33 Writing Contests in November 2016 - No Entry Fees

November may be a cold and dreary month, but it has a bright spot - lots of free writing contests! 

This month there are contests for stories, poems, unpublished and published books, translations, essays, plays - you name it, there's a contest for it. None of these contests charge entry fees, so you have nothing to lose by entering.

Make sure to read the contest guidelines carefully, as some have age and regional restrictions.

If you somehow miss your perfect contest this year, don't worry! Many of these are annual contests. You can get a jump on upcoming contests through this month-by-month listing of free contests: Free Contests. 

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the British Commonwealth.  Genre: Unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. Prize: Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,835) and the overall winner will receive £5,000 (US$7,670). Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work. Prize: $1,000, 6-month fellowship, and a mentorship from an established author. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Drake University Emerging Writer Award. Genre: First book of short stories (collections).  Prize: $1000 plus travel and lodging expenses to read at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers.  Restrictions: Writers must not have published a book, short story, or dramatic work in the mystery field, either in print, electronic, or audio form. Genre: Mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type—i.e., “traditional mysteries.” These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. Prize: Each grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers' conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award (no later than May 2016). In the case of nonfiction, the grant may be used to offset research expenses. Each grant currently includes a $1,500 award plus a comprehensive registration for the following year's convention and two nights' lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,500 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

Hajja Razia Sharif Sheikh Prizes in Nonfiction and Poetry. Restrictions: Undergraduates. Genre: Awards will be given to the best piece in each genre that addresses the experience of being Muslim in America. Winning pieces will speak to the experience — joys and challenges — of being Muslim in America today in ways that educate and inform our readers. Winning pieces may also demonstrate an understanding of Islamic history, culture, contributions, and / or its influence on society. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Jane Lumley Prize for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: The Jane Lumley Prize will only be awarded to writers who have not already published a full length book. However, they may have published a chapbook, and/or found a home for their works in other literary journals. Genre: Poetry. Maximum of eight poems (totaling not more than ten pages). Prize: $300 and winning entries will be featured in the January issue of Hermeneutic Chaos. Deadline: November 1, 2016. 

Glamour Magazine "My Real-Life Story" Essay Contest. Genre: Essay—no more than 3,500 words. Prize: $5,000, publication in Glamour, and meeting a top New York literary agent. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

New York Encounter Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry on the theme "Reality Has Never Betrayed Me." Prize: Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 will be awarded to first, second and third place poems. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Unified Caring Association Student Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to High School Juniors and Seniors. Genre: Creative nonfiction on theme of caring. Prize: $333. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Canadian citizens only. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: C$25,000. Shortlisted authors receive $2,000. Prize: Deadline: November 2, 2016 for books published between October 1 and October 30, 2016. Read details here.

Dylan Thomas Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be aged 39 or under. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31 of the year in which the deadline falls. Genre: Published books of poetry, fiction (novel, novella, or short story collection), radio scripts, or screenplays. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31, 2016. Prize: 30,000 pounds, plus 1,000 pounds for shortlisted authors. Deadline: November 4, 2016. Read details here.

Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published book by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK. Novels must be published in the United Kingdom between 1 April 2016, and 31 March 2017. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of reisdence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: November 9, 2016.

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Genre: First published short story. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $2000 and publication in The PEN America Best Debut Short Stories. Deadline: November 11, 2016.

Neltje Blanchan/Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Awards. Restrictions: Wyoming writers. Genres: The Frank Nelson Doubleday Award is given for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script written by a woman writer. The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award is given annually for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script which is informed by a relationship with the natural world. Prize: $1,000.00. Deadline: November 14, 2016.

Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize is sponsored by the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival. Genre: Non-fiction essay between 4 to 10 pages, set in Brooklyn about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. (Up to 2500 words). Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Flo Gault Student Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Full-time undergraduate college students in Kentucky. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award. Genres: Fiction or nonfiction manuscript that has been rejected by a commercial publisher. The award recognizes "worthy manuscripts that have been overlooked by today's high-pressure, bottom-line publishing conglomerates." Each manuscript is nominated by an in-house editor who has seen his or her literary enthusiasms rejected by a U.S. or Canadian publishing company. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Santa Ana Dramatic Works Contest. Genre: Ten-minute dramatic works (12 pages or less) of any medium (play, screenplay, teleplay). Prize: $100. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada between September 9, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Self-published books are not eligible. Genre: A book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500. Deadline: November 16, 2016: For books published between September 14, 2016 and December 31, 2016 Read details here.

