S.T. Literary Agency / Stylus Literary Agency

[madderblue]

Thank you to Roger! Yes, I felt bad that she didn't 'see the light'. But it made me realize that some people　so need to believe in their dreams (coming true), that they ignore what is right in front of their eyes. I guess that is why people like Bouncin' Bobby make a living. My friend even at one point told me, "I think all these people who are e-mailing me are the same person." I know that has been talked about a lot here as well. How anyone could even think they are legit...

 

[mdin]

It's a lot easier to convince people about stuff like this before they've gotten an acceptance than after. It seems the moment they get that 'acceptance' letter, blinders fall from the sky and attach themselves to the writer.

 

[Aconite]

For anyone coming in late, the Stylus Literary Agency (formerly Sydra Techniques, formerly ST Literary Agency) is one of a group of agencies run by Robert (Bobby) Fletcher, who was convicted of fraud*. The others are:

New York Literary Agency
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=729

The Children’s Literary Agency
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8312
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8286

The Christian Literary Agency
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13514

The Poets Literary Agency
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19104

The Screenplay Agency
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20359

The front/mask/umbrella group is The Literary Agency Group, Inc.
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13517

*http://www.dfi.wa.gov/sd/orders/SDO-063-01.pdf
http://www.dfi.wa.gov/sd/orders/SDO-021-01.pdf

 

[TonyS]

Victim of ST/Stylus

I've read enough. I spent an hour or so last night and about another hour today reading the posts on ST/Stylus Lit. I just can't believe what I am reading. I feel like an idiot! I wish I would have been thorough enough two years ago to search for and find this thread. I wasn't. I was a newbie and ST got me! I did not practice due diligence in researching the company. Nor did I follow the red flag warning that if ANY agency asks for ANY money upfront, RUN! ST practices good psychology on newbies desperate to find an agent to represent them and sell their work. I swear I really believed the fees they charged were legitimate and standard. I was wrong. I'm pissed at Robert Fletcher, who I exchanged emails with (if it was even really him). This agency really does need to be sued and put out of business.

It's been over a year since I've even had contact with ST. With the upfront fees and manuscript sending fees, I lost over $400 dealing with them. I'm mad but I am not raving mad because it's been awhile since I've missed the money and I hold myself just as much to blame for not doing then what I did yesterday...googling ST and finding this forum! I thought about my contract with them which expires this month and actually thought about the possibility of renewing just in case I felt like scrounging up another 100 or so bucks it costs for them to send off another "batch" of my manuscripts to potential buyers. Since signing with them I already sent 3 "batches", which cost around $300 total and of course led to not one single sale. Fletcher strung me along and after the 3rd batch and receiving over $400 total from me, finally "threw himself on the sword" and informed me that I could fire the agency if I desired since they couldn't sell my script. Thanks Fletch, you're such an upstanding guy! Me, like a loyal dummy, said I wouldn't do that. But at least I didn't send in any more money. I knew I had over a year left on the contract I signed. So if I felt like coughing up another $100 to send manuscripts, I would. I'm glad I didn't. It's been over a year.

I spent some time trying to get written material sold directly to producers/studios. When I finally saw it was next to impossible without an agent, I made the decision that I must get a literary agent, something I was trying to avoid having to do. I found ST on the web and decided to take a crack at getting them to represent me. Of course, I was accepted as a client. "Wow...after only one try!" is what I thought. I was so glad I didn't have to go through 40 or 50 rejections before I got a literary agent. I was ecstatic to have a "real" literary agency representing me now. I think I even went out to dinner to celebrate. Ok, I know some of you guys are probably giggling at me right now. But that's okay. Anyway, little did I know I was celebrating being conned! I wasn't thinking straight. I was too happy because I finally got my "big break" and it wasn't even that hard.

My ST author page is still up on the Web. What a joke! I'm glad I found this forum and can now finally write off ST, Sydra, Stylus or whatever the hell name they are for good!

Thank you all for exposing Fletcher and ST/Sydra/Stylus.

TonyS

 

[Gravity]

Ok, I know some of you guys are probably giggling at me right now. But that's okay. Anyway, little did I know I was celebrating being conned! I wasn't thinking straight. I was too happy because I finally got my "big break" and it wasn't even that hard.



TonyS

___________________________________________________________

You'll not find anyone here laughing at you, Tony. "Con men" are called that for a reason: they win a person's confidence long before they start vaccuming their wallets. Take comfort in knowing guys like Bouncin' Bobby Fletcher et.al. sooner or later take the big bounce. In Bobby's case, it's already happened once, when he was nailed in a securities fraud scam.

So sit tight; it's all in the timing.

