The official blog of Writer Beware® shines a bright light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls. Also providing advice for writers, industry news, and commentary. Writer Beware® is sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
More thoughts on the subject of being pursued by angry agents and publishers… One of the things that the people who’ve been the focus of writer complaints sometimes get worked up about is that Writer Beware doesn’t usually contact them to get their side of the story. As far as they’re concerned, this invalidates anythingRead More
Well, Agent “B” hit me with a Cease and Desist too. Life with Writer Beware wouldn’t seem normal without a few “we’re going to sue you!” threats floating around. These scammers never do go beyond threats, however. They can’t afford to, literally. If they were to go beyond threats to an actual court case, there’sRead More
Attagirl, Victoria! She’s accurate, she’s thorough, and she’s fearless! She wields the world’s most complete database of scuzzy agents, publishers, book doctors, etc., in the world with the judgment of Solomon and the precision of a surgeon. Writer Beware could not function without her. Well, I don’t have time to make a lengthy post tonight,Read More
I was out most of yesterday, driving my husband to get tests and assessments for surgery he’s having this coming Monday (nothing serious, just mechanical problems with a knee injury). When I got home, an e-mail from SFWA’s legal counsel was waiting for me. A literary agent–let’s call her Agent B–had contacted him with aRead More
Hey, Victoria, welcome! You really spiffed up the site, it looks very nice. Okay, we’ve discussed writing the synopsis. Anything else in the writing area we can help y’all with? Anyone need to check out any agents or publishers before sending a manuscript off? You all DO know to check out an agent or aRead More
Hi, all! I’m Victoria Strauss, the other half of Writer Beware. I maintain the Writer Beware website, and am the Keeper of the Database. I’m feeling very virtuous at the moment because I spent the afternoon doing Writer Beware’s filing (a task I tend to avoid, because it gives me flashbacks to the horrid clericalRead More