Payton James Freeman Essay Prize. Restrictions: U.S. citizens. Genre: Essay on the subject of change and changes. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 21, 2016.

Arts & Letters Awards. Restrictions: Residents of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Genre: Original creative work in literature, music, visual art and digital multi-media may be entered. Prize: $1,000.00 CAN. Deadline: November 25, 2016.

Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students. Restrictions: Student writers in the 11th grade. Prizes: First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100. Deadline: November 27, 2016.

Build Your Own Blog New Writer Scholarship. Restrictions: Students aged 16 years and up. Genre: Unpublished short story/poem/blog post/(Any written material you are proud of). Prize: $4,000.  Deadline: November 29, 2016.

Best Translated Book Awards for Fiction. Genre: All original translations published between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 are eligible. Reprints and retranslation are ineligible. Prize: $5,000.00. Two awards of $5,000: one apiece for the author and translator of the winning book in fiction. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers. Restrictions: Open to writers aged 16-18. Genre: Poem (1). Prize: Full scholarship to The Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop, an intensive two-week summer seminar for writers aged 16-18. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

Somerset Maugham Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers under the age of 35. Genre: Published work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. Prize: 2,500 pounds apiece to four winners. Prize money must be used for travel. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

UNT Rilke Prize. Restrictions: US citizens or residents. Open to authors with at least two prior published books of poetry. Genre: Book of poetry published between November 1, 2015 and October 31, 2016. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Betty Trask Prize. Restrictions: Author must be a Commonwealth citizen. Genre: First novels, published or unpublished, written by authors under the age of 35 in a "traditional or romantic, but not experimental, style." Prize: Awards totaling 20,000 pounds. Top prize 10,000 pounds. The prize money must be used for foreign travel. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Fountain Magazine Essay Contest. Genre: Essay. 1,500 - 2,500 words. "In the context of this current moment in history, The Fountain’s 2016 Essay Contest invites you to consider the issues facing today’s immigrants. Are you an immigrant, too? Were your parents or grandparents immigrants? Are we all immigrants in this world? How do immigrants contribute to your society? How do they cause problems in your society? How would you help immigrants thrive?" Prize: 1st Place - $1,500, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $300, Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

New Roscommon Writing Award. Restrictions: All entrants must have a connection with the county of Roscommon (born in, living in, currently working in, went to school in, etc). Genres: All. Prize: €500.00. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry and Short Story Competitions. Genre: Poetry, short story. (No limericks.) Prize: Poetry: $200 in each language category (Welsh and English). Short Story: $200.00 (one English-language entry) Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read about the poetry competition here.

17 Writing Conferences in November 2016

Don't forget to vote!

November is a great month for writing conferences and retreats. This is a good time to charge up before the Holidays take over your life. (It's hard to focus on writing when the house is in an uproar. I suggest vast quantities of turkey.)

If you miss your ideal conference this year, there is always next year. To find a month-by-month list of conferences all over the US and Canada, go to Writing Conferences. And if you live abroad, check the resources listed there to find conferences overseas.
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The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. November 2 - 6, 2016, Monterey, CA. Three of the best developmental commercial fiction editor-agents in the business--Paula Munier, Kimberley Cameron, and Michael Neff (see bios on the right)--will be available from 9 AM to noon each day of the retreat for one-on-one sessions with writers. Attendance and focus will be up to each individual writer. They will also schedule, as needed, up to two more hours during afternoons for further one-on-one sessions.

Other Words Literary Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Saint Augustine, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. This year's theme is "Writing Funny: The Literary Art of Humor." The faculty includes poets Kenneth Hart and Michelle Boisseau; fiction writers Ron Cooper and Suzanne Heagy; and nonfiction writers Dawn S. Davies and Bob Kunzinger. The cost of the conference is $50 for FLAC members and $80 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is October 15.

Sanibel Island Writers Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Sanibel Island, Florida. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations, readings, panels, concerts, and book signings. Faculty and visiting writers include poets Richard Blanco, Nickole Brown, and Jessica Jacobs; fiction writers Lynne Barrett, John Dufresne, Gina Frangello, Nathan Hill, Tom Piazza, Darin Strauss, and Liza Wieland; creative nonfiction writers Steve Almond, Sandra Beasley, Stephen Elliott, Jeffrey Thomson, and Sarah Tomlinson; agents Christopher Schelling (Selectric Artists), J. L. Stermer (N. S. Bienstock), and Lauren Tourtelot (Kuhn Projects); and editor Laura Apperson (St. Martin’s Press). The keynote speaker is fiction writer Sue Monk Kidd. The cost of the conference is $500 ($400 for BIG ARTS members and $300 for full-time students). For a manuscript consultation or workshop, submit up to 10 pages of poetry or prose by September 30.

