Writer's Literary Agency Scams: Don't Be Taken

I was so excited, after sending out dozens of queries and receiving dozens of rejections, an agency was finally interested in signing me. I was so elated that my screenwriting career was advancing I failed to notice the warning signs of the scam I was about to fall for. To protect yourself from making the same mistake read on.

Sydra Techniques

In 2001 I tried my hand at writing a screenplay. To my surprise the screenplay won a screenwriting competition so I thought maybe I could make a career out screenwriting. For the next six months I composed three more screenplays and entered a few more contests, each time doing very well for a novice. At this point I decided that to market my screenplays I would need an agent, after all production companies won't take unsolicited manuscripts. My next step was to use a list of signatory agents compiled by a writer's market guidebook. I thought these agencies were "safe," however, the list was not as "safe" as it should have been.

After a few nibbles from a few respectable agencies I finally got an offer for representation from Sydra Techniques. It had been on the list for WGA signatory agencies so figured they were a safe agency. They didn't charge upfront reading or evaluation fees so I signed on. After signing on they told me I needed to pay $195 to set up my writer's web page and to cover the administrative costs for sending out my screenplays. Being young and naive I paid the fee and my page was set up. Then every time I wanted to add a screenplay to my profile the company required that I pay another $50 to $100, which, according to them, was to cover printing costs. This should have tipped me off because they were not marketing my screenplays at all, instead they required me to do all the leg work. After a few years of absolutely no help from them I canceled my contract.

Almost Taken a Second Time