SlushWire Weekly #4 – January 25, 2026
Sunday – January 25
Bluesky Posts
writingcommunity
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Give agents 2 weeks after offer or longer? Comments: 21, Upvotes: 16
I always considered the standard to be 2 weeks, but I came across a video of an agent saying she prefers authors instead ask what sort of timeline makes sense to consider the manuscript. I get where she’s coming from, but at the same time, the agent who offered is just left hanging then?
[PubQ] How do you apply querying statistics when you’re operating in a narrow lane? Comments: 24, Upvotes: 11
First of all, a huge thank you to this sub. It has been so helpful for me to reach and learn from everyone’s queries and questions! I started querying a little over a week ago, and I’ve already begun my descent into madness. I am someone who thrives on momentum, and lord does querying feel like the…
Literary agents and editors that are looking for slice-of-life novels like The Convenience Store By The Sea? Comments: 6, Upvotes: 0
I‘ve always wanted to write slice-of-life standalone novels similar to translated works such as The Convenience Store By The Sea, The Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang, The Second Chance Convenience Store and many many others. Most of these works were originally written in another language like…
[QCrit] DEATH AND THE CAT, speculative, adult, 60k words, second attempt Comments: 4, Upvotes: 3
Dear \[agent\] My name is \[me\], and I’m writing to you to seeking representation for my debut novel, DEATH AND THE CAT, a speculative fiction novel of 60,000 words. Death and his talking pet cat, Panther, have had a falling out, leaving Earth and the afterlife in chaos. Death and Panthe…
Submission Status
caitlin white – Emerald City Literary Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Juvenile Fiction
Saturday – January 24
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Multiple offers: Any experience with talent agency publishing arms? Comments: 29, Upvotes: 32
I’m in a multiple offer situation (I know—it’s surreal and I still can’t really believe it). One offer is from a junior agent at a newer agency, one is from an established agent at a well-known agency, and the third offer is a co-agenting offer from a large talent agency with a publishing arm (one…
[PubQ] Pitch before manuscript is finished ? Comments: 6, Upvotes: 0
I’m 1/3 finished my revised second draft of my novel. I’m attending a Writing seminar in the spring and will have the opportunity to pitch agents. I’m unsure if I should take the opportunity to pitch agents at this time as my novel will not be finished yet, but I am aiming to have it finished for su…
[QCrit] WILDELIGHT, YA Fantasy (115k, 1st attempt) Comments: 5, Upvotes: 6
Silas has been the last shepherd of Glen since his father went feral. But as the son of the infamous Wilde, the man turned beast, Silas has never been welcome in his village, especially because he still uses his father’s lantern. Though it protects Silas as he searches for lost sheep in Glen’s foggy…
[QCrit] Adult Fantasy, THE SONG OF ORE (111K words, 5th attempt) Comments: 9, Upvotes: 2
Thank you to all who continue to give feedback! Here’s the latest. You can find my previous attempt [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1po3zut/qcrit_adult_epic_fantasy_the_song_of_ore_111k/). After much research, I’ve changed the genre to simply adult fantasy, as the target audience i…
[QCrit] A Cup of Sage Tea, Adult Gothic Supernatural Horror/Romance, (85k words 1st attempt) Comments: 4, Upvotes: 4
Hello, this is my third revision of my query letter, but my first time posting on this forum. Any feedback helps. I am seeking representation for my debut novel, A CUP OF SAGE TEA, an 85,000-word gothic supernatural horror/romance. With gory killings, supernatural twists, and enemies-to-lovers roma…
[QCrit] THE INTERFERENCE, NA Romance, 89,000 Words (6th Attempt) Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2
So, my 5th attempt seemed pretty solid, but then I felt like it needed something more and rewrote the first paragraph to feel hookier. Also made little changes to the body to bring the intrigue. Would love to know if I did indeed do what I set out to do. THE INTERFERENCE follows a driven political …
Submission Status
ella marie shupe – Belcastro Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Fantasy, Crime, Thriller, Action, General Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Commercial Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Family Saga, Magical Realism, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Crime Fiction
melissa danaczko – Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, Inc.
