Forum The-Cafe Literary Agents

I am shopping for a literary agent.I have been told that you should never have to pay money up front for services.But every agent I have submitted my work to sends me a proposal that involves me paying up front.What is your experiences?Do you know a good agent?Should you pay up front for an agent?

Charging a reading fee is seen as close to illegal in the literary agent market. Proper agents will read a synopsis of your book and maybe the first chapter for free, and will ask for me if they think it will make them money. 

SBPRA Tom Clemmons.I got the site from the writer's cafe llist.I was sent  a contract offer stating that He seen promise in my work.The offer was for 1,000 bonus when 1,000 books sold,but I was have to invest 980 dollars which he described as a 50/50 adventure.Or I could pre sale 100 copies and then the book would be published.Does that sound fishhy

No respectable agent charges any fees for reading or retainers. Agents take commissions on sales, typically 10-20% of compensation from the publisher. Agents who charge fees are often scammers who make money by charging writers rather than by making sales. There's a whole blog called WriterBeware that lists "agents" like these to watch out for.

There is one caveat, however. Agents often charge for reading short stories (if they read them at all). They are unlikely to make any money off them unless it is an entire book of stories. Even so, publishers tend to only publish anthologies after an author has a successful published novel.