I Analyzed Three Months of Data: Here's What Literary Agents Are Looking For
Read on for the most sought-after genres and the best time to query
If you follow my page (which you totally should), you already know that I’ve been posting an updated list of literary agents who are accepting manuscript queries each week (Check out my Query Calls column if you haven’t yet).
That means I have three months of data sitting on my computer, waiting to be analyzed. We’re talking April to June 2025—over 100 agents’ calls for submissions.
Recently, I threw all of that information into AI to uncover which genres have been the most sought-after this spring, and when is the best time to submit your queries.
The results are in. Make your guesses, then read on to find out!
Most In-Demand Fiction Genres:
LGBTQ+
Romance
Young Adult
Fantasy
Multiculural
Thrillers/Suspense
Women’s Fiction
Mystery
Upmarket
Commercial
Most In-Demand Nonfiction Genres:
Art/Photography
Juvenile/Graphic
Biography
Cultural/Social Issues
Business/Finance
Cookbook
Memoir
How To
Narrative
General Nonfiction
The Best Time to Query:
Hands down, the first week of the month. Consistently, over 30 agents opened their inboxes to submissions within the first seven days. The following weeks reported, on average, 10 agents per week.
Key Takeaways:
💡 Diverse perspectives are in demand: LGBTQ+ characters, multicultural themes, and inclusive stories showed up again and again in both fiction and non-fiction lists.
💡 Cross-genre = strong advantage: Think “LGBTQ+ Fantasy Romance” or “Upmarket Thriller with Feminist Themes.” Touching on multiple trending genres could help your submission go further, especially if the agents you’re querying are looking for them all.
💡 Time it right. If your query is ready, aim to send it between the 1st and 7th of the month. That’s when agents are clearly most active and open to submissions.