This is no more legitimate than a reading fee. And reputable agents absorb basic office expense as part of normal business overhead. They ll never charge you for things like paper goods, local phone calls, or routine photocopying. In this version of the up-front fee, you re promised not just a reading, but a critique. Once again, this is not legitimate.
Reputable agents don t double as paid editors.
If a publisher offers you a contract that requires you to bear all or part of the cost of publication. In reality, most subsidy publishers charge inflated prices that not only cover the whole cost of producing a book, but generate fat profits for the publisher. Subsidy publishers frequently pitch themselves to new writers by saying that the risk involved in publishing an unknown makes cost-sharing necessary, and it s normal for new writers get their start this way. Don t believe it. The new writers getting a start are those published by advance-paying publishers willing to put editing and marketing dollars behind their product.