BellaOnline Forums Career Fiction Writing Assessing manuscripts

Last week's article was about Manuscript Assessment Services, in particular those that are run by literary agents.

I really believe this is a conflict of interest. If agents are making money from writers before pitching the book to publishers, what incentive do they have to give it a really good push?

What do you think?

Manuscript assessment services run by literary agents are multiple choice
	A conflict of interest
	Unethical
	Okay, I guess
	Writers will benefit from the agent’s knowledge and experience
	Invaluable – publishers won’t touch books that haven’t been assessed
Votes accepted starting: 08/30/06 11:02 PM
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Would you sign with an agent who also ran assessment services? multiple choice
	No – they would always be too busy making money reading crappy manuscripts to look after my interests
	I’m not sure
	Yes, if they were a highly recommended agent
	Yes, if they were a very well-known agent, or had famous clients
	Yes, if they gave me a good feeling about them
	Most definitely – I need someone who knows how to edit!
Votes accepted starting: 08/30/06 11:02 PM
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If the agent doesn't place manuscripts with a publisher, the agent doesn't get paid. Also, agents without a solid record of placement can't get credibility. The agent will want the record, to build up credibility and business (an assessment business and an agenting business would both benefit from a solid record of placement) and will try to place a good manuscript.

If the agent has a solid record, I'd go with them. They will want to keep their average up, to increase that end of the business and to use as a selling tool for the assessment business. If they don't have any placements, I wouldn't go with them whether they assess manuscripts or not. Either they are lousy at agenting, too busy, or just a terrible editor.

Another point of difference, of course, is whether the agency is a large organisation with many employees, or just a one-man show. Running a business by yourself is very labour intensive; running two businesses that both involve long periods of reading and concentration... I don't see it working very well. But a big company would be able to take the load off - I would just hope that when the assessment side says a qualified editor/agent will read the ms, they don't mean a "qualified" intern or the person who fetches the mail.