100 Literary Agents’ Wishlists: Here’s What They Actually Want

(And What That Means For Your Manuscript)

MY DUDES AND DUDETTES—

I was so amped up to share this, I’m writing this standing up. No lie.

I analyzed 100 literary agents with open queries—agents currently accepting submissions—to see what they’re seeking right now. Not closed inboxes. Not wishlist archives. What agents who are CURRENTLY accepting submissions want RIGHT NOW.

And the number that made me stop everything?

79% of agents explicitly seek LGBTQ+ authors and/or stories with LGBTQ+ representation.

That’s roughly 8 out of 10 agents. Not “some agents care about representation.” Not “diversity is trending.” This is an overwhelming industry priority, quantified.

Let me share what else the data shows, what it means for your manuscript positioning, and why querying agents with open queries completely changes your strategy.

The Numbers That Matter

Before I dive into what this data shows, I want to acknowledge Alyssa Matesic’s foundational analysis earlier this year. Her work provided the baseline for understanding where the market stood in early 2025. This end-of-year analysis builds on that foundation by filtering specifically for agents with open queries, offering a snapshot of what agents are actively seeking right now.

LGBTQ+ representation: 79 agents (79%)

Nearly 8 out of 10 agents with open queries explicitly state they’re seeking LGBTQ+ authors writing their experiences and/or stories with authentic LGBTQ+ representation.

This isn’t a checkbox. This is measurable, overwhelming agent priority.

YA: 70 agents (70%)

70% of agents are actively seeking YA. That’s 7 out of 10. YA remains dominant among agents currently accepting submissions.

10 categories crossed the 50% threshold

I expected maybe 5-6 categories over 50%, but the actual data showed broader agent appetite (YUM) across the market. TEN genres have majority agent interest. Let’s dig in! 🤤👇🏼

The Complete Agent Wishlist Breakdown

100 agents with open queries: What they’re actively seeking across 17 genres.

THE BIG 10 (Over 50% = Majority Interest):

1. LGBTQ+: 79 agents (79%)

2. YA: 70 agents (70%)

3. Romance: 66 agents (66%)

4. Fantasy: 61 agents (61%)

5. Thriller: 61 agents (61%)

6. Literary: 56 agents (56%)

7. BIPOC: 52 agents (52%)

8. Mystery: 51 agents (51%)

9. NA (New Adult): 51 agents (51%)

Strong Mid-Tier (44-50%):

• Women’s Fiction: 49 agents (49%)

• Upmarket: 49 agents (49%)

• Contemporary: 47 agents (47%)

• MG (Middle Grade): 44 agents (44%)

• SF (Science Fiction): 43 agents (43%)

Lower Demand:

• Horror: 59 agents (59%)

• Historical: 37 agents (37%)

• Crime/Police Procedural: 22 agents (22%)

Every single category in the top 9 sits above 50%. These aren’t niche categories—these are what the majority of agents actively accepting queries want.

What This Data Actually Means For Positioning

Numbers without context are just numbers. Let me translate what this means for your manuscript strategy.

CRITICAL: Do Your Due Diligence on Subgenres

Here’s something important: This data shows broad genre categories, but agents don’t want “Fantasy.” They want specific Fantasy.

Some agents want epic fantasy. Some want paranormal romance. Some want cozy fantasy. Some want dark, character-driven fantasy.

When you’re ready to query, you MUST dive deeper, research thoroughly on each agent:

• Check their Publishers Marketplace page to see what they’ve actually sold

• Read their submission guidelines

• Look at their client list and recent deals

• Identify if they want your specific subgenre, not just the umbrella category

This data tells you where to start. Your agent research tells you if it’s an actual fit.

The LGBTQ+ Priority:

79% of agents with open queries explicitly seek LGBTQ+ authors and/or stories with LGBTQ+ representation.

What this means:

• Own voices narratives are prioritized. Agents want LGBTQ+ authors writing their own experiences. Authenticity matters. If you’re from the LGBTQ+ community and writing your story, agents are actively, urgently seeking your work.

• Authentic representation across genres matters. This isn’t limited to “LGBTQ+ fiction” as a genre. Agents want LGBTQ+ representation in YA, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, Literary—across all categories. Your YA fantasy with a queer protagonist? Agents want it. Your thriller with a trans main character? Agents want it.

• This is industry transformation. 79% isn’t “some agents care about diversity.” It’s fundamental shift in what the industry prioritizes. Agents currently building their lists overwhelmingly want these stories.