Atlanta Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 5, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia.  publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and marketing workshops. Participating publishing professionals include agents Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates), MacKenzie Fraser-Bub (Fraser-Bub Literary), Pete Knapp (New Leaf Literary), Alexa Stark (Trident Media Group), Julie Stevenson (Lippincott Massie McQuilkin), and Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); editors Hannah Braaten (St. Martin’s Press), Gabriella Doob (Ecco), Sarah Guan (DAW Books), Chloe Moffett (William Morrow), Natasha Simons (Gallery Books), and Amy Stapp (Forge and Tor Teen); and marketing associate Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee. The cost of a single session ranges from $40 to $160; The cost of the discounted “All-Activities Package,” which includes two manuscript critiques, one query letter critique, two pitch sessions, the marketing workshop, and two panels, is $560. Registration deadline November 2.

Picture Book Illustration: From Conception to Birth. November 4-6, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This workshop is designed to give you that competitive edge by providing practical tips and direction from an art director with many years of experience working in the trenches.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference. November 4-6, 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina. Workshops and master classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and panels on publishing and finding an agent. The faculty includes poets Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar, and Lenard D. Moore; fiction writers Clare Beams, Kim Church, and Angela Davis-Gardner; and creative nonfiction writers Haven Kimmel, Bridgette A. Lacy, Debbie Moose, and John Shelton Reed. The cost of the full conference is $200 or $260 (including meals) for members, and $300 or $375 (including meals) for nonmembers until October 28. Onsite registration is $450 for the full conference, $250 for Sunday-only attendance, and $350 for Saturday-only attendance.

Kauai Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 6, 2016, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Kapaa, Hawaii. craft talks, publishing presentations, agent consultations, and readings for fiction writers and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Lynne Cox, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Kristin Hannah, Jill Landis, Laura Moriarty, and Colson Whitehead; participating publishing professionals include Julie Barer (Barer Literary), Silissa Kenney (St. Martin's Press), and Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberly Cameron and Associates). Registration is limited to 150 participants.


Autumn Writing Getaway. Nov 5, 2016, Galloway NJ. Faculty includes Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds, Barbara Hurd, Carol Plum-Ucci, James Richardson, Peter E. Murphy and more.

Cascade Writers Workshop. November 5, 2016, Tacoma, WA. Remember, remember the 5th of November! This seems like the perfect theme for a Mystery/Crime/Noir and all mix of cross genres event! Even if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal, or another genre, knowing how to twist a plot and create tension through crime can make the difference between a best-seller and humdrum novel. Or taking a romance and adding a noir flair gives a fresher voice to the genre. Whether you’re writing straight crime or a mix, join pros Kat Richardson and Brian Thornton for this mysterious event!

ShowMe Writers Masterclass, Nov. 5-6, 2016, Columbia, MO. Sessions on how to get published by publishing pros. Pitchfest with agents.

Words & Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans. Nov 9 - 13, 2016, New Orleans, LA. Faculty includes National Book Award winners Julia Glass, Adam Johnson; Journalist and fiction editor Jorge F.Hernandez; humorists Roy Bount, Jr.and Harrison Scott Key; poets Mark Yackich, Roger Kamenetz, and Peter Cooley; and 16 top agents and editors.

Everything You Need to Know About Children's Book Publishing: A Crash Course. Nov 10 - 13, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. "If you’ve thought about writing for children but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We’ll guide you through the processes of creating, submitting and selling a book or magazine article, provide you with a one-on-one review of your manuscript and answer all of your questions."

Writing by Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. November 11 - 14, 2016, Tahoe City, California. Workshops for book-length manuscripts, as well as craft talks, readings, and agent panels, and individual meetings with agents. The faculty includes fiction writers Samantha Dunn and Alan Heathcock; and fiction and nonfiction writers Pam Houston and B. K. Loren. The cost of tuition, which includes a manuscript review of up to 300 pages with a faculty member, an individual meeting with an agent, lodging at the Granlibakken Resort, and all meals, is $3,250. Registration deadline September 15.

Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. November 11 - 14, 2016, Hatfield, MA. features workshops of book-length poetry manuscripts with poets and editors Peter Covino, Joan Houlihan, Stephen Motika, Martha Rhodes, and Ellen Watson. The cost of the conference is $1,375, which includes tuition, a private room, and meals. Using the online application system, submit three to four poems and a brief bio.