Submissions OPEN via E-Mail
Genres: Memoir, Literary Fiction, BIPOC Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Chick Lit, Upmarket Fiction, Cultural Social Issues, Multicultural Nonfiction, Commercial Fiction, History, Thriller, Science, Historical Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Suspense Fiction, Family Saga, Magical Realism, Contemporary Fiction, Travel, Womens Fiction, Crime, Action, General Fiction
des salazar – Metamorphosis Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
lucy carson – The Friedrich Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: Memoir, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, General Nonfiction, Current Events, Pop Culture, Narrative Non-Fiction, Suspense, Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery/Crime, Thriller, Autobiography, Cultural Social Issues, History, Biography, Magical Realism, Crime Fiction
shannon snow – Rosecliff Literary
Submissions are CLOSED
Now at: Rosecliff Literary
Genres: Commercial fiction, Romance (all subgenres: contemporary, erotica, paranormal, historical, reverse harem, sports heroes, slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity), Thriller/Psychological thriller/Suspense, Horror (eerie, creepy), Speculative fiction (romance elements, mythological/fairytale reimaginings), Fantasy (low to medium, fantasy romance, romantic fantasy), Science fiction (space operas, space academies), Young Adult (contemporary, dark boarding school, horror, thriller, speculative, mythological, dystopian, apocalyptic, fantasy romance, reverse harem), Women’s fiction (family, sisters, some romance), Diversity and marginalized voices, LGBTQ+ fiction, BIPOC fiction, New Adult, Mystery, Humor, Romcom,…
jessica berg – Rosecliff Literary
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: commercial fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, speculative literary, thriller, upmarket speculative, women’s fiction, memoir, self-help, commercial womens fiction, domestic suspense, domestic suspense/thriller, gothic, gothic horror, historical fantasy, fantasy grounded in reality, historical romcom, historical womens fiction, literary crossover, literary fiction, literary noir, literary thriller, paranormal romance, upmarket commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, upmarket womens fiction, dark academia, upmarket/book club with female protagonist
Friday – January 23
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[Discussion] Does struggling to write a Query letter indicate a lack of writing skill in general? Comments: 51, Upvotes: 28
I always struggle when it comes to writing my query letters. At this point, I am about to be on a fifth draft and am apparently nowhere close to a good one. I have read that if you have a solid understanding of your story, that the query letter should come easily. I thought I did understand my story…
HOW DO I FULLY PREPARE FOR “THE CALL”? Comments: 10, Upvotes: 6
I’m not usually an anxious person, but things have been moving along really quickly for my current novel, and I want to be as prepared as possible. I wrote three romance novels previously, with little movement in the last few years, and I switched genres based on feedback and my intuition. I got req…
[PubQ] Thoughts on putting “(Pubbed Author)” in subject line of QL email? Comments: 13, Upvotes: 0
Hi, folks. I’m wondering if anyone (especially agents!) has advice on whether it’s a good idea or not to not in the email subject line that one is a published author. I feel that this might be good information to have right there, in addition to more details about it in the letter itself, as a way…
[QCrit] Comic/Fantasy, WHO SAID EVIL QUEENS CAN’T GET HAPPY ENDINGS?, 65K, 2nd Attempt Comments: 6, Upvotes: 10
The Evil Queen isn’t a bad ruler. The nickname is rough, but useful. Sure, her henchmen can’t function without adult supervision. Sure, her stepdaughter, Snow White, spurns every attempt at mentorship. Still, by all reasonable measures, the queendom is thriving. But the dominoes start toppling quic…
[QCrit] Adult Romantasy – THE DAUGHTERS OF SALT – 90k/1st attempt Comments: 13, Upvotes: 3
Hey Pubtips. I’m getting ready to query this manuscript, and I’d love some feedback on my query letter. I have previously coauthored and self published other novels, but I’m not sure whether to mention that since I don’t want to go that route with this one. **Query:** As a woman, Demaia knows bett…
[QCrit] Adult Romantasy – THE MAYFLY WHO SOUGHT IMMORTALITY (86k, 2nd attempt + 300 words) Comments: 7, Upvotes: 8
Hi Pubtips, I’m trying to tighten things up before thinking of sending out to agents. The comments last time were really helpful. Thanks in advance! \———- Myriem will die within the year. An incurable illness eats away at her body and causes her to slowly become invisible. Not willing to …
[QCRIT] Young Adult, Contemporary Irish mythic fantasy – Fódhla and the Evil Eye, 68,000 words, 1st attempt Comments: 11, Upvotes: 3
Thanks in advance for any and all criticism! I am seeking representation for *Fódhla and the Evil Eye*, a contemporary mythic fantasy set in modern Ireland, complete at 68,000 words. This novel blends the lyrical folklore of Ava Reid’s *A Study in Drowning*, the found-family warmth of Sangu Manda…
Submission Status
katie gisondi – Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc.