John

 

[James D. Macdonald]

Fletcher's job, what he does all day every day, is conning people. He's good at it. Don't think the less of yourself. Just do better next time -- and spread the word.

 

[Roger J Carlson]

Ok, I know some of you guys are probably giggling at me right now.

Never! The only people we giggle at are shills and trolls who defend Fletcher and his gang in defiance of all the evidence.

We rejoice with you that you've finally found your way clear. It's been an expensive lesson, but one you'll never forget. Welcome!

 

[aka eraser]

It's a hoary old cliche Tony but better late than never. Your story may well prevent more victims. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[triceretops]

Toni, there is no shame here, and quite frankly, we're glad to have you with us. You just might have saved other writers from shelling out doe, since this is a very popular thread and read often. You're one of us, hold your head high and forge on.

Tri

 

[TonyS]

Thanks for the support

Thanks for the support guys. I know Fletcher will get his in the end. I just can't comprehend how somebody could be that low. I mean when I think about how I trusted this guy and his agency it just lets me know that if I'm not diligent and don't do the research and checking I should before getting involved with ANYTHING, I can be conned! I don't like feeling like that.

I was just too euphoric because I had an agency accept me. I've learned not just from this experience but others as well that when you get too happy, sometimes you miss dotting your i's and crossing your t's.

Throughout this last year, the thought would pop in my mind every now and then that maybe something was wrong with ST and it was not really a good agency. But because I put writing on the back burner and was doing other things, I didn't really concentrate on finding out anything. It's only because I thought about my contract with them expiring Feb 2006 that I decided to google them and do some research. And look what I found! Better late than never is right!

Anybody out there considering ST/Stylus Literary Agency, take it from me....DON'T!!

Thanks again guys.

TonyS

 

[jay6941]

I just can't believe this guy is still at it!

It's been almost 6 years now since I buried the name Robert Fletcher in the graveyard of my mind. For some reason while I was bouncing around the net today, Sydra Techniques popped up. I clicked it up and lo-and-behold an active thread link existed. I was flabberghasted!

I just cannot believe these scam scums are still at it after all these years!!!

Writers, if you love your work and want the very best for your blood, sweat 'n tears don't stop here....RUN!! RUN FAR AWAY AND FORGET YOU EVEN HEARD OF THIS PLACE!

Yes, they took me and took me good. I can still remember that acceptance letter and how excited I was...such a nubee...

What an idiot I say now, after many more years later and the hindsite to see. Don't let it happen to you, don't let these slugs put a black mark on the memory of your baby, your book.

Fletcher is a trusting writer's SATAN!

Jay Simon

 

[Beast]

NYLA

This is a note of thanks to all of you. I got as far as 'acceptance' with NYLA and stopped the process dead.
I'm now going ahead with POD, a web site, scheduled talks/interviews and 'getting out there!' I have nothing to lose but my illusions! (and a little investment cash).
No matter what happens, I'll only have myself to blame (or thank). A far better way to spend my hard-earned dollars!

Many Sincere Thanks.

BEAST

 

[Roger J Carlson]

This is a note of thanks to all of you. I got as far as 'acceptance' with NYLA and stopped the process dead.
I'm now going ahead with POD, a web site, scheduled talks/interviews and 'getting out there!' I have nothing to lose but my illusions! (and a little investment cash).
No matter what happens, I'll only have myself to blame (or thank). A far better way to spend my hard-earned dollars!

Many Sincere Thanks.

BEAST

Good for you, BEAST! Glad to hear it. Personnally, I chose to continue to find a reputable agent and publisher, but at least, you know the money you're spending is going toward your book and not lining someone else's pocket.

Just make sure you don't run afowl of another scam like Publish America or Author House when looking for a POD. Lulu might be a good option, I've heard.

 

[James D. Macdonald]

Yet another first-person account of dealing with Sydra/Stylus/ST Literary:

http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/perilith/179/ripoff.html

In this one, Sydra offers representation even though the book is literally unsalable: it is set in C. S. Lewis's Narnia. It can't be legally published by anyone except the copyright holder.

The author grows suspiscious, and sends in a barely literate synopsis from a throw-away account; it too is accepted in a flash with the same form letter.

 

[CaoPaux]

FYI: This agency has been named one of Writer Beware's 20 Worst Agents/Agencies.

 

[CaoPaux]

FYI: This agency has been named one of Writer Beware's 20 Worst Agents/Agencies.

 

[Max_payne]

Ok ppl i'll try not to take sides here because if I said the company is

fine you're gonna accuse me of being a sock puppet and if I took

your side then I would be accusing the company with something

that I don't have proof on.

