How do you find literary agents for your genre?
- Combine three databases: QueryTracker, MSWL, Publishers Marketplace.
- Build a list of 50-100 names over 4-6 weeks.
- Verify each agent’s recent sales (last 12-18 months).
- Cross-check against the agency’s website for current open submissions.
- Avoid agents who haven’t made a sale in your genre in 18+ months.
You find agents for your genre by combining three databases: QueryTracker (active agents accepting queries), Manuscript Wish List (agents publishing what they want), and Publishers Marketplace (recent deals showing genre-active agents). Build a list of 50-100 names over 4-6 weeks, then verify each through the agent’s recent sales and submission guidelines.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Most queries are rejected for genre mismatch — sending literary fiction to a thriller agent, or YA to a children’s-book agent. Building a genre-matched list takes 4-6 weeks but is the highest-leverage research a querying writer can do. Skipping this step is the leading cause of "auto-reject within 24 hours" rejections.
Chapter ii·What to include
- QueryTracker: filter by genre, status (open), and response time.
- Manuscript Wish List: search for keywords matching your book.
- Publishers Marketplace: filter recent deals by genre and agent.
- The agent’s agency website: confirm they are open and verify guidelines.
- Twitter or X: follow agents to see #MSWL posts and recent activity.
- A target list document with agent name, agency, genres, recent sales, guidelines URL.
Chapter iii·Example
A debut adult fantasy author spends six weeks building a 67-agent target list. She uses QueryTracker to identify 120 fantasy-active agents, narrows to those with recent sales (Publishers Marketplace), and reads each agency website to verify open submissions. The 67 final names are all active, current, and genre-matched. Eighteen months later she has an offer of representation.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom’s Pitch studio builds agent target lists from current databases, filtered by your genre and recent activity.
See the Pitch studio