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: BIPOC Literature, Childrens, Commercial, East Asian Literature, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Humor, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, New Adult, Romance, Romcom, South Asian Literature, South East Asian Literature, West African Literature, Young Adult, Cultural criticism, Health, Pop Culture, Relationships and family, Science, Self-help, Wellness, Nature, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Science Fiction, Cultural Social Issues, Horror, Family, Narrative Nonfiction, Romance, Fantasy/science fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Humor Fiction, New Literary Agents, History, Mystery, Money Finance, Science, Lifestyle, Psychology, Women’s Issues, Medical Medicine, Technology, Sports, Environment, Graphic…
charlotte seymour – Johnson & Alcock Ltd
Submissions OPEN via E-Mail
Genres: Crime / Detective / Police, Literary fiction, Thrillers / Suspense, Art / Crafts / Photography, Cultural / Social Issues, Food / Lifestyle (inc. cookbooks), History, Nature / Ecology, Science / Technology, Popular Culture, Politics, society & current affairs, Other non-fiction, Memoir and autobiography, Commercial, Crime, Thriller, Action
lane heymont – The Tobias Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, General Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, General Nonfiction, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events, Environment, History, Journalism, Memoir, Nature, Philosophy, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Technology, True Crime, Fiction: Horror, Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Fiction: Thriller, NF: History/Politics/Current Affairs, NF: Illustrated/Art, NF: Narrative, NF: Pop Culture, NF: Science, NF: True Crime, NF: General/Other Non-Fiction
joanna mackenzie – Nelson Literary Agency, LLC
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: general fiction, mystery, romance, suspense/thriller, juvenile fiction, literary fiction, multicultural fiction, chick lit, LGBTQ fiction, middle grade fiction, women’s fiction, commercial fiction, young adult fiction, action adventure, upmarket fiction, family sagas, crime fiction, historical fiction
Agent Activity
tricia skinner – Fuse Literary
Sales: “Kemi Ashing-Giwas THE KING MUST DIE to Saga Press (world English)”, “Cathy Yardleys DO ME A FAVOR to Montlake (2024), Ersen (Estonia), Amazon Deutschland (Germany)”, “Nina Crespos THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS 2024: BOOK THREE to Harlequin Special Edition”, “Nina Crespos Bishop Honey Bee Farm series four-book deal to Harlequin Special Edition”, “Karen Baos PANGUS SHADOW to Carolrhoda Lab (spring 2024)”, “Kemi Ashing-Giwas THIS WORLD IS NOT YOURS to Nightfire (2024)”, “Cathy Yardleys ROLE PLAYING to Könyvmolyképz? (Hungary)”, “J.S. Dewess RUBICON…
Genres: Adult fiction: Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, YA & MG: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Family Sagas, Womens Fiction, Historical Fiction, Genre Romance, Crime, Thriller, Action, LGBTQ Fiction
grainne fox – United Talent Agency
Sales: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden-Keefe, Agent Running In The Field by John Le Carré, The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
Genres: General fiction, Mystery, Suspense/thriller, Biography, History, Lifestyle, Science, Genre-bending love stories, Grounded sci-fi, Science, Politics, Society & Current Affairs, Mind, Body, Spirit, Food and Cookery, Womens fiction, Literary Fiction
Thursday – January 22
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Agent offer… is this normal? or weird? Comments: 42, Upvotes: 36
Hi! I’d love some advice: I let a bunch of agents know I got a publication offer, I got some fair responses including a junior agent at a very small boutique agency, her and one other agent. The agent asked me some questions, and a week later responded that she loves my manuscript and would be happ…
[PubQ] UK vs US differences on The Call Comments: 4, Upvotes: 11
Hi everyone! As the title says, I’m wondering if The Call differs in structure and questions depending on the agent being in the UK or US. I’m mostly asking because for example UK agents will ask to be nudged when someone else requests a full, which got me thinking about differences in practices acr…
[QCrit] Adult Fantasy – ONE MILLION MEMORIES OF A MAGICAL WORLD (80k/Attempt 1) Comments: 7, Upvotes: 10