The case is that I sent my script to the screenplay agency and they

took it and sent me the contract and told me to get a critique

coverage and I did thru their sister company but the case is that I

payed for the critique and I got it and it was really helpful so I don't

regret paying this money even if it lands eventually in the pocket of

so-called Robert Fletcher.
And i've sent a friend of mine in NY to check out their building and e

should get back to me on monday.

Right now i'm making the adjustments advised by the critique and

they sent me a hot-sheet to fill which thy'll put in their database so i

think i'll go through and see where this leads.

I've been querying agents for two freakin years and all i got was an

agent that I won't mention his name who was elusive and always

asking for money and he done nothing but these guys aren;t asking

for money except after the sale so I think i'll go through and i'll keep

you guys posted...

 

[DaveKuzminski]

Max, they own the critique company, so you still paid them. Please note the word is paid, not payed, unless you're talking about rope.

You may want to keep in mind that we're against any agent who expects a writer to pay an upfront fee.

Additionally, a member of this forum has already personally visited the "New York" office and discovered that it's a mail drop. Their office is actually in Boca Raton, Florida. Now, if they're willing to lie about having a New York office, then what makes you think that anything else they claim is true?

Now if you worked with another agent for two years, then why not mention his name? That's one of the purposes of these topics. It's to warn other writers. You can't very well do that if you don't name names!

 

[Sassenach]

I've been querying agents for two freakin years and all i got was an

agent that I won't mention his name who was elusive and always

asking for money and he done nothing but these guys aren;t asking

for money except after the sale so I think i'll go through and i'll keep

you guys posted...

They already asked for money for the bogus crit.

 

[James D. Macdonald]

Best of luck to you.

If they sell your book it'll be a first for them.

Do let us know when you get tired of waiting for a sale, and (if you don't mind) tell us then how much you wound up paying out of pocket.

 

[DustyF]

I hear ya Tony

I just stumbled across you guys, but I can say that my story is about identical to Tony's. I too, had three "batches" sent out and Fletcher did indeed send an email offering to "fall on the sword" and I too foolishly said "Eh, don't worry about it, we'll get it goin'!"

Also like you, Tony, things have popped up in the last year to call my attention away from seriously trying to sell my writing and I put ST (as they were known when I signed up) out of my mind for a bit. Except for, a few months ago, our good buddy Robert, having not sold my script the first three tries at great cost to me, very selflessly sent out a batch at no charge to me! What a saint, huh? The perplexing thing to that is that I have heard nary a word from him since, and I've sent a few emails asking questions pertaining to that and other matters.

Like most writers, I was just happy to have some representation. Thankfully (probably the only time I'll ever say that about this), I don't have a lot of money and therefore couldn't afford to have so many "batches" sent out, or I may have lost more money.

I think more frustrating to me than the money, cause that's long gone and there's nothing to be done about it now, is that now is the time to start the rigorous process of trying to find a (legit) agent to rep my work. Thankfully, newbie naive-ness is no longer a problem with me and I've become a more meticulous researcher when it comes to finding representation and looking into agents I send queries to.

Just add my name to the list of those who've been duped by these frauds and consider it yet another warning to those who stumble onto this thread in the future. Boy, what a wasted two years that I'll never have back. Believe me new writers, I know how nice it feels to have it seem as though someone has faith in your writing and ready to rep you, but it is so not worth falling in with these people.

 

[James D. Macdonald]

"Sherryfine," signing herself as "RKForever" this time, has been spamming the boards today. Unfortunately for her, the line-by-line on her nonsense had already been done.


http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19104&page=1&pp=25


Personal for Robert Fletcher: Come up with some new material -- this garbage has already been refuted.

 

[James D. Macdonald]

What?! "Sherryfine" forgot to hit this thread on "her" spamming run today?

Maybe they're trying to let ST/STylus sink into obscurity, burdened as it is with too much negative information all over the web.

Personal for Robert M. Fletcher: Hey, Bobby! What have you sold, ever, to anyone? Your "technique" doesn't work, your "out-of-the-box thinking" is a proven loser, your authors remain unpublished.

Scammer.

 

[LAKOTA]

SHERRY FINE

Just sent an e-mail to Sherry letting them know that I prefer not to use the agency and for them to delete the files of my MS. Also let them know that I heard to many bad reports.
I hope my submission will be deleted.

 

[Roger J Carlson]

Just sent an e-mail to Sherry letting them know that I prefer not to use the agency and for them to delete the files of my MS. Also let them know that I heard to many bad reports.
I hope my submission will be deleted.

Great! But be prepared for the standard "Long and Short Answer" reply. See it here:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=561351&postcount=75

Don't worry. The very last thing they want to do is sell your manuscript. That would require honest work. Much easier to just ask YOU for money.