Publishing & Promotion

August 2025 MSWL Roundup: What Literary Agents Want in Sci-Fi & Fantasy

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment
Storybook-style illustration of an overwhelmed blonde writer surrounded by floating manuscript pages, stacks of books, glowing post-it notes, and teacups, with a chalkboard reading “MSWL” in the background, capturing the chaos of preparing queries.
Querying season is upon us. If your manuscript is chaos and your vibe is ✨panicked hope✨, welcome…. you’re in the right place.

If you thought July’s MSWL rundown had some juicy tidbits, wait ‘til you see what agents are craving this month. Diversity? Yes. Emotionally resonant speculative fiction? Double yes. Manuscripts that won’t break their inboxes with 180K word counts? Be still my querying heart.

I’ve combed through the latest wishlists and agent updates to bring you the highlights from August 2025 aka what literary agents want in August 2025. Whether you’re writing for middle graders, emotionally feral teens, or jaded adults trying to cram a trilogy into one cursed Google Doc, here’s what literary agents are thirsting after in sci-fi and fantasy this month:

Storybook-style illustration of a brooding sorcerer and a fierce woman standing back-to-back in a glowing enchanted forest, both holding swords, surrounded by magical light and blooming flowers—capturing the romantic tension and fantasy drama of the romantasy genre.
If your story has swords, longing, and one morally gray love interest with a tragic past… you’re in peak romantasy territory.

Middle Grade (MG)

1. Miriam Cortinovis (KI Agency)

Miriam is open to upper MG speculative fiction and especially loves stories with small-town magic, multiverse adventures, fairy-tale echoes, and emotionally rich storytelling. She’s actively seeking BIPOC, LGBTQAI+, and disabled voices in both fantasy and sci-fi.

Trend Watch:

Genre-blended MG is hot, think magical realism mysteries, environmental fantasy, and character-driven quests

High-concept? Check. Emotionally devastating? Double check. Inclusive speculative fiction is here to rule your TBR and your feels.

Young Adult (YA)

1. Miriam Cortinovis (KI Agency)

Miriam is seeking YA speculative fiction with gothic quests, queer fairy-tale retellings, and romantic multiverse drama that packs emotional depth. She loves stories that blend genres and center inclusive, emotionally driven narratives.

2. Amanda Elliott (P.S. Literary)

Amanda wants romantasy dripping in chemistry and immersive worldbuilding. She’s also on the lookout for speculative romance that leans into genre structure, as well as horror with polish and a strong emotional undercurrent.

Trend Watch:

Emotional inclusivity and big-hearted fantasy are still reigning. YA readers want swoon, stakes, and depth… not necessarily in that order, but ideally all at once.

Storybook-style illustration of a cloaked figure standing in the ruins of a futuristic, collapsing city at sunset, with glowing green tech and a mysterious orb in the sky—capturing the emotional and intellectual tone of future-forward science fiction.
Near-future. Slightly broken. Emotionally devastating. Welcome to the golden age of smart sci-fi.

New Adult / Adult

1. Miriam Cortinovis (KI Agency)

Miriam is open to high-concept sci-fi and fantasy that spans romantic, historical, urban, and speculative subgenres. She’s particularly excited about space heists, AI drama, and dystopias with soul… especially if they bend genres and break hearts.

2. Amanda Elliott (P.S. Literary)

Amanda continues her reign as queen of emotional genre fiction. She’s looking for romantasy with swoon-worthy characters and detailed worldbuilding, speculative romance that punches hard, and grounded sci-fi that still delivers on emotional impact.

3. Samantha Wekstein (TL Agency)

Samantha is seeking concise, standalone adult sci-fi and fantasy under 100K words. If it’s sharp, emotionally impactful, and doesn’t demand a five-book commitment, she wants to see it.

4. Rebecca Matte (Bradford Literary)

Rebecca is craving Afro-Caribbean and anti-colonial fantasy that centers cultural richness and mythic weight. She’s also drawn to D&D-style epic quests and urban fantasy grounded in modern real-world settings.

