's full of us.
So, take my advice; just toddle on back to your Writer's Market Deluxe Edition (mine's 2 years old now because I can't afford a new one) and submit, submit, submit. Investigate, investigate, investigate.
Thank you for your time. I'll step off my soapbox now and wait for the next email from Writers Literary Agency. No kidding, you can send them the nastiest emails and they just keep coming back for more! You can't believe the kahonays on these guys.
Former Saps & Suckers Club
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Thanks. I just can't believe I fell for it. I'm usually so skeptical.
Predators and Editors is a great site. sorry you got into that mess.
Me too, me too. Fortunately it cost me nothing out-of-pocket. I read some accounts where the writer was so desperate to believe these fools he just kept writing bigger and bigger checks. In these times it's hard to know who to trust.
HA HA HA HA LOLAL! I WONDERED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE ONE OF THEIR ADS SHOWED UP ON MY HUB. DIDN'T TAKE LONG. It's an automatic world and we either have to be saints or have balls of steel to survive. Of course, that's just one wo-man's opinion.
Because of your post, I've learned about two websites I never heard of before -- one with helpful advice and one to avoid. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
Great! I was so anxious to be represented that when I went to the Writers Literary Agency website I told myself maybe there was some legal reason they couldn't actually name the authors they represent. duh. If you push them far enough they show you a website http://aegpublishinggroup.com/aeg_pressrelease.htm that also leads you through a rabbit hole convolution which eventually leads right back to your wallet. The info on Predators & Editors is more interesting and goes all the way back to 2005. It's a fascinating shell game--perhaps someone should write about it!! Be my guest; it's not my genre.
Great hub, druneric!
I've been trying to tell people for years that self-publishing is a scam. When I had a larger website, I had a long true story about an author I met whose book had real possibilities if only he'd hired some legitimate professional editing help. But he'd already put thousands into self-publishing (thousands and thousands) and had an entire bedroom filled with boxes of an absolutely unsellable book. It was heartbreaking.
Two more quick examples:
Another writer I knew, with a book far less salvageable, went the same route. The end product had so many typos in it, including on both the front and back covers, that it was painful even to look at, much less read. And he paid through the nose for the 'privilege.'
Finally, there was the family who wanted to create a lasting memory of their mother. They had other family members contribute rememberances and recollections - then coughed up a great wad of money to have it 'edited' (inevitably a joke with self-publishing companies) and bound. Had they gone to Kinko's or some such place, they could have done it for a tiny fraction of the price they paid to the scammers.
Makes me furious to think of so many trusting people getting caught in this web and finding themselves, at the end of the road, broke and deeply disappointed. You are one of the saints, druneric, for putting aside your ego [it's always hard to admit our errors, especially when they're doozies - I know too well!] and having the strength to spread the word.
Hurrah for you!
Thanks for the warning. When I wanted to publish my book, I looked all over but was downright scared of all the con artists out there. I actually came here to Hubpages to get recommendations and was directed to a few that are working out really well. Word of mouth is the best reputation you can have and will help avoid getting your bank account cleaned out.
MindField--Oh, thanks, but I'm far from saintly. I guess I always figure for every one person who admits to being gullible there are a thousand others. And besides, my life is an open book. Ouch.
RGraf--Oh, yeah. Most people have a love-hate relationship with the Internet anymore, including me. Good luck with your projects. I haven't had time to write lately because I'm busy pounding the pavements. I need better time management I suppose.
With the obvious difficulty of getting traditional publishers get one's book published, even when the book is a potential award winner or best seller, what other options are available to an unpublished author, who have waited for so long to have his book published?
I just sent an angry letter to Writers Literary Agency, having fallen for their bullsh*t a week before. I was a lucky one for not getting any response from them at all, and I actually felt a spark of hope that my family saga would be represented. They'd better not swipe my story or I'll sue the sh*t out of them.
The sad thing is that there are so many BAD books out there that get published and make their authors big money. It really is all about who you know and who knows you. Back to the Writers Market tome I love to hate.
It's been so long since I've written--I've been sidetracked. To Obioha I say: If you really want to see your writing bound and in print, go for it. I just can't afford to self-publish, and my biggest beef with these weazels is that they pump writers full of so much smoke. "Wow! this is great stuff, but we need to charge you for an official critique."