Some would say that twenty-one is young to be engaged, but Juniper’s eager to start a big family, and she’s head over heels with her fiancé, Derick. Then a second passes. While nothing notable happened for most people like Derick, for a million people like Juniper they just spent an entire lifeti…
[QCrit] Adult Fantasy – FAERIE TRAIN (85,000 words/2nd attempt) Comments: 5, Upvotes: 11
Thanks for everyone commenting on my [1st attempt](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1py0r09/comment/nwhcsjw/?context=1)! Made some adjustments (I feel like my 1st was more centered on the mysteries. I rewrote it to be more about the main character, and I think it works better now). Here is …
[QCRIT] THE LOST HEIR – Upmarket Romantic Fantasy (110K) – Fifth Attempt Comments: 11, Upvotes: 3
I’m a glutton for punishment and back for one more round! // Because you’re looking for X, I thought you might connect with THE LOST HEIR, a 110,000-word upmarket romantic fantasy with series potential. The night Evie Carrington meets Nile Beaumont, she’s trying to drown her thoughts in tequ…
[QCrit] Epic Fantasy – SAILING GHOST (119K, 1st Attempt) + First 300 Comments: 9, Upvotes: 2
Hi all! Very excited, very nervous to make my first post here. I queried as a teenager and got some partial/full requests, but it’s been several years now and I’m slightly terrified of going back into the trenches. Can’t wait to get some criticism here! I’m still in the early stages of crafting thi…
Submission Status
Alex Gehringer – The Bright Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: children’s books, ‘juvenile fiction’, ‘picture books’
charlotte atyeo – Greyhound Literary
Submissions OPEN via E-Mail
Genres: Cultural / Social Issues, Current Affairs / Politics, Environment, General non-fiction, Journalism, Memoir, Multicultural, Music, Nature / Ecology, Sports, Picture / board books, Autobiography / Biography, Writer / illustrators (Childrens), Childrens writers – non-fiction, Womens Issues, Arts, Health & Lifestyle, Travel, Literary Fiction, non-fiction-biography, non-fiction-juvenile-graphic, non-fiction-memoir, non-fiction-nature-ecology, non-fiction-pop-culture, non-fiction-sports, non-fiction-womens-issues
lily dolin – Sterling Lord Literistic
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Bookclub, Commercial, Family Saga, General Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Literary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, History, Memoir, Pop Culture, True Crime, Narrative Nonfiction, Climate Fiction, Commercial YA, Contemporary YA, Diverse Protagonists, Domestic Suspense/Thriller, Female Friendships, Food Writing, Gothic, LGBT YA, Layered Family Stories, Literary Crossover, Literary Horror, Literary Noir, Literary Thriller, Magic Realism, Mothers and Daughters, Multigenerational, Nature Writing, Smart Beach Reads, Upmarket Fiction, Upmarket YA, YA Contemporary, YA Crossover, YA Thrillers, Dark Academia
amy nielsen – The Purcell Agency, LLC
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: BIPOC Literature, Bookclub, Commercial, Contemporary, Crime, Domestic Thriller, General, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Romance, Speculative, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult
Agent Activity
dorian maffei – Kimberley Cameron & Associates
Sales: THE QUEEN OF THE HIGH FIELDS by Rhiannon Grist, Solaris 2026, ANDRONE by Dwain Worrell, 47North 2023 & 2-book deal, HOUSE OF MONSTROUS WOMEN by Daphne Fama, Berkley 2025, 2-book deal, THE PAYBACK GIRLS by Alex Travis, Sourcebooks Fire 2025, 2-book deal, UNAUTHORIZED by Alex Travis, Alcove Press 2024, THESE FRAGILE GRACES by Izzy Wasserstein, Tachyon Publications 2024, NO ROOM FOR PERFECT by Catherine Laudone, Albert Whitman 2024, MISTRESS OF BONES by Maria Z. Medina, Wednesday Books 2024, 2-book deal,…
Genres: Young adult fiction, Family sagas, Action/adventure, Mystery, Commercial fiction, Womens fiction, Science fiction, Horror, Historical fiction, Genre romance, Fantasy, Crime, Thriller, General fiction, Literary fiction, Upmarket speculative, LGBTQ fiction, Fabulism, Feminist, Folklore, Gothic, Literary horror, Literary science fiction, Magical realism, Multicultural, Psychological thrillers, Soft fantasy, Speculative, Suspense
Wednesday – January 21
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Agent not answering emails or texts Comments: 20, Upvotes: 37
