Erin Clyburn

Literary Agent

Howland Literary

Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

MG fiction favorites & comps I’d love to see: THE RIVERMAN, SMALL SPACES, GHOST (the TRACK series), HIDE AND SEEKER, GREENGLASS HOUSE, THE CANNING SEASON

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Middle grade fiction: Horror, mystery, grounded stories with a speculative element, magical realism/fabulism, big-hearted contemporary, & adventure stories.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

A specific thing! MG, YA, or adult fiction by & about Cajuns. Would love to hear from the Acadian writers out there!

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

MG across the board: Heartwarming & funny contemporary, mysteries, humor, horror, adventure, or some blend of all those. Touches of magic.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

MG horror, too: Spooky stories, stories that are a little bit creepier than you feel like they should be for middle graders. (More HIDE AND SEEKER than DOLL BONES, if that makes sense? It makes sense to me.)

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I’ve been in a bit of a reading funk for a while, but I just devoured half of @dakadh’s HIDE AND SEEKER, & y’all! This is what I mean when I say I want scary MG! It is not gently spooky; it is visceral! It’s scary! It’s the book my morbid childhood self would’ve loved! #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

8. During quarantine I've played a lot of video games. I'd love some MG & YA fiction, or adult fiction & nonfiction about video games (Homages to games? Deep-dive histories? Esports stories?). I am a lifelong Zelda, Monkey Island, & Harvest Moon fanatic.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

5. Still looking for my MG scavenger hunt/puzzle mystery—Greenglass House, The Parker Inheritance, The Westing Game, Winterhouse comps

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

2. Horror across the board: Spooky stories for MG, lyrical & atmospheric YA horror, adult horror that will surprise me—literary-leaning writing with propulsive plots. I am open to & love nearly all kinds of horror.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn

I am down to zero queries & three subs in my query box. (I hope to hit inbox zero by July 1, but time will tell.) Either way, I'm looking forward to opening to queries July 1! Here's a little #MSWL for when I reopen:

#amquerying #writingcommunity #amagenting

1. Food-centric fic & nonfic. I would love to see narrative nonfic deep dives into culinary history & people whose stories haven't been told. Essay collections about food intersecting with culture, politics, social justice. & in fic, MG, YA, & adult fic where food plays a role.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I'd love to see in my queries:

- Atmospheric, woodsy, lush horror like THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING (YA, A)
- Domestic/psychological thrillers by BIPOC authors (A)
- Scavenger hunts (MG, YA, A)
- Eerie spec fic in isolated settings (CATHERINE HOUSE, THE WATER CURE)

#MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Erin Clyburn ~closed to queries~ @erin_clyburn

I just finished watching The Orange Years, a documentary about the early years of Nickelodeon, & it really coalesced for me my forever #MSWL when it comes to middle grade:

I’m always chasing the feeling some of those early Nick shows (Pete & Pete, Salute Your Shorts, Doug, Clarissa Explains It All—but mostly Pete & Pete) captured: of being a nerdy kid, pretty anxious, always on the fringes, but with those friends who totally got you.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Could you describe it as something like "upmarket fiction with a twist of weird"? That's my jam. Think NOTHING TO SEE HERE, CATHERINE HOUSE, THE AGE OF MIRACLES, THE RIVERMAN, THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER. Send me your weirds, please - MG, YA, adult!

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Still looking for my puzzle/scavenger hunt MG. Think GREENGLASS HOUSE. Also spooky MG. Also all MG.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I'm closing to queries soon for a bit to catch up on subs.

Before I do, I'd love to see some literary-leaning horror (MG, YA, adult) in my inbox. Atmospheric horror, body horror, campy horror, autumnal horror, emotional horror—all of it.

#MSWL #amwriting #writingcommunity

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I'm all caught up on queries. 🎉 If you haven't heard back, your query is in the maybe pile. & I have six full manuscripts to read, which I'll be doing very soon.

Also, y'all have been crushing my recent request for more MG. Please keep 'em comin'.

#amquerying #querytip #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I get woefully few middle grade submissions. Y'all, I want middle grade! Middle grade is my heart! Please send me your middle grade!!! #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Morning, y'all! An update to my #MSWL:

I'm no longer accepting queries for picture books or chapter books. I'm going to focus on MG, YA, & adult fic & nonfic. Check out my fresh new list & see if we might be a match.

#writingcommunity #amquerying

manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/erin…

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
168 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Soon, my clients will all either be writing or on sub, so I'm hungry to sign a new author. (Yes, I do have a few fulls to read; I'm getting to them!) I'd give my proverbial right arm for a big-hearted middle grade right now. Something a little magical, like HELLO, UNIVERSE. #MSWL