Time Sculpting: A Workshop for Parent Artists. November 12, 2016, NY, NY. Writing Faculty includes: Melissa Febos, Carmen Maria Machado, Kristin Prevallet, and Colleen Kinder. Professional Development for Teachers led by Sarah Dohrman.

Wake Up and Write Writer's Retreat Workshop. Nov 14 - 19, 2016, Haverford, PA. Classes, one-on-ones, and plenty of writing time. Faculty: author/Instructor David Corbett (The Mercy of the Night, The Art of Character) Author/Instructor Arianne Tex Thompson (Children of the Drought series) Editor-in Residence Jason Sitzes Director/Instructor Carol Dougherty.

The Writers Workshop of Las Vegas, November 19, 2016, Las Vegas, NV. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites – Las Vegas. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. Attending agents: Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Jamie Bodnar Drowley (Inklings Literary); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary); Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary); and Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary).

25th Free “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest: Thrillers and Horror

Every so often, Chuck Sambuccino, the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, runs a free contest called "Dear Lucky Agent." These contests allow writers to submit one page of their manuscript to be judged by an agent.

Winners of the contest have a more than good chance of getting representation. It's good to enter contests, not just because you may win one, but because they force you to write short summaries and synopses, and to polish your first few pages until they shine. These are usually the only pages an agent will see before making a decision. (Sometimes they only read a paragraph.)

The contest deadline is Tuesday, October 25, 2016. CLICK HERE for more details.

For hundreds of free contests organized by month see: FREE CONTESTS.

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From the Website:

Welcome to the 25th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. If you’re writing any kind of thriller or horror novel (for adults), then this 25th contest is for you! The contest is live through end of day, Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Alec Shane of Writers House.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a previous “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! These contests can’t be missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to dearluckyagent25@gmail.com. Please paste everything. No attachments.

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Agent Alec Shane began his career at Writers House in September of 2008. He is now actively building his list and currently represents a fairly eclectic mix of children’s and adult fiction and nonfiction. On the fiction side, he loves mysteries, thrillers, bad-ass protagonists with a chip on their shoulders, beautifully told historical fiction (The Vietnam War, the Maccabees, and The American Revolution fascinate him), well-researched adventure stories, and great horror. In terms of children’s books, getting boys to read again is especially important to him, and thus he’s particularly on the lookout for a fun middle-grade adventure series, ghost story, or anything else geared toward younger male readers. On the nonfiction side, he is attracted to odd, quirky histories, military history, biographies of people he didn’t even know existed (but definitely should have), “guy” reads, humor, narrative nonfiction that sheds light on under-the-radar events and lifestyles, and all things sports. Find him on Twitter: @Alecdshane.

WHAT TO SUBMIT (AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS)

The first 150-250 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed thriller or horror novel. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also note your city of residence (i.e. — the city you live in, not your full address). Submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry. Self-published novels are not eligible.

Please note: To be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any any social-media. Please provide a social-media link or Twitter handle or screenshot or blog post URL, etc., with your official e-mailed entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step! Simply spread the word twice through any means and give us a way to verify you did; a TinyURL for this link/contest for you to easily use is http://tinyurl.com/zagnp4r.

An easy way to notify me of your sharing is to include my Twitter handle @chucksambuchino at the end of your mention(s) if using Twitter. If we’re friends on FB, tag me in the mention. If you are going to just use Twitter as your 2 entries, please wait one day between mentions to spread out the notices, instead of simply tweeting twice back to back. Thanks. (Please note that simply tweeting me does not count. You have to include the contest URL with your mention; that’s the point. And if you use Twitter, put my handle @chucksambuchino at the middle or the end, not at the very beginning of the tweet, or else the tweet will be invisible to others.)

Here is a sample TWEET you can use (feel free to tweak): New FREE contest for writers of thrillers and horror http://tinyurl.com/zagnp4r Judged by agent @Alecdshane, via @chucksambuchino

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Literary Fiction, Memoir, Nonfiction and more

Updated 8/25/19

Here are two new agents seeking clients. Rick Pascocello (Glass Literary Management), a long-time marketing executive at Random House, is looking for nonfiction, including memoir, biography, history, narrative, business, sports, and popular culture, along with mainstream and literary fiction.