Hi all! I signed with my dream agent about a year ago for my debut fiction novel. Amazing track record, top tier agency. Before I signed the contract, she told be there was work to be done on the manuscript, which I totally understood and was fine with. Of course I wanted it to be the best it possib…
[PubQ] To Logline or Not to Logline? Comments: 20, Upvotes: 21
One of our wonderful literary agents in PubTips’ recent brainstorm thread pointed this out, and now I’m nailbiting. What is the current public consensus on including loglines in the first paragraph of our queries? (and to be clear, we’re talking single-sentence pitches, not trailer movie slogans tha…
Should every shift to a new POV/story thread begin with a hook fast as possible, same as a book’s beginning? Comments: 14, Upvotes: 1
Contemporary wisdom is to hook your reader with something in the first two paragraphs, because folks no longer have the patience of the days of Dickens, where pages of setting the scene could happen first, and I tend to agree. I have a bothersomely poor attention span, always have, and have general…
[PubQ] How do I make the most of a lit agent meeting? Comments: 2, Upvotes: 1
I was recently accepted into a major writers workshop in poetry. I feel incredibly honored and am looking forward to learning from my mentor and fellow participants. The program offers meetings with various lit agents and I want to seize this opportunity but I don’t have a fully polished manuscript…
[QCrit] ON THE VERGE OF ETERNITY, Hard Sci-Fi, Adult, 90k, First Attempt Comments: 8, Upvotes: 8
Dear Agents, I am seeking representation for ON THE VERGE OF ETERNITY, a standalone adult Hard Sci-Fi novel complete at 90,000 words. It combines the scientific grounding of The Martian with the psychological grief and obsession found in Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter. Dr. Joe Wagner is haunted by t…
[QCrit] PEEL BEFORE CARVING— Adult Horror— 70K — 2nd attempt Comments: 11, Upvotes: 3
Hey guys! We removed the logline and added some more plot points that hopefully tie everything together more clearly. Also, I am adding the first 300 words! Query: We are seeking representation for our xxxxxx-word novel, PEEL BEFORE CARVING, a southern gothic horror. This standalone debut novel w…
[QCrit] WHAT WAS LEFT, adult speculative fiction, 72K, 3rd attempt Comments: 8, Upvotes: 3
Again, thank you so much to everyone for their feedback on my previous two versions ([version 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1q6i6cw/qcrit_what_was_left_speculative_fiction_72k_1st/) and [version 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1qcp5ul/qcrit_what_was_left_adult_speculative…
[QCrit] Under the Ginkgo Trees, Contemporary Romance, 86K words, Attempt 1 Comments: 8, Upvotes: 1
Hello, this is my first novel so I am sort of unsure if my query letter is okay. Here it is: I am seeking representation for my completed contemporary romance novel, *Under the Ginkgo Trees* approximately 86,000 words. Inspired by my time living and traveling in China, the novel blends romance, hum…
Submission Status
aiden siobhan – Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc.
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, New Adult Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Romance, Middle Grade Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Fiction (limited, with genre elements), Magical Realism, AAPI Fantasy, Author-Illustrators, BIPOC, Cli-Fi, Commercial and Literary, Cross-genre, Disability, Dystopian, Epistolary, Fantasy Romance, Feminism, Folklore, Found Families, High Concept, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Intersectionality, LGBTQ+, Mysteries, Mythology, Neurodiversity, Own Voices, Regency Romance, Retellings, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Shakespeare Retellings, Slipstream, Supernatural, Techno-Horror, Underrepresented Voices, Urban Fantasy, YA Crossover, YA Fantasy, YA Sci-fi, YA/MG Graphic Novel, Young…
amanda wooden – SBR Media
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Romance, Thrillers, Cozy Mystery, Young Adult, Mystery, General Fiction, Suspense Fiction
madison potter – Olswanger Literary
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: commercial,contemporary,fantasy, fantasy, contemporary/urban, fantasy, historical, fantasy, magical realism,gothic,historical,horror,lgbtq,literary fiction,romance, romance, contemporary, romance, fantasy
deidre knight – The Knight Agency, Inc.
