In every genre I represent, there are some common threads that tie together what I'm looking for. Strong writing with a distinct voice is a must for me. That's sometimes hard to pin down, but when I see it, it jumps off the page and makes me want to keep reading. I also look for complex, multi-dimensional characters who feel real to me—I want to care deeply about what happens to them. I look for immersive, deeply woven, extraordinarily original stories with propulsive plots and richly layered worldbuilding, and I tend to gravitate toward stories that blend genres in ways I may not have seen before.
I'd love to see more projects by writers from Black, Indigenous, Latine/x, Asian, AAPI, SWANA, and African communities and their far-reaching diasporas, as well as the LGBTQIA+, trans and nonbinary, and disabled and neurodiverse communities.
Personal note: I prioritize stories by writers from traditionally underpublished communities. Since working toward correcting the imbalance in whose stories end up on shelves is part of my personal mission statement as an agent, stories with POV characters written from outside a writer's own experience will always be a hard sell for me. In all things, I value authenticity in voices, and while one person's story will never be representative of an entire group or community, each writer's personal experience is valid and their stories are worthy of sharing.
While supporting writers who draw from their own lived experiences and backgrounds is extremely important to me, people's stories do not have to be issue-related or center group or individual traumas for them to be valid and have worth. Sharing the joys and positivity within a community is just as important, in my opinion, as tackling difficult issues.
I do not represent: non-fiction, faith-based/
If you'd like to get a little more in depth on some of my specific #MSWL call-outs, feel free to check out my ever-expanding #MSWL twitter thread.
Jump to Ernie's Submission Guidelines