Grace Ross (Regal Hoffmann & Associates) is interested in literary fiction; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. In nonfiction, she is looking for socially and politically conscious narratives, especially those that engage with cultural conversations about gender, race, and class in an accessible way; but she's also drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory, and memoir.

Note: For a comprehensive list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients see: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

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Grace Ross of Regal Hoffmann & Associates

NO LONGER AN AGENT

Grace A. Ross recently joined Regal Hoffmann as a junior agent. She started her career at Oxford University Press in editorial before transitioning to agenting, first at Lowenstein Associates and then at Denise Shannon Literary Agency in 2014. Grace was born in Washington, DC and holds a B.A. in English/American Studies from Wesleyan University.

What she is looking for: Grace is interested in literary fiction that experiments with form and speaks to the current cultural climate; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. In nonfiction, she is looking for socially and politically conscious narratives, especially those that engage with cultural conversations about gender, race, and class in an accessible way; but she's also drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory, and memoir. 

How to submit: Please send query to submissions@rhaliterary.com. Submissions should consist of a one-page query letter detailing the book in question as well as the qualifications of the author. For fiction, submissions may also include the first ten pages of the novel or one short story from a collection.

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Rick Pascocello of Glass Literary Management
CLOSED TO QUERIES

Long-time Penguin Random House marketing executive Rick Pascocello has joined Glass Literary Management as a literary agent. Pascocello spent 23 years with Penguin Random House, where he was v-p and executive director of marketing.

What he is looking for: Nonfiction, including memoir, biography, history, narrative, business, sports, and popular culture, along with mainstream and literary fiction.

How to submit: Please send your query to rick@glassliterary.com. He prefers queries that: describe your book concisely; are well-written and typo-free; show an understanding of the marketplace and where your book would fit into it; and show why you are the best person to be writing the book you’re proposing.

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Clients

These two agents are actively seeking clients. Vanessa Robins (Corvisiero Literary) is seeking NA—all, especially humor; YA—gritty plots with diverse characters; Fiction—thought out thrillers, romance with strong female leads, heavily based science sci-fi, and sports-centric plots; Nonfiction—memoirs including coming of age, cultural/ethnic/sexuality, survivor, and humor themed. Bonus points for Medical Narratives (characters with medical illnesses and chronic diseases, or MS told through a medical professional’s view point). Amelia Appel (TriadaUS) is most interested in literary fiction, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and horror.

Note: For a comprehensive list of new and established agents actively seeking new clients see: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

CLOSED TO QUERIES

Vanessa Robins of Corvisiero Literary

Vanessa is a writer, reader, and lover of food. From Lancaster, Pennsylvania—no, she’s not Amish— she graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in May of 2015 with a degree in English literary studies and a minor in professional writing. Vanessa was Managing Editor of her college’s undergraduate literary magazine for two years, where her love of literature thrived, and her passion for the publishing world was created. When she isn’t reading or working, Vanessa can be found playing rec league softball (her team is called “Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Batman *and Women*,” in case you were wondering), experimenting in the kitchen, knitting, or screaming at her favorite sports teams (go Eagles and Phillies!).

What she is seeking: NA—all, especially humor; YA—gritty plots with diverse characters; Fiction—thought out thrillers, romance with strong female leads, heavily based science sci-fi, and sports-centric plots; Nonfiction—memoirs including coming of age, cultural/ethnic/sexuality, survivor, and humor themed. Bonus points for Medical Narratives (characters with medical illnesses and chronic diseases, or MS told through a medical professional’s view point). See our monthly MSWL blog post for more detailed requests.

Will not represent: PB, MG, Screenplays, and Erotica.

How to Submit: Please query Vanessa Robins by emailing query@corvisieroagency.com and putting “ATTN: Vanessa Robins-Query [Book Title]” in the subject line. Vanessa prefers if you write a brief query letter in the body of your email and attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript to the email in separate Word .doc files. Your query letter should include links to any social media or author websites.
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Amelia Appel of TriadaUS

Amelia Appel is a graduate of Hamilton College. Prior to joining TriadaUS, Amelia interned at HSG Agency and Writers House, where she was later an assistant. She joined M&O in 2014 as Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein’s assistant and is currently seeking to build her own list as a junior agent. Twitter: @AmeliaLAppel

What she is seeking: Amelia is looking to represent primarily adult fiction with some YA. For adult, she is most interested in literary fiction, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and horror. Projects with a smart, distinct voice, a fantastic setting to jump into, and/or a witty protagonist are all up her alley. For YA in particular she’s interested in stories with a savvy protagonist and a slightly dark tone that deals with serious coming-of-age issues well.