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: Memoir, Young adult fiction, Sports fiction, Health & lifestyle, Business & finance, Nonfiction narrative, Religion, Mind, body, spirit, Food & cookery, Commercial fiction, Womens fiction, Paranormal romance, Genre romance, Fantasy, Middle grade fiction, LGBTQ nonfiction, Pop culture, Mystery, Romance, Suspense/thriller, Fantasy/science fiction, Juvenile fiction, Inspirational/religious fiction, Self-help, LGBTQ fiction, Film entertainment, Celebrity, Cookbook, Science, Gardening, Psychology, Animals, Technology, Parenting, Politics, Current events, Chick lit, True crime, Health wellness, Music, Cultural social issues, Commercial fiction, Thriller, Food & drink, Fitness, Travel
Juliana McBride – Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: ‘book club’, ‘commercial’, ‘contemporary’, ‘family saga’, ‘literary’, ‘middle grade’, ‘multicultural’, ‘new adult’, ‘romance’, ‘speculative’, ‘thriller’, ‘upmarket’, women’s fiction, ‘young adult’
kendall berdinsky – Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: commercial fiction, family saga, general fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery, new adult fiction, romance, women’s fiction, young adult fiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, suspense fiction, multicultural fiction, biography, cookbook, cultural/social issues, dating/relationships/sex, film/entertainment, food/drink, history, journalism, LGBTQ nonfiction, memoir, multicultural nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, travel, true adventure, true crime, women’s issues, art
juliet mushens – Mushens Entertainment
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: commercial, contemporary, crime, detective, police, fantasy, general fiction, historical, intersectional, inclusive fiction, LGBTQ+, reading group fiction, science fiction, thrillers, suspense, young adult fiction, womens fiction, paranormal romance, literary fiction, gothic
lori perkins – L. Perkins Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: science fiction, paranormal romance, horror, fantasy, erotica, crime police fiction, humor satire fiction, lgbtq+ fiction, literary fiction, thrillers suspense fiction, art photography non-fiction, business finance non-fiction, cookbook non-fiction, cultural social issues non-fiction, current affairs politics non-fiction, decorating design non-fiction, humor gift book non-fiction, lgbtq+ non-fiction, memoir non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, pop culture non-fiction, womens issues non-fiction
Tuesday – January 20
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Can I query my novel if I leave my agent? Comments: 15, Upvotes: 20
Hi. Long time lurker, first time poster hoping I can get some thoughts from people who have been agented longer than I have. Using a throwaway to get over my anxiety around posting. I have started to lose confidence in my relationship with my agent. I signed with them 18 months ago ago after being…
[QCrit] Adult, Epic Fantasy, Complete at 160K, Attempt #1. Opinion much appreciated on my query letter to a literary agent. Comments: 15, Upvotes: 4
Hello, I am a noob to using Reddit, so please forgive me for any missteps here. I am at the stage where I want to send my first three chapters to agents. However, I am struggling to summarise the premise of my story in the most interesting way possible. I would be grateful for your helpful critique …
[QCrit] FROM THE MOUTHS OF THIEVES, Adult Fantasy Romance, 85k, Attempt 1 Comments: 7, Upvotes: 10
I’m still deciding on comps (and of course open to suggestions). Thank you for any feedback! Stealing isn’t wrong when done for the right reasons. At least that’s what Maya tells herself when she sneaks into the homes of the city’s elite and takes the wealth they clearly don’t need. Her people we…
[QCrit] I Watched You Burn, Psychological Thriller, 75k, First Attempt Comments: 4, Upvotes: 8
Hello Pubtips, thanks in advance for taking a look at my query. Any help is greatly appreciated. I’m mostly satisfied with my comps, but if anyone has any recs, I’m happy to hear them. Dear \[agent\], I WATCHED YOU BURN is a psychological thriller, complete at 75,000 words. It will appeal to…
[QCrit] IN THE STYLE OF REBELLION, Adult Dystopian, 72K, 1st Attempt Comments: 6, Upvotes: 3
Hi everyone, I appreciate any feedback! Dear Agent, \[Personalization\] IN THE STYLE OF REBELLION, complete at 72,000 words, is a dual-POV adult dystopian novel with series potential. It will appeal to readers who enjoy the near-future dystopian themes of Sarah Daniels’ THE STRANDED and the opul…
Submission Status
