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Writers' Resources Links to and discussion of writing related sites and handy resources, including but not limited to publishers, on and offline magazines, contests and guides.

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Old 01-13-2006, 12:35 PM   #1
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The Ampersand Agency

They're a British agency, has anyone ever heard anything about them?
They had a website but it seems to have dissapeard.

I sent an mss off to them after going through the 'Writer and Artist yearbook 06'
I didnt have any British stamps so I sent them the mss on a one way journey and they said they would reply by email, which they did, but after the usual 'we regret to inform you' line they metioned that the story idea was now forfeit to them, just in a sig about copyright info.
I'd say that it was just a precaution they throw in to cover themselves or something. But I found an interview with the owner on the internet where he said we think of new ideas and match them with our current writers'
which they didnt mention on their site or anything.

All paranoia aside...
Is that okay for them to do?
I mean giving ideas to their current writers, shouldnt they be doing that by themselves? Otherwise what's the point of being a writer if you don't have an imagination.
And I doubt the agent is that insightful either, wouldnt most of his ideas come from the mss that people send in? He (not Ampersand but any agency)could reject a piece because of bad grammar and some amature mistakes, but pass the idea on to someone else with better grammar. All he would have to do is say he thought of it first.

Edit: Actually I found the site, it just wasnt showing up on Google for some reason http://www.theampersandagency.co.uk/clients.htm

Last edited by CroZ : 01-13-2006 at 12:53 PM.
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Old 01-13-2006, 03:50 PM   #2
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Do you have a copy of the email still? can you paste it on here please?
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Old 01-13-2006, 06:56 PM   #3
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sounds sorta smarmy t'me!... not to mention, unethical to the max... sounds like you should've asked for and read the fine print before sending them your ms... though, there seems to be nothing about swiping ideas being their norm in the sparse submission guidelines on the site...

probably can't do anything about it, other than being more careful next time... it might be worth your time to check with the proper regulatory agency, though... could at least keep them from taking advantage of other unwary newbies...

love and hugs, maia
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Old 01-14-2006, 12:28 PM   #4
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Eeek, sounds horrible. I dont have an advice since I have never sent anything in, but at least now I know I wouldnt send into them. Thanks for the heads up. Sorry to hear about it.
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