What this means if you’re writing outside your experience: If you’re not from the LGBTQ+ community but writing LGBTQ+ characters, sensitivity readers aren’t optional—they’re essential. Agents (and readers) can immediately tell the difference between authentic representation and surface-level inclusion. Do the work. Pay for expertise. Get it right.

The BIPOC Representation Reality:

52% of agents explicitly seek BIPOC authors and/or stories with BIPOC representation.

Over half of agents with open queries prioritize BIPOC voices and stories. This is separate from LGBTQ+ representation in this analysis.

What this means:

• BIPOC authors writing their experiences: agents are actively seeking your work

• Own voices narratives are valued across all genres, not just “diversity books”

• Intersectionality matters (BIPOC + LGBTQ+ stories have potential interest from 52% + 79% of agents)

• If writing outside your experience, cultural consultants and sensitivity readers are non-negotiable

The YA Reality Check:

70% of agents with open queries want YA.

That’s massive opportunity AND massive competition. 7 out of 10 agents currently accepting submissions want YA. Your challenge isn’t finding agents who rep YA—it’s standing out among thousands of YA submissions.

If you do it incorrectly or in a way similar to clickbait, you will fail spectacularly.

YA has extremely specific expectations:

• Protagonist age: 14-18 (usually 16-17)

• Coming-of-age focus: Identity formation, first experiences, figuring out who you are

• Life stage: High school, living at home (usually), some form of parental authority

• Content: Age-appropriate (doesn’t mean “clean,” but mindful of teen readership)

• Voice: Often immediate, present-tense, immersive

• Ending: Usually hopeful, even if bittersweet

Your 22-year-old protagonist living independently, paying rent, navigating workplace dynamics without parental oversight? That’s not YA. That’s New Adult (51% of agents) or Adult.

Call it what it actually is. 70% of agents want YA, but they want ACTUAL YA.

Accurate positioning beats trend-chasing.

The New Adult wake-up announcement:

NA jumped out of my chart with 51%.

Over half of the agents I searched are currently accepting submissions geared toward New Adult. 🙌🏼 For years, everyone said “NA is dead” or “agents don’t want NA.” I am loving that the analysis is saying the opposite.

NA characteristics:

• Protagonist age: 18-25

• Life stage: Transition to adulthood (college, first job, first apartment, independence)

• Themes: Identity beyond parental influence, adult firsts, figuring out adult life

• Content: Adult situations, adult consequences, adult relationships

• Voice: More mature than YA, often grappling with adult complexity

If your protagonist is 22 and dealing with paying rent, navigating office politics, managing adult relationships, student loans, career uncertainty—that’s NA. Not YA. Not Adult. NA.

51% of agents with open queries want it. Position it correctly.

The Literary Fiction Myth-Busting:

Everyone says, “literary fiction is impossible to sell,” and “agents don’t want literary,” and “there’s no market.”

NOPE.

I’ve known this since 2024, and the numbers have only grown since then: people are looking for connection, growth, a sense of fulfillment, or a heart-wrenching tragedy that tears them apart.

56% of agents want literary fiction. That’s OVER half of the agents with open queries looking for their next literary fiction page-turner.

The narrative is false. The data proves it.

With that being said, it is worth sharing why I believe people stray away from writing literary fiction: Literary fiction has different success metrics than commercial fiction:

• Sales expectations are lower (10,000 copies can be successful)

• Marketing focuses on reviews, prizes, and critical acclaim vs. bestseller lists

• Advances are often smaller (but royalty earnings can be better long-term)

• Timeline to publication often takes longer

• Career building is slower, dependent on critical recognition

But “different metrics” = “no market.” 56% of agents want it.

If you’re writing literary fiction and getting rejections, it might not be because “agents don’t want literary.” It might be because:

• You’re querying agents who don’t represent literary (check their actual sales)

• Your positioning isn’t signaling literary appropriately

• Your comp titles are commercial rather than literary

• The manuscript isn’t polished to literary standards (the bar is HIGH)

• You’re measuring success by commercial metrics

Target the right ones. Understand the metrics. Position accordingly.

The Romance Opportunity:

66% of agents want Romance. That’s nearly 2 out of 3 agents.

Romance specificity matters: Not all agents who want romance want paranormal romance. Some want contemporary romance. Some want historical romance. Some want romantic suspense.

When you query, don’t just say “I write romance.” Perhaps consider saying: “I write contemporary romance with second-chance themes and small-town settings,” or “I write paranormal romance with found-family tropes.”