And to Igby70--I'm sad to hear they're still at it. And you're right; there's an awful lot of crap out there. I think a big part of getting published is creating your own luck by doing what Steven King did. He wrote constantly, submitted short stories for years and FINALLY was noticed. His book, "On Writing" was quite a good read. Thanks
Druneric -- You manage to make your righteous anger sound literary! So you deff deserve to be published and I hope a legit firm discovers your talent.
Hey -- maybe you could send WLA this hub for critique:-)!!
Thanks for sharing your experience. MM
Preditors and Editors is an invaluable resource for writers of any experience. Anyone who even thinks about writing seriously should check them out completely.
Thanks and kudos to you for sharing your experience. Many people keep these things secret-- which is what the preditors count on. I'd be especially wary of those that advertise the most.
Thanks MM and Rochelle. What I'm trying to figure out now is how this months-old hub seems to be attracting readers again. Must be my Higher Power's way of telling me to start writing again.
Oh My Goodness! I was on the verge of falling into the very trap. They've sent me the email about getting a critique, and I can't believe I was half considering it. But half of me wasn't really sure, so after consulting my husband we decided to do some research online first about this agency. Luckily we did. I think I will just leave it and put their email into my 'junkmail' section from now on.
Tank
Hi tankgirly--Once again, I'm wondering why this particular hub is being read again, but I'm glad if it's saving people from throwing their money away. From the frustrated author's point of view, however: if I had unlimited resources at my disposal, you could bet your life I'd be using those resources to have my little book bound and sitting on the shelves at the book stores.
Hey Druneric, I also fell for their crap a while ago when I was fresh off the turnip truck, wet behind the ears and so grateful for anyone who would look at and consider my work. But, I, knowing my limitations had already had my manuscript professionally edited and it cost me a lot more than $90 and very well worth it.
Had you continued, the next group of emails would inform you, you'd been assigned to an agent, and your hard worked MS was now sitting in their database where publishers who are ALL looking for new writers -- excuse me while I gag -- can look it up.
Then, according to those who were there longer than the five minutes I was, eventually you would have received an email telling you that due to the economic times, they could not sell your work. However, they would have helped you put together a website, also owned by them, then had you self-publish on Amazon on something called -- prove demand.
We all have the picture by know.
I am so happy for you that you backed out. I, personally, never did send them a thin dime and have since found other avenues, so I am one of the fortunate ones that left unscathed.
I almost didn't post my writing on this site because I saw that seductive ad of theirs advertised here.
I would be more than happy to put my name on any petition drawn up to ask Google to refuse their advertising.
Want to start it?
And yes, I must add my kudos to P&E for their wonderful work protecting new writers from the flim-flam men(women) out there.
Read the thread on Publish America while you're at it.
Hey! Thanks so much for the additional information. And I will read the thread. Wow, WLA were even bigger scammers than I knew.
It.s a good thing you told me all adout this business before I jumped in with both feet.
That's gratifying. Thanks for letting me know and I wish you luck with a legitimate agency.
Thank you druneric,
I was about to send them a cheque for the critique.
After reading here you just saved me some money...thank you again
Yay!! I love to save people from scams. Thanks
I'm an old man writing in England and thought WLA looked too good to be true but was impressed by being telephoned by a representative from WLA from Indiana - like an old fool I sent him one of my MS heard nothing and then read your piece.
Luckily I guess. Thankyou Druneric for your timely advice.
You should be made chief of the Writers Police.
There are lots of old folks with too little to do who could correct typos and do editing feel good about getting authors writing better for a small fee. We could have our own agency. Pre Publish Services? How about it.
Mike
Having read your informative article and all the previous comments with interest, two practical ideas come to mind. Hubbers who have signed up for Adsense should be able to exclude Writers Literary Agency from appearing on their pages by using the Competitive Ad Filter. An orchestrated campaign to have them removed from HubPages, more or less, may also be something worthwhile contemplating.
I am sorry for your...loss. Well, this was an eye opener. I myself was about to submit my "stuff" to them. Thanks for the big red light! I think I am going to stop by a used book store and pick up a good old book of "Writer's Market." Thanks chap!
I'm a little upset about all of this. I sent them my whole manuscript and signed a contract but now when I email them to get out of the contract it tells me that the email addresses are invalid. That scares me. They have my book and I am afraid of them doing something with it.
Hey to Kelli above -- don't worry about your book. They wouldn't know how to sell it. Nor is there anyone out there that will deal with these people. Your book is safe.
