If you don't get an advance, you pay the agent. (WTF)

[Tabris]

Awesome photo of a real contract from a real agency over on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/WriterBeware/photos/a.10151678201442458/10156906936367458/

If you click through it says that if the agent sells your work to a publisher that doesn't pay an advance, the AUTHOR has to pay the AGENT $500.

(If you click through, they also identify the agency.)

Note that this is NOT normal, and you should NOT pay your agent more for doing a lousy job.

[kaperton]

Wow! Thanks for that. You know, looking at the website for that agency, another red flag--although it's a very nice website--is that one of the tabs is devoted to promoting a book written by the person whose name is on the agency. And, in fact, it's the first book to show up on the home page.

I always wonder about agencies who prominently offer services on their site, such as workshops for writing "the perfect query letter." It seems like a lot of agencies do this.

[DrCCat]

wow, that kinda scarry. I need to put together a list of redflags or if someone else has a list it would be helpful to everyone