The Controversial Reason I Ask Literary Agents to Pay Me Before Reading My Work—And Why It’s Working
What if the traditional script flipped, and instead of agents screening writers, writers started charging agents a fee to consider their manuscripts? Sounds bonkers, right? But maybe it’s about time someone shook up the timid dance between writers and agents — especially given how much grunt work authors put in, only to be met with an inbox full of silence or impossible demands. Imagine an agent having to pony up $100 just for a peek at your words — a small price to prove they’re serious, eager, and genuinely interested. It’s a cheeky challenge, a gutsy stance against the usual power play, and a nudge to rethink who really holds the leverage in this game. After all, how often do writers get to call the shots? Let’s dive into this provocative approach and what it says about the publishing world’s unbalanced courtship rituals.
THE RECKLESS WRITER
I’m not interested in sending my work out to people who aren’t serious
Yes, you read the title right. I charge agents a reading fee. Anyone who is interested in representing my work, has to pay me $100 for the privilege of reading my manuscript. They can pay me by check, cash, or by sponsoring my newsletter. Those that pay me more get preferential treatment.
I know, you’re saying, “But that’s backwards. Nobody charges agents a reading fee!”
That’s because I’m an innovator. I’m at the top of the food chain. I don’t follow the trends, I set the trends.
If you think you have what it takes to represent me, then prove it. I want to see evidence that you’re serious. I’m tired of wasting my time clicking on emails that don’t go anywhere.
“Please attach the first three chapters, the synopsis, a one page summary, a one paragraph summary, a tagline, and 56 examples of other books that are just like yours.”
How about, “No.”
Seriously, stop for a moment and think about how much time it takes to fulfill a prospective agent’s requirements. Charging $100 to jump through all those hoops is a bargain.
You might think that this email is satire, but it’s absolutely not. Yes, I would still like to see some of my unpublished manuscripts get the advantage of massive distribution. Sure, I’d like to land some sort of lucrative contract. I like the idea in theory of seeing my work turned into a movie or mini-series, but I’ve seen enough bad examples that I’m also a little leery about that possibility.
How much harm might it do to your legacy if somebody releases your heartwarming children’s book as a slasher film? These things happen.
Writers don’t have any leverage, especially writers who are just starting out. So, let’s change the system. Let’s make it the expectation that serious agents are willing to pay writers in order to earn the privilege of representing them.
I like the idea of an agent actually being engaged. I like the idea that they might have a commitment to my book. I…
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