5. Diana M. Pho (Erewhon Books)

Diana is scouting near-future sci-fi, Afrofuturism, climate collapse narratives, cyberpunk angst, and time travel stories. She’s especially interested in big-concept speculative fiction where the setting, especially a city, functions like a character in its own right.

Trend Watch:

Agents want emotional resonance and intellectual depth. Diverse perspectives, tight plots, and self-contained arcs are hot and your sprawling 3-book arc might want to consider a prequel novella first.

Before we dive into dragon kisses and post-apocalyptic despair, here’s what’s dominating the sci-fi and fantasy manuscript wish list right now:

Top 3 Genres Trending This Month

1. Romantasy

Fantasy with emotional and romantic stakes (plus probably one morally gray love interest with a tragic backstory). Agents want chemistry, magic, and immersive worlds that hurt so good and possibly ruin your sleep schedule.

2. Inclusive Speculative Fiction

BIPOC, queer, aro/ace, and disabled protagonists navigating magical chaos and space capitalism. The more emotional damage and identity vibes, the better… trauma arcs welcome.

3. Future-Forward Sci-Fi

Climate collapse, cyberpunk dystopias, and time-loop nightmares (bonus if it makes the reader question their existence). Must balance intellect with heart… smart and devastating is the new black.

Storybook-style illustration of a smiling writer in a pink hoodie holding a “Query!” flag, surrounded by cheerful gremlin-like creatures climbing stacks of books and flinging manuscript pages into the air—symbolizing encouragement and querying chaos.
Your manuscript’s weird. Your word count is bold. It’s your turn to query — gremlins and all.

Final Thoughts from a SFF Chaos Gremlin

Let’s be real: August’s wishlist isn’t asking for easy genre tropes. These agents want bold, diverse, and intentionally crafted stories that don’t just entertain… they mean something.

So whether you’re conjuring cities-as-characters or penning queer starship mutinies, don’t be afraid to write weird, write tight, and write with your whole unhinged heart. Especially if you’re querying agents for sci-fi and fantasy this fall.

When in doubt? Space heist. Or cursed library. Or emotionally compromised assassin with a pet crow. Look, we don’t make the rules, we just write like gremlins with deadlines.

Agree with the trends? Have a spicy take on what should be on this month’s MSWL? Drop your thoughts, your favorites, or your chaos-fueled pitches in the comments… because we’re all in this querying mess together.

August 2025 Fiction Trends: Romance, Climate Collapse, and the Rise of Smut-Lit With Feelings

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment
Storybook-style illustration of a cozy reading nook in August, featuring a woman reading with a cat on her lap, surrounded by stacked books, teapots, houseplants, and a calendar marked August 2025.
What better way to dive into August’s fiction trends than with a good book, a purring cat, and enough tea to rival your TBR?

Since we’ve already covered what literary agents wanted for July (and stay tuned for our August MSWL roundup, link coming soon), August is the month where we ask, “Okay, but what are people actually reading right now?” Spoiler: it’s not your half-finished space opera about caffeinated goats (sorry, me). The fiction world is on fire in more ways than one and yes, that includes both cli-fi and books that could set off the office smoke alarm.

We scoured bestseller lists, industry roundups, BookTok buzz, and more to pull together top book recs for each trend in this post. so whether you’re looking to bulk up your TBR pile or just love knowing what’s hot, there’s something here for you. Some links may be affiliate links, but no pressure… they just help fuel my tea stash and cozy sock collection.

So, whether you’re querying, publishing, or just procrastinating on your edits by calling it “research,” here’s your roundup of what’s trending in fiction this August, complete with a dash of snark, a sprinkle of chaos, and a whole lot of bookish love.

What Are the Top Fiction Trends in August 2025?

Romantasy Still Owns the Throne

Storybook-style illustration of a glowing fantasy castle in the clouds with a couple holding hands in the foreground, surrounded by pink mist, sparkles, and flying dragons, romantic fantasy aesthetic.
Romantasy is still ruling hearts in August 2025… magic, longing, and dragon lit castles included.

Lovers. Magic. Betrayal. Monsters. Spicy wingspan content. It’s the genre that refuses to chill and we love her for it. From dragons to dark academia, romantasy remains the blueprint. Especially if it’s queer. Extra points if it started as fanfic.