Specificity helps agents immediately know if it’s a fit.

Romance genre expectations: Romance requires HEA (Happily Ever After) or HFN (Happy For Now). The romance must be the primary plot. Both romantic leads need substantial development.

If romance is a subplot in your larger story, you might be writing Women’s Fiction (49%) or another category with romantic elements—not Romance.

Know the difference. 66% of agents want Romance, but they want genre Romance.

The Thriller and Fantasy Context:

Thriller: 61% Fantasy: 61%

I don’t know why, but these numbers made me giddy. Who doesn’t love thrillers and/or fantasy?! Okay, fine…I know a few who don’t, but that’s besides the point. lol

Thriller pacing and stakes: Thriller requires fast pacing, high stakes, protagonist in danger or preventing danger. If your pacing is methodical investigation, you might be writing Mystery (51%), not Thriller.

Fantasy specificity matters: Not all agents who want fantasy want romantasy. Some want epic fantasy. Some want urban fantasy. Some want cozy fantasy. Some want dark fantasy.

When you query, don’t just say “I write fantasy.” Say “I write dark fantasy with morally gray protagonists and political intrigue,” or “I write cozy fantasy with found family and low stakes.”

Specificity helps agents immediately know if it’s a fit.

The Positioning Mistakes I See Constantly

Mismatch #1: Age Category Confusion

Protagonist age + life stage + thematic focus define your age category.

Age categories:

• MG: Protagonist 8-12, pre-teen/tween challenges

• YA: Protagonist 14-18 (usually 16-17), coming-of-age, teen life stage

• NA: Protagonist 18-25, transition to adulthood, independence

• Adult: Protagonist 25+, adult life

Your 17-year-old dealing with adult situations without teen context (no school, no parents, fully independent) might be Adult with young protagonist, not YA.

Your 22-year-old discovering their identity through “first” experiences (first apartment, first job, first serious relationship) might be NA, not Adult.

Age + life stage + themes all matter. Don’t just look at the number.

Mismatch #2: Genre vs. Category Confusion

You need BOTH age category AND genre.

“YA Fantasy” = age category (YA) + genre (Fantasy)

Common errors:

• “I write YA” (need genre: YA what? Contemporary? Fantasy? Thriller?)

• “I write Fantasy” (need age category: MG? YA? Adult Fantasy?)

• Using “New Adult” as genre (NA is age category; need genre: NA Romance? NA Fantasy?)

In queries: AGE CATEGORY + GENRE

Examples:

• “YA Contemporary Romance”

• “Adult Epic Fantasy”

• “NA Thriller”

• “MG Science Fiction”

Both pieces matter.

Mismatch #3: Literary vs. Upmarket Confusion

Literary Fiction:

• Prose/language/themes prioritized over plot

• Often experimental structure

• Internal character focus

• Ambiguous endings acceptable

• Slower pacing

• Critical acclaim valued over commercial sales

Upmarket Fiction:

• Literary-quality prose WITH commercial appeal

• Compelling plot AND beautiful writing

• Both internal and external conflict

• Satisfying resolution

• Accessible pacing

• Bridges literary and commercial

Gorgeous prose + page-turning plot = likely Upmarket (49%), not Literary (56%)

Language/internal journey prioritized over plot = likely Literary

Different agent markets. Different expectations. Position accordingly.

Mismatch #4: Mystery vs. Thriller Distinction

Mystery (51% of agents):

• Focus: solving puzzle/whodunit

• Detective investigates

• Clues provided to reader

• Pacing: methodical

• Resolution reveals solution

Thriller (61% of agents):

• Focus: suspense and tension

• Protagonist in danger

• Fast pacing, high stakes

• Pacing: rapid, escalating

• Resolution stops the threat

Different genres. Different agent markets.

61% want Thriller. 51% want Mystery.

Know which you wrote.

What The Data Tells Us About Agent Targeting

Huge thanks to Alyssa Matesic for her earlier 2025 analysis. Her foundational work provided the baseline for understanding market conditions in early 2025. This end-of-year snapshot—filtering specifically for agents with open queries—shows what agents are actively seeking right now as we head into 2026.

High-demand categories (50%+ of agents with open queries):

LGBTQ+ (79%), YA (70%), Romance (66%), Fantasy (61%), Thriller (61%), Literary (56%), BIPOC (52%), Mystery (51%), NA (51%)

Strategy: MANY agent options + HIGH competition.

