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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.

The Modern Author’s Marketing Maze

/ RG Newhouse / Leave a comment
Frazzled blonde author in messy bun multitasking at cluttered desk with laptop, black cat, coffee mug, and scattered notes, looking overwhelmed while working late.
When your “writing day” turns into a full-time job juggling social media, newsletters, and that cursed algorithm.

These days, writing the book almost feels like the easy part. Typing “The End” isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting gun for a whole new race. Because if you want people to actually read your story instead of letting it collect digital dust, you’re not just an author anymore. You’re a full blown one person marketing department. Congrats! You’re now the writer, publicist, designer, spokesperson, and hype squad. Hope you brought snacks.

Let’s break down what that glorious chaos looks like.

Overwhelmed blonde writer at desk surrounded by flying social media icons, emails, and notifications, symbolizing digital burnout and author marketing pressure.
When your book’s not even out yet but you’ve already lost three hours to hashtags, inbox pings, and dancing TikToks you might have to recreate.

You need a website that doesn’t look like it crawled out of a 2010 WordPress graveyard. You need a newsletter, because apparently we’re back in 2003 and emails are trendy again. You need to exist on multiple social platforms because nobody agrees on where readers live anymore. TikTok? Threads? Bluesky? Instagram? X? You better be witty, wise, and worth following everywhere. Oh, and you also need to be a video editor, a graphic designer, a community manager, and someone who replies to comments like you’ve got unlimited spoons and an eternal serotonin supply.

And let’s not forget in person events. I’ve been to a few. Sometimes they’re lively and inspiring. Other times, you see authors behind tables with piles of their books and hopeful eyes, trying to smile while strangers awkwardly avoid eye contact. It’s like high school lunch tables all over again, only with more bookmarks. Even book launches, once glamorous milestones, are now DIY marathons. You’re expected to plan the whole thing yourself: giveaways, digital countdowns, themed merch, launch parties. Maybe even a dancing reel if you’re brave enough.

Confident blonde female author sitting at a book fair table, surrounded by stacks of books and smiling at the bustling crowd around her.
Fake it till you make it? More like smile till your face hurts and hope someone asks about your book before the coffee wears off.


Then there’s the dreaded algorithm. A fickle deity who doesn’t care how good your book is or how many nights you cried into your tea over it. It only wants to know: Did you post at peak engagement time while reciting a trending audio and juggling hashtags like a circus act? No? Good luck, sweetheart.

Honestly, it’s a lot. It’s so much. Most of us didn’t get into writing to become online personalities or content creators. We just wanted to tell stories. Not become social media strategists.

So to every author out there showing up anyway, learning one post at a time, facing awkward silences at signings, crafting graphics at midnight, or smiling through the fear—I see you. I admire the hell out of you.

Smiling female writer at her laptop in a cozy, warmly lit room with a sleeping orange cat beside her and a sticky note that says “Be brave.”
This is the goal, right? A quiet moment of joy, a brave heart, and just enough cat hair in the keyboard to prove you’re living the writer’s dream.

And when it’s my turn, I hope I can be just as brave. Because up until now, I’ve only put short stories out into the world. The thought of marketing a whole book? Yeah… it scares the absolute hell out of me.