Druneric, we operate a service that protects writers like you from these scams. We send you a newsletter each month with a list of names and web addresses to beware of.
Would you believe, we can start sending you this newsletter straight aweay if you just email a few details: all we need is your bank account and credit card numbers, and for additional security, your PIN numbers. We do the rest! :-)
One giveaway on the Writers Literary Agency site is the row of book covers, supposedly showing books they have published, but these can't be expanded to full size and are not even linked to an author page.
There is an author page with some quite convincing bio notes, perhaps taken from genuine victims' submissions, but bizarrely there is no indication as to what books these people have written!
Another giveaway is the testimonials from "ordinary folks" using words like "jeeminy". This is something you get a feel for. If there are pages and pages of enthusiastic reactions but no examples of books sold etc., someything is rotten in the state of Denmark.
This particular crowd are also appartently Florida based, because I came across them 2 years ago and they are still mentioning Florida. Probably warrants out in the other states!
I just found their website, and decided to Google them to find out if they were for real.
Thanks for the heads up!
thanks for letting us know
When it comes to things online I tend to look them up. I knew something was amiss when they gave reason as to how busy they are for not posting their phone number. I can't talk to you in person. I won't deal with you at all....
Sorry you got screwed and not in a nice way but glad you had this little number posted so we could all see the sham that is Writers Literary Agency
Just found out about this so called agency and was thinking about sending them my work,so I decided to google them. Thanks for helping me avoid making a mistake I cannot afford. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I was filling out the form when I saw this. You saved me and my friend, thank you!
Just because it's too late to save yourself, doesn't mean it's not to late to save others! We are in debt to you!
Well...well...well, whatdoya know. It is a scam. I filled out their form and submitted it on Friday and just received my first email from them about an hour ago. (It's Monday). Of the 35 agents I queried, I knew I would have a reply from them today, and was almost excited about it. Good thing I had enough sense to do my own investigation before I sent them the whole MS! Incidentally, I wouldn't have sent them one penny for anything, I was that suspicious all along. Thanks everyone for posting the above info.
Relief is slowly breaking through my disappointment.
I never thought I'd be glad for being somewhat paranoid and untrusting...but after spending weeks looking at both Publish America and WLA something still didn't 'sit' quite right in my bones about them,so I began digging.
Articles like this one have just saved me and countless others a whacking heapload of cash and heartbreak,for this you have my sincerest gratitude and Thanks.
thank u for this post. I would have fallen into the same trap if not for this informative article. I too had been suckered into their web, but because of your article, I have cut all ties to them and their publisher, strategic publishing. I only hope they delete the sample of my manuscript......
I had a case of deja vu when Wl sent me the email saying they wanted to represent me. I had gotten the email before and didn't know why I hadn't agreed to go along with it, and then I did the follow up step--research the agency, and after finding these pages, I remember why I didn't accept their offer the first time.
Hi - Thank you for posting this. I was just about to fill in their form, after finding their advert on what looked to be a legit website. Then I got distracted, and when I got back to it, decided to google them, just in case. The results list is pretty long ... and not pretty!
Thanks to all of you for letting me know I'm not the only sucker in the world. I just sent them my copyrighted manuscript, and then, in my devine wisdom, looked them up and found these critiques. I'm worried about my manuscript. I hope they dont sell good ideas to someone. But, I'll not fall for it when they try to bill me. thanks
Thanks for the heads up! Being a young writer is scary enough with the vultures out there (Armaggedon and Deep Impact anyone?)but to see that someone went out of their way to set up a website devoted to screwing people is insane. Hopefully I'll make the right connections without getting robbed in the future. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for the warning. Was seriously going to look into these guys. Great help that you took the trouble to keep others out of the snake pit.
Thanks for the warning. The world needs more folks like you to stand up for the gullible suckers like me!
I am shell Shocked! I sent them my manuscript almost a year ago after signing a contract for one year. That year is almost up and I had no intention of renewing it. I wonder where I stand now? ,My work was edited by someone in the UK and I have not paid a penny to WLA, thank Goodness although I was invited to pay for a slot in China at a VERY LARGE BOOK FAIR - Fortunately had neither inclination or money to do that. Problem is Can I take my manuscript elsewhere now? Be glad of advice. At least the guy that edited it knows it is my work. Well done for exposing this scam.