How to Submit: Please send an email with QUERY and the manuscript title in the email's subject line. In the body of the email, please paste your query letter, the first ten pages of the manuscript, a full synopsis, and an author bio.
EMAIL: amelia@triadaus.com

6 Literary Agents Seeking Horror NOW

Updated 3/7/25

These six agents are seeking horror right now. All are from established agencies with solid track records.

For more literary agents seeking horror see: 7 Agents Looking for Horror Writers

Note: You can find dozens of agents seeking writers here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

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Ginger Clark (Ginger Clark Literary)

Before starting her own agency, Ginger Clark was an literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD (New York). On the adult side of her list she represents science fiction, fantasy and horror. On the children’s side she represents middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. In addition to representing her own clients, she also handles British Commonwealth rights for the agency’s children’s list. She attends the Bologna Book Fair every year on behalf of her agency, and visits London annually as well. Previously, she worked at Writers House for six years as an assistant literary agent. Her first job in publishing was as an editorial assistant at Tor Books. She is the Chair of the Contracts Committee of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, and a member of its International Committee.

What she is seeking: For adult, Ginger has a special focus on science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, and women’s fiction. 

How to Submit: Send a query letter and your contact information to submissions (at) GingerClarkLiterary (dot) com. Ginger will respond within two weeks, but only if interested in reviewing materials.



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Keith Stillman of Sobel Weber Associates

Keith is a former writing teacher and bookseller. He graduated from the NYU Summer Publishing Institute and the Writer’s House Internship Program, and holds a Master of Arts in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University. He has a diverse taste in books, but tends to lean toward upmarket crime and horror fiction with a tilt toward the bizarre and fantastic. 

What he is seeking: Keith is open to crime fiction, mystery, light speculative fiction, and horror. 

How to submit: Please send your pitch, first ten pages, and bio to kstillman@sobelweber.com. 

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Laura Crockett of Triada US

What she is seeking: ​In YA, Laura is seeking contemporary realistic fiction (romcoms, fierce feminists, strong family/friendship dynamics, light-hearted and humorous, interesting jobs/hobbies, hopeful) like A Pho Love Story, Happily Ever Afters, and Dumplin’; historical fiction (original, accessible, unique, uncharted areas of female and/or non-European history) like Outrun the Moon and A Madness So Discreet; and fantasy (fractured fairytales, culturally-influenced folklore, historically-inspired, lush world-building, horror) akin to The Star-Touched Queen, The Lie Tree, A Magic Steeped in Poison, and Six Crimson Cranes.

 

In adult fiction, she is seeking fantasy (epic, historical, folklore/fairytale), horror, gothic, dark academia.

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How to submit: When querying Laura, please include the first ten pages in the body of your email. She can be contacted at laura@triadaus.com.

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Kurestin Armada (Root Literary Agency)

“I love working with creators to form a roadmap for the rest of their career. Talking to people with projects that are ambitious, strange, personal, and just outrageously fun is the spark that keeps me going. I'm here to be their advocate and make sure they can keep writing for years and years to come.”

What she is seeking: Horror fiction that's fresh and updated and in conversation with the current issues of today, preferably something atmospheric over grisly; think something like NIGHTBITCH, SPITE HOUSE, or THE NIGHT GUEST.

How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.

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Ms. Valentina Sainato of JABberwocky Literary Agency

Valentina (she/they) is an agency assistant at JABberwocky assisting Eddie Schneider. She also handles all merchandise and third-party licensing proposals.

She graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a B.A. in English and has lived in New York City ever since. Outside of their literary interests, Valentina is a dancer of many different styles, a video game lover, and a ~very~ amateur digital artist.

Before joining JABberwocky, Valentina worked as an Events Manager with Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side, where they hosted a huge variety of author events, book clubs, children’s activities, and more. She has also interned at Foundry Literary + Media, Folio Literary Management, and the Feminist Press at CUNY.

What she is seeking: Horror is my favorite genre to read, and I’m looking for lots of different flavors here. If it’s spooky, eerie, disorienting, thrilling, existential, or even horror-lite, I want to read it. Blends with sci-fi/fantasy are also welcome! 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Maximilian Ximenez (L. Perkins Agency)

Maximilian Ximenez grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development.

What he is seeking: He is actively pursuing science fiction, fantasy, horror and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent.

How to Submit: Send query letter to submissions [@] lperkinsagency.com. Include the first five pages of your novel with your query letter. No attachments.