natascha morris – The Tobias Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: childrens fiction, childrens picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade graphic novels, young adult fiction, childrens & YA non-fiction, juvenile fiction
uwe stender – Triada US Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: contemporary,graphic novel,mystery,romance, romance, fantasy,thrillers/suspense,women’s fiction,young adult
julie fergusson – The North Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via E-Mail
Genres: crime / detective / police, literary fiction, reading group fiction, romance, speculative fiction, thrillers / suspense, young adult fiction, science, politics, society & current affairs, other non-fiction, commercial, womens fiction, science fiction, genre romance, fantasy, crime, thriller, action, general fiction
charlie brotherstone – Aevitas Creative Management
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: commercial fiction, literary fiction, academic (articles, journals, textbooks), entertainment, food / lifestyle (cookbooks), music, science, politics, society & current affairs, memoir, autobiography, history, crime, thriller, historical fiction, humor/satire fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, religious/inspirational fiction, thrillers/suspense fiction, upmarket fiction, art/photography non-fiction, biography non-fiction, business/finance non-fiction, cookbook non-fiction, cultural/social issues non-fiction, current affairs/politics non-fiction, food/lifestyle non-fiction, health/fitness non-fiction, how-to non-fiction, journalism non-fiction, LGBTQ+ non-fiction, memoir non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, nature/ecology non-fiction, pop culture non-fiction, psychology non-fiction, science/technology non-fiction, self-help non-fiction, sports non-fiction, travel non-fiction,…
jen newens – Martin Literary Management
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: CLOSED to Submissions, New Literary Agents, Picture Book, Juvenile Nonfiction, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ Fiction, Cookbook Cooking, Fitness, Food Drink, Health Wellness, How-To, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Self-Help
dani sanchez – SBR Media
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, General Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Satire, Thriller, Business Book, Lifestyle
amy moore-benson – Cooke McDermid Literary Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: commercial,crime/police,historical,humor/satire,literary fiction,multicultural,offbeat/quirky,romance, romance, contemporary,thrillers/suspense,upmarket,women’s fiction
Agent Activity
rachel estep – D4EO Literary Agency
Genres: chick lit,commercial,contemporary,erotica,fantasy, fantasy, contemporary/urban,gothic,historical,lgbtq,middle grade, middle grade, contemporary, middle grade, fantasy, middle grade, historical, middle grade, mystery,mystery,new adult,offbeat/quirky,romance, romance, contemporary, romance, thriller/suspense,thrillers/suspense,young adult, young adult, contemporary, young adult, fantasy, young adult, literary, young adult, mystery, young adult, romance
Monday – January 19
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[QCrit] Adult Speculative – NO ONE DIES (70k words, first attempt) Comments: 11, Upvotes: 4
Amidst the tsunami of form rejections during my first round of querying I received a personalized response that essentially said “your novel sounds interesting but your query letter is terrible and isn’t doing you any favors”. I’m grateful for the honest feedback (even though it was painful to read…
[QCrit] Claust: No Road Home, Adult Fantasy, 80k, Attempt #1, & first 300 words. Comments: 9, Upvotes: 4
Any feedback is appreciated. Dear \[Agent’s Name\] To save his mother, Con enters the walled city of Claust from which none may leave alive. Once inside he is confronted with the true madness of the city, Claust is larger, far larger, then it appears. One wrong step can bring death, and in Claust…
[QCrit] Adult Upmarket Speculative Women’s Fiction, SIN SENSES CONSENSUS (95K/5th Attempt) Comments: 11, Upvotes: 1
Hi all! Feedback on [Attempt #1](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1pt4msq/comment/nwjafuk/) noted that my query was too vague, [Attempt #2](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1pyw76g/comment/nwm7npu/) was heavily thematic, [Attempt #3](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1q4orr…
[QCrit]: PAINT THE TOWN, UPMARKET CR, ADULT, 75K, 1ST ATTEMPT Comments: 6, Upvotes: 4
