Domesticated species, architecture, etc. that make sense for the terrain/biome depicted. Even—or rather, especially—in #SFF, consistency in worldbuilding makes a story that much better.

Yes, I want more battle rhinoceroses. I admit it. #MSWL

Addendum: anger that masquerades as love, as idealism. Characters who persuade themselves of the righteousness of their own cause, who rationalize extremism born of a seed of compelling truth—because that’s how it so often begins.

You know what I’m talking about.
#MSWL #SFF

Different types of love & loyalty at war with each other, esp within the same person. Romantic love. Familial love. Love of country. Love for one’s people. Love for the downtrodden.

Love is stronger than hate, and opposing loves often make the most powerful conflicts.
#SFF #MSWL

Beautifully choreographed fight scenes that advance plot, develop character, and worldbuild.

Yes, #BlackPanther has the advantages of a visual medium. It’s harder in prose fiction, but it can be done so, so well. (See @FondaJLee.)
#SFF #MSWL

Accents, dialect, and non-English languages in English-language fiction, used in ways that enhance characterization and worldbuilding rather than othering or exoticizing the speaker. #SFF #MSWL

White characters interacting with non-white societies at a disadvantage. Non-white civilizations that do not exist for the white gaze, that treat with outsiders on their own terms. #Wakanda, and hundreds more nations like it. #SFF #MSWL

Postcolonialism 2.0: multifaceted conflicts that go beyond colonizer and colonized. Give me diaspora, give me infighting on all sides, give me vehement disagreement about a nation’s future that is borne of genuine patriotism and idealism. #SFF #MSWL #BlackPanther

Economically realistic motives for colonialism & war. Vibranium is spot-on as an analogue for resources that drove (historical & current) conquest: oil, gold, tea, slaves, spices...

#SFF is full of war stories; give ‘em better reasons than righteousness & border conflicts.
#MSWL

Female characters of all stripes with interior lives and motivations that don’t revolve around the male main character. Even if the male protagonist is supposed to save the world. #SFF #MSWL

WOC in science who are brilliant, fearless, multifaceted, and celebrated for their contributions. (This last point is important.)

Shuri is the Disney Princess of my dreams. (I was a STEM kid; I have FEELS, ok?) #MSWL #SFF #BlackPanther

BLACK PANTHER. My heart is full; my brain is on fire.

I want stories like it in my inbox. I want to help them reach readers. But, as one wise writer notes, “#MSWL = #BlackPanther!” is reductionist—however truly felt.

So, a list of specific things I LOVED & want more of in #SFF:

Today in specific literary cravings: I'm all about about poets, aristocrats, and/or courtesans in Heian period Japan. #mswl

Seeking:
Adult: thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, contemporary romance, & romantic comedy.
YA: thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, horror, historical, & contemporary.
Send query & 1st 5 pages pasted in the body of email to: querylynnette (at) theseymouragency (dot) com #MSWL

#MSWL I would really love to see an adult M/M romance where a close friendship just naturally blooms into something so much more, though the characters may not yet have defined their sexual identity to each other. All heat levels.

I give a sneak peek into what my fancy Editorial Director title really means and what I'm currently looking for: anaiahpress.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/mee… #querytip #pubtip #amwriting #amquerying #MSWL #MondayBlogs

"A diverse, contemporary YA novel about strong guy friendships. Think Poe and Finn. <3" @ericsmithrocks #MSWL ericsmithrocks.com/mswl/

That’s me! Send me all the overly emotional manuscripts #mswl

Number 22 about Australia would make a great historical fiction. I loved RABBIT PROOF FENCE. #MSWL

buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/51-h…. #MSWL

To be clear: I want a writer in the vein of @kitfrick. Her book SEE ALL THE STARS gave me all the emotions. #MSWL