Key Takeaways:
- Agents prioritize high-demand genres like YA, LGBTQ+, and horror.
- A concise, urgent hook in your query letter wins requests.
- A strong author platform shows built-in readers and boosts your pitch.
- Impeccable formatting and voice on first pages signal professionalism.
- Real deals show what high-concept, emotionally charged pitches sell.
1. Trending Genres Agents Seek in 2025
Agents chase genres with proven reader appetite. A recent analysis of 100 agent and editor profiles reveals the top five fiction categories:
Women’s Fiction – 39 mentions, buoyed by book-club buzz and emotional depth.
Young Adult (YA) – 56 mentions for crossover appeal and loyal fans.
LGBTQ+ Fiction – 49 mentions for diverse, inclusive voices.
Horror – 40 mentions as dark, socially conscious thrillers rise.
Commercial Fiction – 39 mentions for mass-market, plot-driven storytelling.
Romantasy and hybrid subgenres also show strong growth, offering fresh twists on established categories.
2. Query Letters That Stand Out
A stellar query must hook an agent in three sentences. According to Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group:
“I look for the urgency in the story. Why do we need to hear the story and why now? What is the moral? I look at writing by the line. I look for what moves the story forward…something that gets a reaction, makes me want to jump out of my seat and be excited.”
Pro tip: Lead with a one-line logline that highlights stakes, conflict, and uniqueness. Then add a two-sentence summary and a brief author bio with relevant credentials or platform stats.
3. Platform Presence: Your Built-In Audience
Agents value authors who bring readers. As Courtney Carpenter notes:
“Platform simply describes all the ways you are visible and appealing to your future, potential, or actual readership.”
Goal: Build an email list (1,000+ subscribers with ≥25% open rate) or earn engaged followers (5,000+ on X/Instagram). Agents equate platform with publicity power and sales potential.
4. Polished Manuscript Presentation
First impressions matter. Agents often read sample pages before queries. Katie Shea Boutillier stresses the importance of:
“Voice, tone, mood, setting, urgency, pace, description, dialogue, and a natural approach to your characters.”
Also, focus your agent research on actual sales over stated wishlists:
“Putting wishlists in the back seat (but not ignoring them) and focusing on what agents actually sell can help narrow your query list.”
5. Real Submission Examples
Success Story
- Susie Nadler’s Lies We Tell About the Stars
Acquired at auction by Andrew Karre at Dutton; two-book deal negotiated by Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency.
Why it worked: High-concept premise—teen detective in post-quake San Francisco—and emotional stakes resonated with agents and editors.
High-Concept Win
- Norman Ollestad & Brendan Kiely’s Sole Survivor
Sold to FSG by agent Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management.
Hook: Real-life survival against deadly odds; clean prose and unique voice secured a six-figure preempt.
6. Insider Tips from Real Agents
- Barbara Poelle (Irene Goodman Lit.)
“The one thing I’m always on the lookout for is quality storytelling.” - Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media)
“Why now? Agents want urgency and moral stakes from page one.” - Jane Friedman (Publishing Expert)
“Research what agents actually sell, not just what they claim they want.”
Ready to craft a winning package? Visit WriteLightGroup.com for expert query critiques, manuscript formatting, and author platform coaching.
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