Writing How to Successfully Find and Attract Your Agent

LeilaniOtter · Oct 6, 2025

My housemate and I started a literary agency in 1997, before closing down in 2010. In that span, we were blessed with meeting over 200 authors, reading their manuscripts (for which we required no fee), and then suggesting affordable editing if needed (if not from us, from people we knew in the industry) We were open to a lot of genres and subject matter, but shied away from the controversial ones at the time. I think in the 90s, we really tried to stay away from graphic sex and violence. Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, for example, really put up red flags for a lot of agencies, and when it started to get banned, we could sense the winds of change. *^^* But the 90's really saw an explosion of historical fiction, fantasy, and thrillers. So we latched onto these types more than others.

And this is exactly the kind of research you should be doing now. For mainstream success, if you want to break into the industry, you have to know the industry like the back of your paw. You need to know what's trending, what's falling, what's hot right now, what's controversial and possibly in danger of being banned, etc. Knowing this gives you a giant step up when you approach an agent.

Being able to write in your query letter, for example, (let's say it's the 90's for now) "My novel (name) fits smoothly in with the trends of today, and in fact crosses popular genres, with its historical fiction mixed with a delightful undertone of fantasy." This is stuff agents REALLY love to read from people - the agent thinks, "Awesome, they studied!"?

So, the first lesson: Get to a New Times Best Seller List, a Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Library Journal, etc. I believe there's a really awesome website called "Book Riot" that also provides insights into what's hot or not.

Okay, more tips later. I'm cooking dinner. ?

LeilaniOtter · Oct 7, 2025

Let's call this Part Two, I guess. ? ?

You've glomed the industry and you know what's hot right now. Okay, does this mean you should forget about trying to pitch your non-trending book to an agent? Of course not. Just because your book doesn't "make it" as a hot title, doesn't mean it can't still be attractive to an agent. You just need to find the perfect match between the two, and how do you find that?

Again, just do some research and a lot of reading. It starts with looking at other books that are similar to yours, opening them up and reading them. Yes, it's that easy. It's not brain surgery or rocket science. Review your book's synopsis and try to Google search for books that might be similar to yours, in genre, or subject matter, or maybe a certain kind of character. Find a list of about 20 books that you think run with similar lines as yours, note the author of each book, and then read them.

Example: You have horror mixed with a little erotica, like what I love writing?

Oooh, check out Laurel K. Hamilton's agent, as an example, and in fact, look for other books that are similar to Hamilton's. This is all you need to do. Because if this particular agent loves Hamilton's style, they're going to be wide open to seeing someone else with horror or dark fantasy, mixed with erotica. And in fact, that's how your query letter should sound:

"I just finished reading Laurel K. Hamilton's "Smolder" and I was (here, just give a few details why you loved it). My novel (name) deals with vampire hunters as well (explain a bit about this, and why you think the agent would love to check it out)"

And there you are. You will have an interested agent that will, at the least, ask for a sample chapter. Because agents love to get referrals this way! You mentioning one of their clients, and your interest in their books, just makes you that much more likely to avoid the slush pile.

1.) research and read other books like yours.
2.) Note the author's name for each
3.) Find out who their agent is (A Google search should help here)
4.) Send your query, expressing interest based on what you read, and why your book might be attractive too

So, if you still have questions, and need some help with connections, please send me a note. I'm sure I can help get you in the right direction. ?

Good luck! *^^*

LeilaniOtter · Oct 7, 2025

These are the current trends in popular books:

Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Fantasy, and Young Adult (YA) fiction, with Nonfiction genres like Self-Help, Memoirs, and History also proving popular. Emerging genres like Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi), New Weird, and Literary Horror show promise, while Graphic Novels and the Children's market, especially interactive books and diverse stories, continue to grow.

Popular Fiction Genres

Romance: This genre remains a strong performer, consistently ranking as a top seller.
Mystery & Thriller: Suspenseful and engaging mysteries and thrillers are widely popular.
Fantasy & Science Fiction: These speculative genres, including science fantasy, continue to attract readers.
Young Adult (YA): YA fiction is a consistently strong market, appealing to a broad audience.
Historical Fiction: Stories set in the past, offering fresh perspectives, are in demand.

Popular Nonfiction Genres

Self-Help: Books that offer guidance and personal improvement are a significant part of the market.
Memoir: Authentic stories exploring human experiences and often touching on various life events are trending.
History & Biography: Untold or underexplored histories and biographies are attracting interest.
Pop Culture: Books analyzing and commenting on contemporary cultural trends are a popular niche.

Emerging & Niche Genres

Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi): Stories where climate change is a central force driving the narrative are gaining traction.
New Weird: This is an exciting genre characterized by unique and unsettling elements.
Literary Horror: A blend of literary quality and horror elements is a growing area of interest.
Graphic Novels: The demand for comics and graphic books remains strong.
Puzzle Box Narratives: Complex, layered narratives that invite reader engagement are a notable emerging trend

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