33+ poetry literary agents whose current PairPi record says they are open to submissions. Each listing includes a source link and last-checked date.
33+ verified agents · 33 currently open
Children's and ya
Children's picture book texts, junior novels, YA (incl thrillers/romance), verse, children's non-fiction concepts, broad/non-prescriptive
Online form - https://amheath.com or submissions
Literary fiction, psychological thrillers, poetry, children's books, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks
Wants: Query letter, brief sample in email body
Literary fiction, psychological thrillers, poetry, children's books, narrative nonfiction, and cookbooks
Submissions strictly via dedicated email address: submissions@dvagency.com
Literary fiction, book club fiction, grounded speculative, horror, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, poetry, ya
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
Literary and book club fiction, grounded speculative, horror, thrillers, narrative and practical nonfiction, as well as select poetry and YA
Email queries directly to Ashley at ashley@mmqalit.com with word 'query' and project title in subject line, include first 10 pages in body of email
Fiction
Character-driven speculative fiction, female-led literary and crossover, book club fiction, contemporary rom-coms, sweeping love stories (historical/contemporary), crime and psychological thrillers, female-led fantasy, romantasy, retellings. Not: children/YA, police procedurals, cosy crime, epic sci-fi, poetry, plays, screenplays, any non-fiction
Elena is currently open for submissions. Send your cover letter, one-page synopsis, and first three chapters as attachments, not in the body of the email. Submit to submission@dhhliteraryagency.com. Only submit to one agent at DHH Literary Agency
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Fiction: love/loyalty/relationships, family drama/secrets, moral dilemmas, thrillers including legal, dystopian/speculative with mainstream crossover appeal. Non-fiction: original thinkers, personal growth, philosophy/insight
Email submissions@janklow.co.uk with your name, the title of your work, and the name of the agent in the subject line. Include a covering letter in the body of the email. For fiction, attach a synopsis and first three chapters or first 50 pages. For non-fiction, attach a full chapter outline and a sample chapter if possible. For poetry, attach a short pitch and 3-5 sample poems. Attachments should be in Word or PDF format.
Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry
Literary fiction with clarity, energy and intention, ambitious structure/craft, tactile/idiosyncratic sentences, strange/spooked books, big family novels and love stories, literary genre-bending. Non-fiction: literary biography, social/cultural/oral history, creative scholarship, memoir/essay, interests include art, design, psychoanalysis, food, women's lives
Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with subject line marked FAO Harriet Moore. Include a cover letter with a short book description, any writing credits or qualifications, and a brief bio. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or 50 pages plus a short synopsis. For narrative non-fiction, attach a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. For subject-led non-fiction, attach a proposal of approximately 5,000 words and at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Attachments should be Microsoft Word compatible. Submit to one agent only, no postal submissions. If you have not heard back within three months, treat this as a pass.
Literary fiction, thriller, non-fiction, cultural commentary, history, science, politics, psychoanalysis, poetry
Wants: Cover letter, biographical note, first three chapters (fiction) or proposal (non-fiction)
Extraordinary and precisely crafted literary fiction in the vein of Anita Brookner, Jenny Offill, and Gwendoline Riley—work that transforms everyday experience into elegant prose. She is also drawn to literary fiction that plays with genre, including political and erotic thrillers with astute characterization and propulsive pacing, as well as narratives exploring obsession, infatuation, longing, and belonging. In contemporary prose, she looks for playful, innovative writing with sharp observation and wit—novels that assess humanity with shrewdness, clarity, and humour. For non-fiction: stylish writing and fresh perspectives on history, science, politics, and cultural commentary from experts, academics, journalists, and critics writing for trade audiences, as well as experimental, genre-defying work and thought-provoking writing on psychoanalysis and therapy.
Send a brief cover letter along with a biographical note and either the first three chapters of your work (if fiction) or a proposal (if non-fiction) to kat@lexingtonliterary.co.uk.
Children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's nonfiction, mystery, ghost story, poetry, theater
Wants: First twenty pages, bio, synopsis, proposal, sample chapter
Stephen Fraser is Executive Agent at The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency and represents children's books in a wide range of genres. He is looking for good, original writing: picture books with delicious words, enduring middle grade stories with strong characters and plots, young adult novels with identifiable teens and hopeful, interesting stories for the soon-to-be adult, and nonfiction for children, both picture books and longer works, about original, child-friendly topics. He mentions a good mystery, a ghost story, poetry, theater, and work that dazzles him.
