For many years, Writer Beware hosted a Thumbs Down Agents List and a Thumbs Down Publishers List, identifying the agents and publishers about which we’d received the largest number of serious complaints.

With the exception of three UK-based vanity publishers that are unfortunately still in operation, all of these agents and publishers have gone out of business over the years. While questionable agents and publishers do sometimes come back for a second run, we’re satisfied that we are not going to see our defunct Thumbs Down stars again (for example, because they’ve pleaded to fraud and are paying restitution).

Since the lists for the most part no longer identify current businesses, we’ve taken them offline.

You’ll find plenty of other miscreants at the Writer Beware blog. And if you’re wondering which writing scams are most active right now, this list has you covered.

 

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