Trending tropes:

  • Forced proximity in a magical castle
  • Enemies to lovers but with trauma bonding
  • Soft boys with devastating secrets and killer jawlines

Top Romantasy Picks:

From Fanfic to Front Shelf

Storybook-style illustration of a glowing laptop on a cozy bed, transforming into a magical open book with floating hearts and pages, surrounded by fairy lights and shelves of books, symbolizing the journey from fanfic to published novel.
From bedroom fanfic to bestselling romance, these stories are no longer hiding in the drafts folder.

Raise your hand if your favorite book was secretly Dramione with the serial numbers filed off. You’re not alone. Publishers are finally realizing fanfic writers have range, and readers? They’re here for it. These stories are raw, passionate, and not afraid to be messy.

Shoutout to:

Cli-Fi is Hot (Literally)

Storybook-style illustration of a cracked desert landscape with wildflowers growing through the earth, wind turbines in the distance, and two characters holding hands at sunrise—symbolizing hope in a climate fiction setting.
When the world is on fire (literally), cli-fi reminds us there’s still beauty and maybe even love on the horizon.

Turns out the end of the world makes great reading material. Climate fiction is gaining momentum as readers look for escapism with just enough realism to make them uncomfortable in a productive way. Think hopeful dystopia meets eco-witchcore.

Plot moodboards:

  • “The bees are dying and so are we, but there’s a love story”
  • Apocalyptic desert romance with found family and a suspiciously magical cactus

Top Cli-Fi Picks:

Smut-Lit, But Make It Emotional

Storybook-style illustration of two blushing women reading together at a candlelit table, surrounded by hearts, steam, and stacks of books—capturing the warmth, intimacy, and charm of emotional smut-lit fiction.
Spice? Yes. But also feelings, blushes, and candlelit intimacy. Emotional smut-lit is having a moment.

We are officially past the “just spice” era. Now it’s erotica with feelings, prose with depth, and awkward-but-relatable consent convos. Call it what you want, literary erotica, character-driven smut, or just a good time, we’re all reading it. Loudly. On public transit.

What’s working:

  • Queer desire across all identities
  • Messy, unfiltered vulnerability in relationships
  • Aesthetic covers that whisper “yes, it’s steamy but also art”

Top Smut-Lit Picks:

Literary Fiction is Having a Smart Girl Summer

Storybook-style illustration of a woman with glasses reading in a pink chair, surrounded by flying book pages, sunlight streaming through tall windows, stacks of books, and a fluffy cat—evoking the thoughtful, immersive mood of literary fiction.
Literary fiction in August 2025? Big thoughts, cozy chairs, and enough layers to make your English Lit professor proud.

Big feelings, deep thoughts, and a word count that demands snacks. This is the fiction for when you want to feel something and also remind yourself that your English Lit degree wasn’t in vain.

Top shelf names this month:

Books Are Pretty Now

Storybook-style illustration of a shelf filled with colorful collector edition books featuring gold foil embossing, sprayed edges, and twinkling stars—highlighting the aesthetic trend of beautifully designed books.
Books are officially ✨ art ✨ now. Sprayed edges, foiled spines, and collector covers are taking over August 2025 shelves.

Sprayed edges. Foil embossing. Textured spines. Your bookshelf wants to be Instagram-famous and honestly? Same. Collectible editions are everywhere, and you will buy the same book three times. We all do it. It’s tradition.

Top Pretty Editions to Drool Over:

Final Thoughts from a Trend-Watching Gremlin

Storybook-style illustration of a cozy gremlin-like character in a pink sweater sitting among towers of books, holding a “Your turn!” sign with a mug of tea and an open notebook under a starry sky—inviting reader interaction.
The gremlin has spoken. Drop your favorite August reads (or chaos-fueled trend recs) in the comments — your turn!

If you’re trying to stay on top of fiction book trends for August 2025, you’re not alone and there’s so much out there it’s basically a literary theme park.

Listen, I know trends come and go. But August feels like a buffet of everything: romance, angst, heatwaves, and heartbreak. Whether you write, read, or just lovingly pet your TBR pile while crying softly… there’s a place for you here.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a cli-fi romantasy fanfic about cursed librarians and magically induced lust to write. Because someone has to. And it might as well be me.