2 Established Agents Actively Seeking Writers

Updated 3/5/25

Here are two established agents seeking clients. Anna Worrall of The Gernert Company is looking to represent smart women’s literary and commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, as well as narrative practical, food & drink, and lifestyle nonfiction. Tracy Marchini of BookEnds is seeking middle grade fiction (including contemporary, mysteries, magical realism or historical fiction), middle grade non-fiction, author-illustrated picture books in fiction and non-fiction and children's illustrators. 

Note: You can find dozens of new and established literary agents looking for clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

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Anna Worrall of The Gernert Company

Anna is a Vice President and literary agent at The Gernert Company, which she joined in 2010. She also sells audio rights for the agency. Anna lives with her husband and sons in Portland, Maine.

What she is seeking: Her fiction tastes include smart literary and commercial fiction and psychological thrillers, and on the nonfiction side she’s interested in practical, narrative, food & drink, and lifestyle.

How to submit: Please send us a query letter to info@thegernertco.com describing the work you'd like to submit, along with some information about yourself and a sample chapter if appropriate. Please indicate in your letter which agent you are querying. You can visit the AGENCY section of the website to get a sense of who might be a good fit for your work. If you have previously corresponded with one of their agents and choose to query another, please let them know of any communication history in your letter. Please do not send e-mails directly to individual agents, even if their email addresses are available elsewhere online. The agency asks that you do not phone the office regarding unsolicited manuscripts for any reason.

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Tracy Marchini of BookEnds

After four years as a Literary Agents Assistant at Curtis Brown, Tracy Marchini left to pursue her own editorial business and to earn her MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons College. Her editorial clients have gone on to secure representation, sell books to traditional publishers, win awards and become bestsellers in the UK. She’s looking forward to being able to work with her BookEnds clients throughout their careers and to (hopefully!) see them grow as authors in the same way.

What she is seeking: Tracy is currently looking for middle grade fiction (including contemporary, mysteries, magical realism or historical fiction), middle grade non-fiction, author-illustrated picture books in fiction and non-fiction and children's illustrators. She does not represent books for adults and is not currently seeking YA.

How to submit: Tracy is open from the 10th - 20th of every month. Query her at http://queryme.online/tmarchini.

7 Literary Agents Seeking Picture Books

Updated 3/4/25

These seven agents are seeking picture books. As long as people continue to have children, picture books will never go out of style. (They are even quite entertaining for adults.)

Note: You can find dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an agent without checking the agency website first. Submission requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch agencies.

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Emily Van Beek (Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management)

"Representing an author or artist, whether aspiring or established, is an honor and a commitment I take very seriously. I am passionate about children’s and young adult books. I am passionate about negotiating the best deal possible. I am passionate about working together with our experienced and esteemed subsidiary rights and contracts teams to squeeze as much juice out of a single property as it will yield. I find it incredibly rewarding to work with new voices (and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve discovered several irresistible projects by debut authors and artists in the submissions pile). I’m also committed to helping established authors and artists continue to grow their careers. I am an “editorial” agent, in that I’ll work through as many drafts over the course of as many years as it takes to polish a manuscript I believe in to a high shine prior to submission. My goal is to build long-term relationships with authors and artists and to help them publish books that will stand the test of time."

What she is looking for: Author-illustrator submissions only please. No submissions that are text-only.

How to submit: emily [at] foliolitmanagement.com. “To submit a picture book, please attach a PDF of your dummy. Links to online portfolios are always welcome. I would very much like to be able to respond to every query, but unfortunately time doesn’t allow for it. Please be sure to write ‘QUERY’ in the subject line as this will ensure I do not miss your letter. If you haven’t heard back from me within six weeks, I’m sorry to say I’ve decided I’m not the ideal match for your project.”

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Ms. Christie Megill of The CAT Agency

Christie Megill joined The CAT Agency in 2022 after interning with Writers House, Triada US, and Cardinal Rule Press. She’s overjoyed to be working with artists and children’s book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. Christie comes from a background in elementary education and before pursuing education, she previously worked as an editorial assistant at an academic press in New York City, as a volunteer at the Housing Works Bookstore in SoHo, and as a bookseller at the bygone Borders Books and Music in Columbus Circle. She holds a BA in English Literature from Fordham University. Born and raised in Connecticut, she now considers New York City her forever home.

