firstwriter.com's database of literary agents includes details of 2,456 English language literary agents and agencies that don't charge reading fees. The database is continually updated: there have been 45 listings added or updated in the last month, and the database was last updated yesterday, July 16. With over a dozen different ways to narrow your search you can find the right literary agent for your book, fast.
News
Not long ago, authors were generally encouraged to stay in their lanes, writing-wise, in order to build name recognition and audiences. Not so anymore.
“We’re seeing more YA authors step into adult spaces—and when that move is intentional and well aligned, publishers are paying attention,” says Regina Brooks, president of Serendipity Literary Agency.
There might be more than one reason for the shift. “For certain genres—such as fantasy and romantic fantasy—the borders between YA and adult have seemed to blur,” says Peter Knapp, an agent and partner at Park, Fine & Brower. “We are finding we often have projects that might land on either a YA list or an adult list.”
Is category hopping only for high-profile authors? Not necessarily. “A strong voice and loyal readership can travel across categories, but it’s not a given,” Brooks says. “Even established YA names have to show that their adult work stands on its own. Brand equity can buy you creative freedom—but not a blank check. Publishers are still weighing risk, and they’re most receptive when the pivot feels organic and makes sense for the market.”
Do you have a brilliant idea for a book but need help getting it down on paper? GH has teamed up with literary agent Nelle Andrew from Rachel Mills Literary agency to give readers the chance to win valuable feedback on their writing, plus support in finishing their novel.
We’re after someone whose work is unpublished and is without a literary agent. Entries can be in any genre of adult fiction (not children’s or YA, short stories, poetry, drama or plays, or any non-fiction). The winning entry will be the one that grabs our attention, shows the most promise and leaves us wanting to read more.
First prize is £1,500, plus a one-onone, hour-long mentoring session with Nelle, and an extract will be published by GH online. Six readers will get written feedback from a literary agent. So get writing!
Novelist, journalist and publisher Keshava Guha is joining Aevitas Creative Management UK (ACM UK) as a literary agent, effective immediately. Guha will be based in India, where he will build an international list of clients, primarily in non-fiction – across history, biography, social science, psychology, music and sport – but with select fiction projects.
He was previously a senior editor at Juggernaut Books and is the author of Accidental Magic (HarperCollins Publishers India) and The Tiger’s Share (John Murray). As a journalist and essayist, he writes about politics, culture and sport.
Romance and fantasy categories of books in the UK saw record sales last year, according to data gathered from more than 7,000 UK booksellers. Romance & Sagas, as they are officially categorized, increased from £62m in 2023 to £69m in 2024, while Science Fiction & Fantasy saw an even bigger bump – from £59m to £83m, the BBC reports. Both categories have seen these numbers skyrocket since the pandemic, growing year-on-year – back in 2019, romance’s sales sat at £24m, and fantasy at £29m.
We at Authorlink found a parallel boom in the US romance and fantasy markets, driven by the same cultural forces. While the reporting metrics differ—the UK often reports sales value (£) while the US tracks unit sales—the trends are strikingly similar.
Women under 35 years old make up more than half of romantasy purchases, figures show.
Literary agent Rebeka Finch, 28, told the BBC the “voracious” appetite among this demographic, largely driven by BookTok, reflects broader consumer habits. She likens romance readers to Swifties – Taylor Swift fans – known for owning multiple copies of the same album and wanting to feel a tangible connection to their favorite artist.
Articles
Adrienne Schwartz recently acquired an agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agencies. We asked her about her writing, and how she found success.
J. B. Bergstad recently acquired an agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agencies. We asked him about his writing, and how he found success.
firstwriter.com
For as long as there have been writers eager to get published, there have been con artists ready to prey upon them for a quick buck. Nowadays, the internet is rife with phony literary agencies offering writers false hope in return for a small (or not-so-small) sum of money. In this article I'll look at some of the ways you can spot a dodgy agency, and avoid your time, money, and aspirations being abused. While none of the points below guarantee by themselves that an agency is dubious, together they can make a compelling case, and they should all make you tread a little more cautiously.
Rae Phillips recently acquired an agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agencies. We asked her about her writing, and how she found success.
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