Agree with my picks? Think I missed a must-read? Drop your favorite August reads (or the best new books August 2025 has to offer) (or trends you’re loving) in the comments… I’d love to hear what’s on your TBR pile too!

July 2025 MSWL Roundup: What Agents Want (and Why I Torture Myself Reading It)

/ RG Newhouse / 1 Comment

If you’ve ever wondered what agents are currently craving in their inboxes, welcome to this beautifully masochistic little corner of the writing world. Because yes, I think it’s important for writers to keep tabs on the Manuscript Wish List. It’s a fantastic way to stay in tune with what’s trending, where your work might fit, and who could be the future champion of your precious book baby.

Also? I have morbid curiosity. Like, the kind that makes me scroll through MSWL tags at 2 AM while asking myself why my current WIP is a sarcastic space‑goat heist instead of the soft queer romantasy agents are swooning over. But I digress.

Whether you’re querying now or hoarding drafts like plot bunnies on espresso, here’s your July 2025 MSWL roundup broken down by category. You’re welcome, fellow gluttons for punishment.

A cozy, cottagecore-style writing nook with a corkboard overflowing with handwritten notes, sketches, pressed flowers, and colorful paper scraps. An orange tabby cat sits on the desk facing the board, surrounded by books, a vintage teacup, glass jars of wildflowers, and warm, natural lighting.
Finnegan contemplates the chaos of my story ideas, offering silent judgment and zero help… as usual.

Middle Grade (MG)

1. Ashlee MacCallum (Howland Literary)
Wants voicey MG with quirky, lovable characters. She’s scouting fantasy, mystery, and magical realism that still makes room for adventure and heart.

2. GiannaMarie Dobson (Neighborhood Literary)
Passionate about MG and YA that centers disabled and queer representation—bonus points for aro/ace narratives and nuanced worldbuilding.

3. Trend Watch
Genre melding MG is on the rise—think fantasy/mystery mashups, cozy horror, or historical tales spiced with magic. Smart, fun, and unexpected.

Young Adult (YA)

1. Meagan Burgad (SBR Media)
Open July 1–15. She’s craving YA-romantasy, paranormal/speculative, and contemporary voice driven fiction. Diversity and emotional honesty are her jam.

2. Matthew Valdez (Megibow Literary)
Soft open to LGBTQ+ creators. Interested in YA fantasy, punchy contemporary, thriller, and genre bending stories that make you feel something fierce.

3. Trend Watch
Romantasy and genre bending YA dominate again. Emotional inclusivity and queerness are front and center—nothing feels too weird if it feels real.

New Adult / Adult

1. Anjanette Barr (Dunham Literary)
Open through July 15. Seeking adult nonfiction (like popular science, lifestyle, or history) and accessible genre fiction full of humor, magic, romance, or wonder.

2. Matthew Valdez (Megibow Literary)
Yes, again—he’s also accepting adult fantasy, thriller, commercial/upmarket fiction. Diversity, big ideas, and cinematic storytelling get bonus points.

3. Trend Watch
Narrative nonfiction is blazing hot. Think creative nonfiction that reads like a novel, deeper memoir thrillers, and emotionally layered pop‑culture insights.

Top 3 Genres Trending This Month

  1. Fantasy / Romantasy – Lovers. Magic. Heartache. This combo is crushing it in both YA and NA.
  2. Speculative & Genre Blended Fiction – Agents want hybrid surprises: cozy sci-fi, urban fantasy, magical realism mystery… all of it.
  3. Narrative Nonfiction – From page turning science exposés to voice‑driven memoirs, nonfiction is finding its novel‑like groove.
A fluffy white plot bunny with round glasses sits solemnly on a pink vintage typewriter surrounded by scattered manuscript pages, stacks of books, leafy plants, and a cozy cup of coffee. Warm lighting and magical sparkles complete the whimsical writing nook.
Barnabas the plot bunny, hard at work deciding which idea gets the honor of living rent free in your brain this month. He’s got thoughts… and a deadline.