Your query package must be exceptional:

• Professional-quality manuscript (multiple revisions, beta readers, possibly professional editing)

• Compelling, specific query letter

• Accurate, recent comp titles (2022-2025)

• Genre conventions delivered impeccably

• Clear subgenre positioning

You’re competing with thousands. Excellence matters.

Mid-demand categories (44-50% of agents):

Women’s Fiction (49%), Upmarket (49%), Contemporary (47%), MG (44%), SF (43%)

Strategy: Fewer agent options. More precise targeting required.

Research thoroughly:

• Check recent sales (Publishers Marketplace)

• Read actual client lists

• Verify they sell books like yours

• Personalize queries based on genuine fit

Quality of targeting matters more than quantity of queries.

Lower-demand categories (under 44%):

Horror (59%), Historical (37%), Crime/Police (22%)

Strategy: Limited agent options. Every query counts.

What you need to stand out:

• Target research (identify specific agents who rep your category)

• Exceptional manuscript quality (can’t afford craft rejections)

• Strong positioning (know exactly where you fit)

• Realistic expectations (querying may take longer)

• Consider indie publishing (some categories thrive there)

Strategic Questions This Data Raises

Genre Clarity:

• Can I state my category clearly? (Age category + Genre + Subgenre)

• Have I read 20-30 books in my category from the past 2-3 years?

• Do I understand genre conventions and reader expectations?

• Can I name 5-7 comp titles (2022-2025) genuinely similar to mine?

Representation & Authenticity:

• If writing LGBTQ+ or BIPOC characters, am I from that community?

• If writing outside my experience, have I hired sensitivity readers?

• Is my representation authentic or surface-level?

• Am I writing diverse characters or “diversity content”?

Agent Targeting (The Deep Work):

• Am I querying agents with OPEN queries?

• Have I verified they actively sell books like mine?

• Do they want my specific subgenre or just the umbrella category?

• Have I checked their recent sales on Publishers Marketplace?

• Have I read their submission guidelines carefully?

• Does their client list reflect what I’m writing?

This is where the real work happens. This data is your starting point, not your finishing line.

Manuscript Readiness:

• Is my manuscript as polished as published books in my category?

• Have beta readers from my target audience reviewed it?

• Does my opening hook in a genre-appropriate way?

• Am I delivering on the expectations I’m signaling?

Positioning Accuracy:

• Does my query letter match what’s on the page?

• Are my comp titles truly similar or just thematically related?

• Am I positioning what I actually wrote vs. what I wanted to write?

• If getting rejections, is it positioning or craft?

How I Can Help With Your Positioning

As an editor, I meet authors who have brilliant manuscripts positioned wrong or are uncertain where they actually fit in the market.

If you’re not sure where to position your manuscript, I offer a few options:

Option 1: You have a positioning strategy, I’ll validate it 

If you know where you think your manuscript fits, send it my way. I’ll read your work and confirm if your positioning is accurate based on what’s actually on the page. Sometimes authors are spot-on. Sometimes they’re close but missing a key detail.

Option 2: You want my read on positioning 

If you’re uncertain or want a second opinion, I’ll read your manuscript and give you my assessment: What category does this actually belong in? What subgenres does it hit? Where do you fit in the current market? Then we can talk about how to position it accurately.

Either way, the goal is clarity. Know what you wrote. Position it correctly. Query agents who actually want it.

Want to explore your manuscript’s positioning? Let’s talk.

Book a Manuscript Assessment

The Bottom Line on Manuscript Positioning

After analyzing 100 agents with open queries, here’s what I’m confident about:

LGBTQ+ representation is THE priority for agents actively building lists. 79% isn’t “some agents care”—it’s industry transformation. If you’re LGBTQ+ and writing your story, agents are actively seeking your work.

Nine categories have the majority interest among agents with open queries. The market is robust. YA, Romance, Fantasy, Thriller, Literary, BIPOC representation, Mystery, NA—all over 50%.

Accurate positioning beats trend-chasing. 70% want YA, but they want ACTUAL YA (teen protagonist, coming-of-age). Forcing Adult Contemporary into YA because “YA is hot” fails immediately.

Representation and authenticity matter profoundly. 79% seeking LGBTQ+ stories + 52% seeking BIPOC stories shows what the industry values. Own voices narratives are prioritized. Surface-level representation is rejected.

Your manuscript might be brilliant. Your positioning might be wrong. Fix the positioning, target agents with open queries, deliver on genre expectations, ensure authentic representation if writing diverse characters.

That’s the strategy.