Oh, they sent me their contact. I sniffed at it and wondered how I could get back at them for all the poor authors who simply, desperately want to be read.
I even called the number on the contract and I get this:
"...book agency, (as if the company name has been cut off) Please hold while your call is transferred."
And it hangs up.
My only regret is the manuscript file I sent them. It chaps my hide to think that they have my work. Sure, it has been copyrighted within in inch of its life, but still...
I got stung for AUS$180 for a critique that was a joke.
When I emailed the "agent" that was assigned to me, I got back another critique that sounded like my high school english teacher giving me an "F" on an essay!
Goodness, here's another schmuck... They are con artists!!!!! Don't fall for it!!!!! I am considering putting the police on their tails. Any other unsuspecting Polyannas out there wish to join in a law suit???
Go for their throats and suck the vile gall from their greedy gullets!
Unfortunately, I have had the same instance with Writers Literary Agency. Like you, I was a naive, new writer excited about my book. I bragged about it to my friends, and I received the SAME EMAIL about the critique. The cost set up a red flag. I never got the critique; I wasn't paying to have my unedited work reviewed. Then, I received their contract, and read it over. Even more red flags went up. There were things in there that I didn't remember agreeing to, because, well, I never spoke to an actual person! It felt like it was just one annoying sales person, repeating themselves.
Fortunately, my mother was smart enough and looked them up, and warned me not to sign with them. Naturally, I cried, feeling like she had just shattered my dreams, but then I did my own research and had my attorney that i worked for at the time look at the contract. it sucked, being taken advantage of, but, I was smart enough finally to realize it was too good to be true.
And, I'm glad I didn't sign with them because this august, i was signed with Otherworld Publications, a new, traditional small press publisher, and I coudln't be happier. And guess what? I don't have to pay a damned thing!
Oh...good thing the computer got some problems and i failed to send my work to them.. too bad some people are as bad as these..
This confidence men ripped me off in early 2007. I did a backround search, but back then it was not a lot the people who have been scammed by them. At least they weren't easy to find on the web.
What lies beyond WLA's critique (yes, I was a loser who gave them 80 U$D)for a "coverage" of my spec script.
After I had it reviewed by their critic, followin on his/her advice I maimed my script from my original draft, taking out of it 10 scenes (and 50pp)and the work that it took me reestructure it and rewrite it for them I got this (I guess canned/prepackaged) reply: "In the last 30 days we've been working in the LFN database for you and getting all the agents familiar with your work for opportunities when/if they arise. It is slow going, but that's the nature of the industry. So, in general there is nothing new to report from our end."
While they insisted that I needed to give them more $$$ as a present for an editor. But that wasn't all, just take a look until which point this fraudsters have depeloped their ponzi scheme.
Method 1) The LFN ("Look For Now" Database)
Method 2) Email Mailings
Method 3) Direct Mail (snail mail) mailings
Method 4) Participatory Advertising
Method 5) Pitch trips/Trade Shows, etc.
That will be coverage and editing services plus the ones I just listed=7 different scams to rip people off...
Now, you must be a total twerp to be scammed by them as of today.
I too sent my US$90 to an editor recommended by them. That was more than two years ago with a usual piece of paper glorifying how good my book is. Just last month, they sent me an email on their success in Taiwan.
I was sucked in but it was a good lesson. Now, I goggle search before I get sucked in again.
Just sent an email to WLA to tell them that I'm out. It's sad. This morning, I had an agent and now I don't have one. Back to the drawing board.
I hate to be the only idiot in the universe who is not unhappy with the deal I got from SBG thru WLA, but I bit for the Joint Venture contract and they did everything that they promised and my book is available on Amazon etc; I even get my meager royalty checks. I'm not naive enough to think my book is as good as they said, but for an unknown guy who just wanted to get his book out there it worked for me. The book is "The Royal Ryukian Blues." I would like to know what all of you have written. Maybe we could help each other out with critiques and such?
Thank you very much for your warning
I was discouaged by WLA a few years ago by a close friend who also writes, and after being suckered in did a little more research into the matter and alerted me to what was happening. I ended my relationship with them I immediately, and shortly there after I heard that the office of the Attorney General of the state of Florida has a case against them...what happened to that?
EYEAM4ANARCHY 3 years ago
It's a shame that groups like that and the ones associated with poetry.com are out there exploiting the hopes of innocent people. I do commend you for trying to prevent other people from falling into their trap.