Assistant Editor
Norma @normajeanesays
Hello, literary agents! It’s been awhile since I’ve done this, so here’s a thread of #MSWL requests, aka the submissions I want to see in my inbox:First off, work by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or disabled authors are always welcome in the genres I edit, which includes romance yes, but also mystery and thrillers, upmarket fiction, fiction with fantasy/sci-fi/ speculative elements that are mainstream crossovers, and nonfiction.
Editor
I'm in the mood for some upmarket spec fic based on the Egyptian myths. I would also love to see an angsty, romantic, political, intense high fantasy series centered on Osiris and Isis. #mswl
Editor
🌟YA thrillers, psychological horror, supernatural, & speculative fiction that radically represents & explores queer, female, and BIPOC rage & revenge
▫️ Think: Iron Widow, Sadie, Nimona, or, for a film example, Jennifer’s Body #MSWL
Editor
Here's what I'm looking for in NOVELS:
🌟High-concept YA fantasy and speculative fiction, especially that which uses the conventions of its genre to critique, subvert, or illuminate a truth about our world
▫️Think: Raybearer, Graceling, Dread Nation, The Witch King #MSWL
Editor
I'm not your ideal editor for high fantasy worlds, but I do love grounded fantasy, magical realism, retellings, time travel, and speculative twists in both MG & YA
Literary Agent
novels with contemporary settings need to contain at least one of the following elements: mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, or any kind of speculative something
Editor
Elizabeth Lee @EleeReads
YOUNG ADULT:- BIPOC rom-coms, friend-coms, and coming-of-age stories not exclusively centered around POC trauma
- Sweeping historical fiction / magical realism, especially stories about non-white history
- Speculative thrillers ala The Thousandth Floor & We Were Liars
#mswl
Since it's a new year, here's my #MSWL again! I can't wait to find some gems in 2022, and am especially looking for the below YA books. ⬇️
Literary Agent
Seeking literary & commercial crime/mystery, thriller & speculative/scifi. Unique hooks & new, diverse views in these classic genres. Linguistic & storytelling mastery, high personal stakes, psychological depth.❤️Tana French, Hervé Le Tellier, Octavia Butler, Kazuo Ishiguro #MSWL
Editor
I have a soft spot for grounded stories with touches of speculative fiction, cheeky, self-aware humor, and elevated horror.
I am *not* the right editor for mss that contain sexual violence, stalking, or predatory behavior, or picture books with animal characters.
Editor
YOUNG ADULT:
--QTPOC romance with banter, emotionally complex, flawed characters, and ✨ intersectionality ✨
--High-concept speculative fiction examining current issues (esp horror & magical realism)
--Sweeping historical fiction about untold movements, events, or individuals
Literary Agent
Miscellaneous things I’d love in my inbox? 📥
• horror pied piper reimagining!
• queer Dorian Gray
• queer MG 💚
• sex-positive, body positive YA rom-coms
• BIPOC witches, seers, and mediums
• BIPOC in and writing crime fiction & speculative fic
• isolated thrillers
5/
Literary Agent
In speculative fiction (light sci-fi, horror, fantasy), I need worlds that I can settle into easily.
Fresh takes on classic tropes, dynamic characters, unique magic systems, atmospheric writing & undeniably high stakes ✨Think: R.F. Kuang, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Rory Power
4/
Literary Agent
I’d love to see more crime fiction! 🔪🖤
If it reads like a true crime doc or headline, I’m into it. 🚫 police, gov’t officials, detectives (past or present).
I also love speculative twists and psychological elements like Riley Sager, Vera Kurian, & Tiffany D. Jackson!
3/
Literary Agent
I loved what THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS did with using an un-tapped historical period and setting, and adding speculative/magical elements and would love to see more of that! #mswl
Literary Agent
* Positive female friendships—Give me girls supporting girls. Girls teaming up for the greater good. Girls who love their friends with their whole hearts.
* Underrepresented voices
* Fresh takes on fantasy
* Stories with a speculative twist
...
Literary Agent
#MSWL when I reopen in January, one thing (not the only thing) I'll be looking for is a lot of genre stuff that is very either funny or satirical or slightly weird, or quirky. Think genre+this. Scifi, fantasy, romance, speculative, thriller, action/adventure, horror--kid & adult.
Literary Agent
#MSWL for trans voices in speculative #A or #YA that comps @ryka_aoki's The Light from Uncommon Stars. I'm blown away not just by the voice, but by the originality of the story, the heart, the narrative scope. It's breathtaking. We need more trans joy in SFF. Send them my way.
Literary Assistant
Noah Grey Rosenzweig @ng_rosenzweig
A #MSWL mini thread since I'm just dipping a toe into the querying world. 🧵I love all fiction, with a soft spot for magical realism (think 100 YEARS, of course!). Lit fic, spec fic, and sci-fi are also high on my list. Fantasy like BLACK LEOPARD. Psych fiction that slowly unravels, like RED PILL. And not always, but sometimes, a great love story.
Literary Agent
Hi folks, a quick lunchtime #MSWL: While I absolutely love narrative nonfiction, I am positively dying to see more literary and upmarket speculative fiction (especially from BIPOC authors!!!) in my query inbox.