A Pox on You, Scammers
Lisa CliffordThere are few things that make me angrier than people who prey on a writer’s hope.
Another email landed in my inbox this week. Apparently, a development team has reviewed Death in the Mountains and want to discuss bringing it to the screen.
Well! Get the frock out. We’re off to Hollywood!
Except, of course, we’re not.
These poxy emails keep arriving, often targeting books from my backlist. They use my name, name the book and make the approach sound so personal. Someone has read my work. Someone believes in its potential. Someone wants to have a thoughtful conversation about its future. You can understand why a writer’s heart might lift.
This one began by claiming someone had tried to telephone me. Then came a curious suggestion that I might already be considering another opportunity and should speak with them before making a final decision.
What other opportunity? What final decision?
What unnerves me most is how carefully these approaches target something so sensitive. Writers spend years working, doubting, rewriting and hoping someone will finally recognise what they’ve made. Imagine thinking, ‘Perhaps this is it.’
That is the cruelty of it! I hate these people with every fibre of my being.
Check out the email here and then below what to look for if an unexpected email arrives offering representation, publication or a screen adaptation:
Hi Lisa,
I attempted to reach you by telephone yesterday, but I was routed to your voicemail. I wanted to follow up personally because our development team recently had the opportunity to review your book Death in the Mountains, and we felt it deserved a conversation.
We understand that you may already be considering another opportunity regarding your work, and we certainly respect that. At the same time, we hope you might also consider speaking with us before making a final decision. We believe Epic Studio can offer a thoughtful and collaborative approach to bringing your story to the screen, and we would be honored to present our vision for the project.
I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at your convenience to discuss our interest, answer any questions you may have, and share how we envision this potential collaboration. We sincerely hope you will consider our invitation before making a final decision regarding your material.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you soon and hope we can begin what could become a meaningful and rewarding collaboration.
Warm regards,
Linda Saint
Talent Agent | TV & Literary
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged information intended solely for the recipient. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it.
Look out for:
- Personal details without personal insight. Your name and book title are publicly available. Flattery alone does not prove someone has read your work.
- An identity you cannot verify. Check the person’s current agency, professional history and contact details independently. This lady is deady bones. A quick search revealed Linda Saint has been in Agent Heaven for quite some time.
- An email address that doesn’t match. Compare it with contact details on the organisation’s independently located official website.
- Pressure to act.
- A fee further down the track. Watch for demands to buy a screenplay, trailer, marketing package or other service before the promised deal can proceed.
- Impressive presentation without evidence. A polished email, elaborate job title and confidentiality notice do not establish credibility.
A pox on all people who try to profit from a writer’s hope.
In other much nicer news:
I’m gathering seven writers in Florence next May. Time to hang out with people who understand why you’re arguing with an imaginary character. AND a whole city to inspire you when the words won’t come. We will discuss your plot over pasta!
The Art of Writing returns to Florence from 9–13 May 2027, we’ll explore character, your Major Dramatic Question, structure, backstory, memoir and sense of place, with loads of time to chat through new ideas and talk through any story bits that are tying you in knots.
We’ll also take our notebooks out into Florence for a walking and writing session. All excellent reasons to stop for another coffee. There’ll be a literary agent Q&A and a conversation about building your author brand too.
You don’t need a finished manuscript. Bring an idea, a work in progress or that story you keep promising yourself you’ll start. Florence is a very good place to finally keep that promise.
Read about the Florence retreat here, or email me for the full programme.
And a little Sydney news:
Our Sydney workshop was such a blast, that I’m looking at doing it all again on 27–29 August 2027, back in Double Bay. Surrounded by books, with all the food taken care of. Your only responsibility will be your writing.
I’m planning fresh classes, including The Use of AI in Your Book and Finding Your Major Dramatic Question. Nothing is on the site yet, but if you missed out this year, email me and I’ll put you on the interest list. Let’s get some writing into the 2027 calendar before everything else elbows its way in.
And a side note because quite a few Art of Writing writers are on their last chapters:
Finishing your first draft is a tremendous achievement. But please don’t mistake it for finishing your book! There’s no magic number of drafts. Rewriting gives you the chance to see what your story needs: stronger character motivations, missing scenes, Better character arcs, better pacing, or the courage to cut something you love. Needing another draft doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re doing the work!
More next week.
