What are we looking for in our #query inboxes right now? Check out some highlights from our team's #mswl !

If you're ready to submit, head over to our website: contextlit.com/submissions

@trydzinski

here's a general sense of what I want for reference. For MG, YA and Adult: 1. Fantasy/Science Fiction: High fantasy, low fantasy, cosy fantasy. Particularly interested in fantasy and SF inspired by underrepresented cultures with unique world-building.

Thought I'd share my fiction #MSWL as I prepare to open! As mentioned, my list will be 60/40 towards MG/YA, the rest adult. I don't have much MG so during my first open query week, I will be considering MG only. However, I'll do different genres and age-groups each month, so🧵

#MSWL Give me boy-centric middle grade firmly in the 10-13 (think Space Case, Hatchet) category & also give me boy-centric younger YA perfect for 14-16 year old's. Think The Shadow Road, Patrick Ness books. Reference this in referral line with MSWL boy MG 10-13 / 14-16.

My list will be more focused on middle-grade & YA fiction this time, leaning about 60/40 in that direction. No one else at DMLA is currently looking for MG so I'm thrilled to be able to fill that gap. When I open up to queries, I'll seeking mainly MG in the first instance.

Specific #MSWL :

Lower MG with the heart and humor of Ivy + Bean or a lower MG version of Eloise. Illustrations in projects like these are welcome!!!

Specific #MSWL :

A fun, pace-y (maybe humorous) mystery series for MG or YA à la A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE, TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE, THE FOURTH STALL, Stuart Gibbs’ SPACE CASE or FunJungle books, or an updated Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden (especially Trixie Belden!).

Specific #MSWL :

Highly commercial MG books that play with format and have robust storylines: think DIARY OF A WIMPY KID or TAPPER TWINS.

Specific #MSWL :

Shorter books in the MG space (i.e., 250 pages or less): highly commercial, fun, tightly plotted and accessible to reluctant readers w/high concept premises and standout protagonists, especially w/tones like Stuart Gibbs’, Varian Johnson’s, or Geoff Rodkey’s.

A few more days left of being open to querying! I'd LOVE to see a good Clue style mystery in the MG or YA space! #MSWL

@fluxbooks + @JollyFishPress are now OPEN to submissions through November 30. My full #mswl is here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/meg-gaertner/

I’m particularly interested in seeing YA + MG historical fiction featuring underrepresented experiences + contemporary fiction with timely social themes!

WRITERS: I'm open to queries and I'm excited to read your stories. I'm looking for YA/MG/PB and NF (adult and kids). Make me laugh, make me cry, keep me up all night reading. #MSWL here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/shari-maurer/

GRAPHIC NOVELS (author/illustrators or two people working together is great too) in the YA and MG space!

please I beg you

Very much still looking for horror in the adult, YA and MG space! Also, humorous mystery a la Only Murders/Finlay Donovan is (still) hitting my sweet spot.

in advance of opening to queries tomorrow (!!!!), some #mswl ... & please note this is NOT an exclusive list. I'm open to nearly anything in the adult/YA/MG fiction and adult non fiction categories! (though I'm not open to PBs)

As I get ready to open up to queries on Oct. 1st, here's a #MSWL of what I'm looking for! If you're unsure if your project would be a good fit based off of this list, that's okay. Please still consider querying me 😊

*Any fulls I have are still being considered

Very specific things I'd love to see
- more adult fantasy/romantasy (something very unique and off the wall and contemporary/grounded)
- MG and YA horror and mystery/thriller
- Academia
- humorous cozy fantasy
- sapphics!

#MSWL

Some more #MSWL items for me:

•Middle grade science fiction like Insignia by S.J. Kincaid, which I loved

•Epistolary fiction like Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

•Lyrical, literary, lush contemporary (or contemporary-ish) YA—again, Jandy Nelson comes to mind

Some #MSWL -y thoughts about what I’d love to see in my inbox:

•MG about space, fiction or non-fiction! My mom works on glass used in the aerospace industry; I have a lifelong fascination with all things outer space.

•Trans authors!

•Adult queer romance with asexual heroes!

Well, it happened. SO excited to share I’ve joined the amazing team @jenazantian has assembled at Azantian Literary Agency as an associate agent, repping MG, YA, queer adult romance, and nonfiction! Editors, please say hi—I’d love to chat!
azantianlitagency.com/about-us/mark-o'brien