Agents and Fees

Hi,

Think you'll find the answers to this on the Bewards and Background board - lots of discussion about this over there.

Symphony

Firebrand is totally legit.

And yes, some legit agents do charge for copying/shipping fees. Others will keep tallying it and take it out of their 15% when they sell your book (fingers crossed, right?).

I agree with Symphony, though--there's lots of great discussion all over this board about those things.

Agents

It's perfectly legitimate for an agent to ask for excessive photocopy and mailing fees, but this should not be paid upfront. Any such fees should be taken out of the advance after the book sells.

Money should flow into the writer's pocket.

When your novel sells and you get your first check from the publisher, you'll see that the agent has taken out her commission and a fee for photocopying. (I think I paid 100 bucks.)

But that's after you get paid, never before. Never before.

But Firebrand is still legit.

Firebrand

swvaughn said:

But Firebrand is still legit.

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Yes, but "legit" does not always mean a good or acceptable deal for the writer.

Firebrand has made some fabulous sales--go check them out in PM and decide for yourself.

And James is right--"legit" doesn't always mean good for the writer. That's why you can go check out their deals and decide if it's best for you.

giftedrhonda said:

Firebrand has made some fabulous sales--go check them out in PM and decide for yourself.

And James is right--"legit" doesn't always mean good for the writer. That's why you can go check out their deals and decide if it's best for you.

Click to expand...

Fabulous sales should mean the agent has no need to charge writers anything upfront. When it doesn't mean this, the writer is getting a bad deal.