Naomi Davis

My kids told story this AM of random household objects having a party while I slept (the chapstick, the glasses, the cookie jar etc - the vitamins were NOT invited) and I thought this would make a cute PB! #mswl

And #MSWL: #ownvoices middle grade stories about non-neurotypical life in middle school, because I can only imagine what navigating those halls is like for my oldest child, and wish his peers had more empathy than judgment when witnessing his distress.

YES SARAH!!! Life for women and women characters does not start and end with marriage/motherhood. We are women before and after marriage and motherhood, with stories to tell there too. #MSWL esp in SFF.

I am absolutely ELATED at the cute and funny MG stories in my inbox.
Next: more adult fantasy please!!! #MSWL

#MSWL I am in need of more Middle Grade MG queries in my QueryManager! Send me ridiculous, send me adventure, send me fantasy, send me LGBTQ+ protags and family dynamics, BFFs and boisterous ensembles, stories with purpose, depth, and humor! #querytip #amquerying #amwriting

#MSWL adult or YA fantasy that makes me feel like I'm in one of Lindsey Stirling's music videos.

So, I say again. #MSWL : Women in positions of power. And MEN WHO ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT and interact with it in a way that doesn't attempt to re-assign the power back to men on some skewed definition of equality.

Thread by the wonderful& articulate @TracyMarchini who puts into words what frustrates us often.
Also, this highlights WHY I ask for what I do on my #MSWL : Women characters in major decision-making positions; male characters comfortable w/that, as role models for kids.

#MSWL Kids deserve female role models who take charge and male role models who are comfortable with that.
#kidlit

#MSWL Reverse the courting in a prince/princess story. Make HER show HIM the world, and make HIM get all prettied up for her! Give the innocence to the prince, and the expertise to the princess. Let his naivety be his appeal, and her worldliness be hers. #kidlit

I love these ideas! #MSWL

On my fantasy/scifi #MSWL I often say I like stories to play with time. This doesn't necessarily mean time travel. My FAVORITE movie/short story is Arrival/Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. The way time is used in that RUINED ME in the best way. Play with big concepts like time.

#MSWL I am not the right agent for vampire, werewolf, or fae stories. I am always looking for unique fantasy that brings in new, exciting elements less-commonly-seen, as well as stories that incorporate less-commonly-seen cultures into the worldbuilding!

#MSWL I am always seeking picture books featuring any elements of diversity! Including but not limited to racially diverse characters, LGBTQ+ themes, unique family arrangements, non-NT characters. #picturebook #kidlit

If I've rejected something that matches my #MSWL, it's likely because of the execution of the project. I always base requests on writing quality.
If it has seen significant revision since rejection, I do allow re-query but indicate this in opening line of your query.

Most of all, MOST OF ALL, if you're worried your character is not the usual star of a sci-fi fantasy because of elements of diversity (color, religion, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, disability) QUERY ME PLZ plz plz plz plz! #MSWL

And if you're feeling sorta "This character isn't typically the focus in sci-fi/fantasy (the King's chef; the ship Captain's errand boy), so it might not grab any attention..." QUERY ME PLZ #MSWL

And if you're like "I'm not 100% sure this sci-fi/fantasy works for the genre because it's more about the sibling/BFF relationship as they navigate the speculative world..." QUERY ME PLZ #MSWL

And if you're like "I've heard sex sells but really that didn't fit with my sci fi so I left it out, and the relationships are totally different than usual pairings in sci-fi or fantasy, so I'm not sure..." QUERY ME PLZ #MSWL

And if you're like "My sci fi is also maybe a little fantasy, bcuz it has weird fantasy creatures and relationships but is dependent on a structure of advanced science, so I dunno..." QUERY ME PLZ #MSWL