What she is seeking: Christie Megill: is eager to work with illustrators, author/illustrators, and picture book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. Please send her: children’s illustration portfolios, picture book dummies, picture book manuscripts, children’s graphic novel pitches, and the select chapter book project. While her taste is broad, she’s especially excited to find fresh stories and artwork from voices that have previously been underrepresented.

How to submit: Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. Please send work that shows character development, style, color and narrative story-telling.

Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it.

Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line!
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Ms. Kait Feldmann of KT Literary

Kait joined kt literary in 2024, but has been romping around children’s publishing for over a decade. She was previously an editor at Scholastic and HarperCollins, where her list included award-winning books that received a Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Sibert Honor; the Ezra Jack Keats Award; and appearances on Best of lists for The New York Times, NPR, Kirkus, and more. She is a founding member of People of Color in Publishing and a recipient of the CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award. Kait resides in a hoarder’s paradise in Los Angeles, surrounded by books. When she’s not reading those, she can often be found crafting, estate sale hopping, or playing board games.

What she is seeking: Kait specializes in picture books and graphic novels and is accepting queries from illustrators and author-illustrators. 

How to submit: You can query Kait at querykait@ktliterary.com. Attach your book dummy if you are working on one and include a link to your website/portfolio

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Wendi Gu of HG Literary

Wendi grew up in the sleepy suburbs of Chicago and studied Creative Writing at Northwestern University. As an undergraduate, she interned with children's book agent Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and continued working there as a literary assistant after graduation. She soon began representing her own picture books, middle-grade, and young adult titles with a special interest in girl power, family relationships, and the immigrant experience. She likes stories that root for the underdog. Her favorite books have voices that range from warm and lyrical, to witty and deadpan.

What she is seeking: She is looking for picture books that straddle humor and heart, lyrical middle grade, and daring, sharp YA. She loves a visually striking board book, as well as graphic novels that share lesser-known pieces of history and those quieter slices of life. She especially adores stories of all genres if they are from around the world, multigenerational diaspora experiences, and books that teachers, librarians, and parents might find as helpful tools for challenging subjects. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Bibi Lewis (Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency)

“Bibi is actively acquiring clients in Children’s (picture books through YA, both fiction and non) and Adult. For Adult titles she is primarily interested in Romance, Women’s Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers. She manages subsidiary rights for the agency in addition to her duties as an agent and general office manager.”

How to submit: Please send submissions to agent@ethanellenberg.com to the attention of Bibi Lewis.

For email submissions, paste all materials into the body of the email in the order mentioned below. For picture books, please include:

• a brief query letter
• complete manuscript (text only)
• 4-5 images of sample illustrations pasted into the body of the email, if you have them. Illustrations are not required for picture books and you may submit only the text.

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Ms. Amy Flynn of Aevitas Creative Management

Amy Thrall Flynn has 20 years of experience in children’s book publishing. She started her career as an editor at the former Houghton Mifflin Books for Children in Boston, where she trained under industry legends Walter Lorraine and Anita Silvey. Among the dozens of talented creators she had the honor and pleasure of working with are Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop, whose The Snake Scientist launched the long-running acclaimed “Scientists in the Field'' series; award-winning nonfiction picture book author-illustrator Don Brown; artist James Rumford; storyteller Alice McGill; and Olivier Dunrea and his beloved “Gossie & Friends'' series. Amy also worked as an elementary school teacher before she joined Rubin Pfeffer Content in 2019.

What she is seeking: Amy is looking for unforgettable voices and fresh perspectives in all genres, with a focus on picture books, innovative nonfiction for ages 2 - 12, and character-driven middle grade novels.

How to submit: See submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Shannon Gallagher of Wernick & Pratt Agency

Shannon Gallagher spent more than twelve years in the marketing departments at various adult trade publishers, including Rodale, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster. After moving from Brooklyn to upstate New York, she spent several years as a book reviewer and copywriter. When she saw an opening at Wernick & Pratt, she was intrigued at the thought of learning about both literary agencies and children’s literature, two facets of publishing she had not yet had the opportunity to explore. After two years learning as much as she possibly could from the accomplished, dedicated agents here, Shannon was thrilled to become an Associate Agent, where she could utilize her marketing experience -– getting the right information to the right people –- to better identify, encourage, and promote authors and illustrators. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College (go, Seven Sisters!), Shannon lives with her husband and daughter in the beautiful Hudson Valley.

What she is seeking: Shannon is interested in both fiction and nonfiction in all categories of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult, and she especially welcomes underrepresented perspectives.

How to submit: Please send all submissions to submissions@wernickpratt.com. Read their guidelines HERE.