For children's fiction queries, email Stephen Fraser at fraserstephena@gmail.com with the first 20 pages in the body of the email, plus a one-paragraph bio and one-paragraph synopsis. For nonfiction queries, attach the entire proposal as a Word document, including a sample chapter, and include a one-paragraph bio and one-paragraph synopsis in the email body. JDLA asks writers to query one agency agent at a time and does not accept snail-mail queries.
Literary fiction, speculative fiction, narrative nonfiction, subject-led nonfiction, poetry
Wants: Literary-spectrum fiction (incl speculative); narrative-forward nonfiction with original idea/voice; not currently taking on new poets
Literary novels that prioritise plot and find fun, surprising ways to explore ideas or a moment in time — entertaining, thought-provoking, and ideally moving. Open to work that plays with and elevates genre. In nonfiction, drawn to original ideas with unique, narrative-driven telling, whether from journalists, memoirists, thought leaders, academics, or cultural figures. Not currently taking on new poets.
Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the agent's name in the subject line. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative nonfiction, attach a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. For subject-led nonfiction, attach a proposal of around 5,000 words and at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a book description, any writing credits or qualifications, and a brief bio. Do not submit directly to the agent's assistant.
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Story-led and character-driven novels, rich worldbuilding (realist/speculative, contemporary/historical). Non-fiction: history, politics, philosophy, psychology, true crime, narrative sports writing, literary biography, academics, journalists, critics
Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the subject line marked FAO Emma Paterson. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative non-fiction, send a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing, for subject-led non-fiction, send a proposal of approximately 5,000 words outlining the book and your credentials, plus at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a brief book description, any writing credits or relevant qualifications, and a short biographical note. Note whether you are submitting simultaneously to other agencies.
Memoir, biography, food writing, graphic nonfiction, essays, pop science, pop culture, self-help, historical narrative, humor, business, high concept suspense, women's fiction, literary fiction, verse novels, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first chapter, graphic excerpt, proposal
Gordon Warnock seeks fresh voices, timely and timeless projects, socially responsible nonfiction by authors with strong expertise or platforms, memoir and biography, food narrative and history, graphic and illustrated nonfiction, essays on social issues, pop science, pop or geek culture, self-help, historical narrative, humor, how-to, business and career, high-concept suspense, book club women's fiction, literary fiction, verse novels for YA and MG, and graphic novels for adults, YA, and MG.
Query Gordon Warnock by email at querygordon@fuseliterary.com or through conferences he attends. For text-based works, paste the first chapter below the query, for memoir, paste the first chapter, for graphic nonfiction or graphic novels, attach a 10-page sequential PDF excerpt of finished artwork not exceeding 50 MB. Unsolicited submissions by paper mail or social media will be discarded unread.
Nonfiction, memoir, faith, culture, poetry, children's books
Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages
John Blase is listed as a literary agent at The Bindery and is associated with nonfiction, memoir, faith and culture, poetry-adjacent writing, and selected children's work.
Use the agent-specific submission link from John Blase's profile on The Bindery about page. The agency states every project submitted is considered.
Romantic comedy, women's fiction, ghost stories, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, children's books
Wants: Query letter, first fifty pages, proposal, sample chapter, complete poetry collection, full picture book text, graphic novel pitch package
Katelyn Detweiler is a literary agent at Jill Grinberg Literary Management whose list spans all age groups and categories, with an emphasis on fresh perspectives and strong voices. She looks for voice and quality writing above all else. On the adult side, she wants smart, swoony rom coms, women's fiction with love in many forms, atmospheric ghost stories, thrillers or mysteries with emotional cores and compelling narrators, and sweeping historical or twisty dual-timeline intergenerational sagas. She is open to narrative nonfiction and memoirs that feel intimate, immersive, and as compelling as novels. In YA she likes fresh contemporary with humor and heart, magical realism, fantasy, speculative, historical, and light sci-fi grounded in teen experience. In MG she likes stories that capture the complicated moments of growing up, and she likes picture books that illuminate deeper truths in funny, inspiring, and unconventional ways.
Email submissions to info@jillgrinbergliterary.com and address the query directly to Katelyn Detweiler. Use the subject format QUERY: Title of Project by Your Name or Your Book's Age Category and Genre or ATTN: Katelyn Detweiler. Paste the query letter in the email body. For fiction, send the first 50 pages as a docx attachment. For nonfiction, send a query letter and proposal with overview or outline, chapter summaries, comparable titles, a sample chapter, biography, and bibliography. Picture book submissions should include the full text, and graphic novels should include a full pitch package.