Any help would be much appreciated. I’ve been in the query trenches with this one since April, and I am doing a complete overhaul of the query. Trying to get more eyes on it because I’ve been stuck in my own head over this. Additionally, I am HARDCORE struggling with comps. I know it’s all about rea…
Submission Status
ben miller-callihan – Handspun Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via QueryManager Form
Genres: Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Satire, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Cookbook, Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Food & Drink, Pop Culture, Fiction-Commercial, Fiction-Contemporary, Fiction-Fantasy, Fiction-Fantasy-Contemporary-Urban, Fiction-Horror, Fiction-LGBTQ+, Fiction-Mystery, Fiction-New Adult, Fiction-Romance, Fiction-Romance-Contemporary, Fiction-Romance-Historical, Fiction-Romance-Paranormal, Fiction-Science Fiction, Fiction-Upmarket, Fiction-Womens Fiction, Fiction-Young Adult, Fiction-Young Adult-Contemporary, Fiction-Young Adult-Fantasy, Fiction-Young Adult-Historical, Fiction-Young Adult-Mystery, Fiction-Young Adult-Romance
callen martin – The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via Online Form
Genres: children’s,middle grade,new adult,young adult
carolyn forde – Transatlantic Literary Agency
Submissions OPEN via E-Mail
Genres: Narrative Non-Fiction, Commercial, Horror, Literary Fiction
hannah weatherill – Watson, Little Ltd
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: 1800s+ historical, accessible literary fiction, activism, adult, adult rom com, biography & memoir, book club, commercial adult fiction, commercial and literary, crime & thriller, domestic fiction, domestic suspense/thriller, essay collections, film/TV, gothic, high concept, high-concept literary commercial fiction, investigative journalism, literary crossover, literary fiction, literary horror, narrative nonfiction, nature writing, psychological suspense, psychological thrillers, relationships, romantic comedy, romantic drama, underrepresented voices, upmarket commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, literary suspense, memoir
helen masvikeni – Megibow Literary Agency
Submissions are CLOSED
Genres: General fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense/thriller, Religious, African-American, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Sunday – January 18
Bluesky Posts
Reddit Posts
[PubQ] Batch or send now?
Comments: 0 | Upvotes: 2
I sent out 8 queries about 2 weeks ago. So far, I’ve gotten 1 full request and 1 (I think) personalized rejection (agent said they liked my stuff but it wasn’t a good fit for their list). I haven’t heard from the other 6 agents. My question is, now that I got one bite, should I send out more querie…
[QCrit] BLOODY SONGBIRD, GILDED HARE, YA/Crossover Fantasy (140k, attempt #4)
Comments: 13 | Upvotes: 1
Hi all – I would appreciate some feedback on my latest query letter attempt. I’ve gotten conflicting advice in the past on how much detail is necessary for me to include (sorry, I don’t have my previous posts, but can paste an older query in the comments if that helps), but I find a variety of insig…
[QCrit] Contemporary Fantasy, NINE TO FIVE IN THE AFTERLIFE, (78K words, second attempt)
Comments: 10 | Upvotes: 3
Hi everyone! I got so much helpful feedback after my first attempt: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/s/GRZdhbiahP, and I was hoping to get at least one more look before I start querying 🙂 It was also pointed out to me that unfortunately the former title is taken, and I gotta say I’m still partial t…
[QCrit] ADULT Contemporary Romance – SULTANA FOR CITY COUNCILLOR (86k, 2nd attempt)
Comments: 8 | Upvotes: 2
Happy New Year everyone! This is my second attempt at a query but under a different title (previous query linked [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1fr3y0r/qcrit_adult_contemporary_romance_alls_fair_in/)). For some context that may or may not be relevant, I queried 10 agents last yea…
[QCrit] Adult Horror/Thriller – WOMEN LIKE ME (86K/First Attempt)
Comments: 8 | Upvotes: 2
15-year-old Julia Brooks doesn’t need much. She loves her beautiful, windowless house in the Mojave Desert. She idolizes her father, David Brooks, an author of both astronomy books and fantastical tales about evil women. She can even tolerate her sister’s tiny cat’s heart and their orange tabby, Mar…
Hall of Fame
Reddit Writing Community Discussions
Latest from r/PubTips
Bluesky Writing Community Updates
Trending on #WritingCommunity
Literary Agent Submission Status
Agent Activity Updates
Share this week’s intel with fellow writers
Follow @writequeryhook for daily writing community updates