Literary Agent
#MSWL for 2024: AKA what I'd like to see in my agent inbox
scribblesandwanderlust.com/2023/12/30/mswl-for-2024/
Editor
Literary Agent
Future #MSWL & QM update:
I have less than 40 undecided queries/submissions. I plan to reopen mid-late January to a few genres. This info is not on my website or MSWL page yet— it’s just a head’s up and I hope it’s helpful!
✨ ADULT FICTION✨
• contemporary romance - think Emily Henry but low spice or Melissa Ferguson
• upmarket / book club
• cozy mysteries
✨ NONFICTION✨
- same as what’s on website -
✨ KIDLIT ✨
• PB/MG/YA - classic-style with a literary bent. Secret Garden. Bridge to Terabithia. Winnie-the-Pooh.
• PB - humorous character-driven series
‼️Not looking for SEL or rhyme.‼️
Literary Agent
#amquerying authors, I've reopened to adult nonfiction only - I'd love to see some more science/nature projects in my inbox! #MSWL QueryManager.com/2006
Literary Agent
#MSWL
Manuscript wish list:
Fiction:
- Adult space only for Dec 2023
- Thrillers
- Psychological thrillers: character-driven & twisty
- Horror: thoughtful, more suspense than gore, unexpected endings.
- Mystery: 70k-100k words, historical & contemporary with or w/o a hint of romance, trad cozies, police procedurals, amateur sleuths & private 👁️ fiction
- Suspense: 75k - 100k words, no paranormal, lower to mid-level descriptions of violence
- Romance: Historical & Contemporary (with series potential), Romcom (with new fresh spins on old tropes), Small Town Western Settings, Diverse Romance, Holiday Romance
- Historical Fiction (no WWII fiction) from the ’20s, ’40s and Victorian era
- I would LOVE a creative retelling of The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes
- I would also love a contemporary take on AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
- High-concept book club fiction with a commercial hook. Anything provocative, humorous, and/or haunting
- Novels featuring complex family and/or racial dynamics and unforgettable characters - Speculative fiction with quirky characters
- For all fiction: a magnetic opening, well-trained, flowy writing and cliffy chapter endings please!
NonFiction:
- Only from authors with an established/large platform
- Commercial nf with a wide reach
- Sports
- History
- Celebrity or true crime autobiography - Book club nonfiction books with take-away
- Stories infused with faith/positive spirit
- Space-related memoir & other space nf from authors with a platform
I may add more! And if you're very keen on working with me, but you aren't sure if you've got what I'm looking for, you can always DM or comment with your questions.
Literary Agent
#MSWL
As always, this isn't an exhaustive list. If you think you have something (in the adult space) that you've seen me mention before or that's so insanely well-written you think I'd love it, but you don't see it on the list I posted, please feel free to send me your Dec query.
Literary Agent
And finally, since I'm not seeing many of these in my inbox, I'd like to put out a call for Indigenous stories, and not limited to the US region. No limits on the topic either - I'm seeking Indigenous stories of any topic for all age groups (MG, YA, adult). #MSWL
Literary Agent
I'm always on the look out for friendship stories and messy young women! #MSWL
On the YA side, this spans from NOTHING BURNS AS BRIGHT AS YOU to A LESSON IN VENGEANCE.
On the adult side, think QUEENIE or REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY.
Literary Agent
Horror! I'd love to see more YA horror in my inbox, and I'm also opening up to adult horror!
For adult, I'm particularly interested in horror with a social commentary focus.
I'm also open to non-horror social commentary, like YELLOWFACE.
#MSWL
Literary Agent
#MSWL
Manuscript wish list:
Fiction:
- Adult space only for Dec 2023
- Thrillers
- Psychological thrillers: character-driven & twisty
- Horror: thoughtful, more suspense than gore, unexpected endings.
- Mystery: 70k-100k words, historical & contemporary with or w/o a hint of romance, trad cozies, police procedurals, amateur sleuths & private 👁️ fiction
- Suspense: 75k - 100k words, no paranormal, lower to mid-level descriptions of violence
- Romance: Historical & Contemporary (with series potential), Romcom (with new fresh spins on old tropes), Small Town Western Settings, Diverse Romance, Holiday Romance
- Historical Fiction (no WWII fiction) from the ’20s, ’40s and Victorian era
- I would LOVE a creative retelling of The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes
- High-concept book club fiction with a commercial hook. Anything provocative, humorous, and/or haunting
- Novels featuring complex family and/or racial dynamics and unforgettable characters
- Speculative fiction with quirky characters
- For all fiction: a magnetic opening, well-trained, flowy writing and cliffy chapter endings please!
NonFiction:
- Only from authors with an established/large platform
- Commercial nf with a wide reach
- Sports
- History
- Celebrity or true crime autobiography
- Book club nonfiction books with take-away
- Stories infused with faith/positive spirit
- Space-related memoir & other space nf from authors with a platform
I may add more! And if you're very keen on working with me, but you aren't sure if you've got what I'm looking for, you can always DM or comment with your questions.
Literary Agent
UPDATE: I'll be open to ALL queries January 2, 2024!!! For now, only query me if you're an illustrator with samples or an adult nonfiction author. Thanks!
Always use Query Manager to query me: querymanager.com/query/QueryLynnetteNovak #writingcommunity #amquerying #MSWL
Literary Agent
Get your submissions ready! I’m opening to queries on Friday 1 Dec. I’ll be open until New Years Day.
Adult only this time. Mostly romance and nonfiction, but other genres as well:
Mystery, thriller, suspense, contemporary and a bit of fantasy.
QueryManager.com/colleenoefelein
Literary Agency
Literary Agency
"I want adult fiction for an audience of twenty-somethings. Show me the young women navigating adulthood, sexuality, passion, and careers circa CAREERING by Daisy Buchanan, and SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid."
Nour Sallam #MSWL
psliterary.com/submissions/
Literary Agent
while the algorithm loves me—#amquerying writers I'm especially hungry for adult sff lately & will stay open to queries all year long.
Try me (querymanager.com/allegramartschenko) if you see something in my wishlist (allegramartschenko.com/agent) that calls to you!
A little #mswl thread (1/5)
Literary Agency
"If you have how-tos for beauty and self-care, I'm interested. Think sustainable and eco-friendly, capsule wardrobes, and decluttering, etc. Adult and YA welcome."
@readbystephanie #MSWL
psliterary.com/submissions/
Literary Agency
"I am always looking for creepy horror stories for middle grade, young adult, or adult readers."
Maria Vicente #MSWL
psliterary.com/submissions/
Literary Agent
I would really just love some romance with a spec twist in my inbox right now (adult or YA, I'm not picky) -- give me your ghost hunters falling for each other, your vampire crushes, your love spells gone wrong. #MSWL
Literary Agent
Actually, not only do I want Spuffy vibes, I would love to see some ADULT vampire romance: give me sex, blood, morally grey (or even totally amoral, done well enough) protagonists, and YEARNING. #mswl