The Fisher Scale

Using this scale, if the point score adds up to:

4 - 6 ---------------- Be Careful
8 and up ---------------------------Avoid

If the agency:

Points

1. Solicits manuscripts by mail

2

2. Charges any kind of up front fee under $50

2

3. Treats its recent sales list as confidential

2

4. Charges a reading or evaluation fee in excess of $50

4

5. Charges a marketing, contract, representation, handling, processing, retainer, or circulation fee in excess of $50

4

6. Offers a line-editing service for a fee

4

7. Refers potential clients to free-lance book doctors

4

8. Owns or has a financial interest in a subsidy publishing company

8

This page was last updated on: Sunday, January 13, 2008