Final Thoughts from a Self‑Declared MSWL Lurker

Let’s be honest: half of this is research, the other half is pure dramatica. Reading MSWL updates is like peeking at a dating app for your book… swipe right if you fit the vibe.

I’m not querying yet (short stories don’t exactly storm the gates), but when I am? I hope I can be as brave as the authors out there facing inbox mayhem. In the meantime, I’ll be over here, hoarding info and possibly building a very proud Spreadsheet of Doom.

Because if you can’t be in the trenches yet, at least you can spectate in style.

Writing to Trend vs. Writing for Love: Which Path Works?

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment

Hey fellow writers and book lovers,

Here’s the question gnawing at my brain lately: Should authors chase the trends, or stay true to their muse?

A writer's hand hovers over a softly glowing orb resting on a stack of books. One cat sleeps beside the books while another watches intently from the desk. The scene is dimly lit with a cozy, contemplative atmosphere, evoking creativity and decision-making.
The writer’s dilemma in one image: do you reach for the glowing idea, or follow the cat’s judgmental stare? Generated by Midjourney

Writing to trend means crafting a story that fits the current market buzz, trying to align with what agents, editors, or even readers on BookTok are asking for. Writing to passion? That means chasing the story that won’t leave you alone. The one whispering in your ear at 3AM. The one you’d write even if no one ever read it.

We’ve all seen it. The hot genre of the moment explodes and suddenly everyone’s writing cozy fantasies, romantasy with morally grey love interests, or spicy alien love triangles. And sure, if you hit that wave just right, you might land a publishing deal, an agent, or go viral on BookTok. Remember when dystopian YA ruled everything? Or when vampires were unavoidable? Trends are real, and they move fast. Writing to market can be tempting when you’re hoping to get traditionally published.

But what if your heart is pounding for a story that doesn’t quite fit the current mold?

I’ve been wrestling with this exact thing. My Wind Riders series is world built, beloved, and fully alive in my head. Floating sky islands, brave aerial scouts riding their bonded companions through dangerous wind currents, strange corrupted storms, found family, sacrifice, grief, hope… I love the characters. I love the setting. I love the vibe.

Floating stone islands connected by rope bridges hang suspended in a glowing sky above the clouds, evoking a sense of magic, distance, and longing.
This is the world that still hums in the back of my mind… untethered, alive, and waiting. Generated by Midjourney

But I can see that it might not be trending right now. So I’ve been wondering… should I shelve it and try to develop something trend friendly? Something that better aligns with current book publishing trends or what’s hot on BookTok?

The thing is, the trend friendly story I’m eyeing? I genuinely love it too. It’s not just a shallow attempt to chase what’s hot, it’s been simmering in my brain for years, just waiting for its moment.

I won’t give away too much (yet), but it involves a woman grappling with a life she didn’t ask for, powers she doesn’t want, and a world that suddenly won’t leave her alone. There’s danger, heartache, and one very sarcastic cat who heckles her with the same intensity my cat Carmen reserves for whatever food I’m currently trying to eat. This one just happens to tick more of the boxes traditional publishing is looking for right now, especially if you’re writing with the market in mind.

A woman with messy blonde hair stands at a fork in a forest path. One side is dark and shadowy, the other glows with warm magical light. A ginger cat walks ahead toward the glowing path.
Standing at the crossroads between heart and hustle. The cat, of course, already knows which way to go. Generated by Midjourney

So what do we do?

Do we write what sells? Do we write to market to improve our chances of getting published? Or do we write what sings?

Is it possible to do both?

Maybe there’s a hybrid path. Maybe we shape a passion project just a little more toward trend. Or we self publish what we love and query the marketable one. Maybe the trick is figuring out which story needs to be told right now, and which one can wait for its moment.

This post isn’t me giving you answers. It’s me asking questions. Honest ones. Because I think a lot of us are stuck here, especially those of us trying to navigate the publishing industry.

I want to know what you think.

Have you ever paused a beloved project because it wasn’t “sellable”? Or shelved something that felt like screaming into the void? Have you followed the market and found success or regret?

Are you team write-what-you-love, team write-to-sell, or somewhere tangled in between?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk about it.