Commercial nonfiction, cookbooks, lifestyle, memoir, pop culture, health, wellness, essay collections, illustrated books, gift books, feminist voices, underrepresented voices, select fiction, young adult, middle grade, poetry, ghostwriting
Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample chapter, cover letter, manuscript
Katherine Latshaw is looking for commercial nonfiction including cookbooks, lifestyle, memoir, pop culture, health and wellness, social media-platformed projects, incisive essay collections, illustrated and gift books, feminist and underrepresented voices, select fiction, and seasoned collaborators and ghostwriters. Her official profile also lists nonfiction, cookbook, memoir, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, YA, middle grade, poetry, and ghostwriting.
Email submissions directly to klatshaw@foliolit.com. Folio asks writers to review all agents, follow the individual agent page guidelines, submit to one Folio agent at a time, query one project at a time, and prepare a polished completed novel or a complete nonfiction proposal with sample chapter as applicable.
Literary fiction, essay collections, memoir, hybrid texts, commercial fiction, poetry, speculative fiction, science fiction, horror, short stories, cookbooks, cultural issues, food, journalism, lgbtq and issues, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, full proposal
Kima Jones is interested in representing literary fiction, essay collections, memoir, hybrid texts, commercial fiction, poetry, speculative fiction, science fiction, and horror. Her official QueryManager genre list also includes short stories, cookbooks, cultural and social issues, food, gardening, journalism, LGBTQ+ issues, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, and women's issues.
Submit to Kima Jones through the QueryManager link on Triangle House Literary's official staff page. Her QueryManager asks for a query letter and the first 10 pages, or for nonfiction the full proposal. Do not query Kima if you have queried another Triangle House agent.
Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, history, biography, art history, cultural criticism, poetry
Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages
Rob McQuilkin is a partner at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. He specializes in fiction, memoir, history, cultural criticism, and poetry; MMQA's contact page says he focuses on literary fiction as well as narrative nonfiction and nonfiction in memoir, history, biography, art history, and cultural criticism.
Email a query to the attention of Rob McQuilkin at info@mmqalit.com. Include Query in the subject line, a brief description of the project, relevant personal or professional information, and the first 5-10 pages pasted into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time, if one agent passes, you may query another. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only and does not represent screenplays.
Literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translation, narrative nonfiction, international fiction
Wants: Query letter, reading material
Sandra Pareja is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. She is looking for authentic, unconventional literary voices in fiction, nonfiction, and sometimes poetry. She reads and edits in English, Spanish, and Italian at a native level, can tackle manuscripts in French, Portuguese, and Catalan, and will consider works from other languages if attached to an English translator. Her official profile says she specializes in groundbreaking literary fiction from Spanish, English, French, and Italian and has an eye out for ambitious narrative nonfiction.
Email Sandra Pareja directly at sandra@mmqalit.com and strive to include as much reading material as possible. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only, does not represent screenplays, and asks writers not to query more than one agent at the agency at one time.
Narrative nonfiction, journalistic nonfiction, memoir, commercial fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, folk tale, poetry
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Sophie is interested in smart narrative and journalistic nonfiction, memoirs from radical new voices, commercial and literary fiction with sci-fi, folk-tale, or speculative elements, and urgent poetry that plays with genre.
Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter, author information, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate that the query is for Sophie Pugh-Sellers.
Fiction
Character-driven debuts, sweeping stories with big universal themes, high concepts, thought-provoking, uplifting, original narrative voices, emotional journeys. Not: sci-fi, fantasy, children/YA, poetry, plays, screenplays, short stories/novellas, any non-fiction
Read each agent's profile and only submit to one agent from DHH. Follow the individual agent's submission guidelines. Do not submit via phone or the general enquiries email.
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Layered/nuanced writing, challenges form/genre, explores language, memory and truth, moral ambiguity, humour or uncomfortable reads, generally prefers contemporary settings. Non-fiction: overlooked/unexpected subjects, art/body/mind/natural world, passion and expertise, new connections
Submit via the online form at https://amheath.com or submissions with a covering letter (max 500 words), synopsis (max 1,500 words), and first 10,000 words. Use submissions@amheath.com only if another agent has requested your full manuscript, you have received an offer of representation, you have had no response within 6 weeks, or you are submitting a cookery proposal or illustrated children's book. To submit directly to Anna, email anna.webber@amheath.com, noting she may take a while to respond.
Literary and general fiction, non-fiction, poetry (select)
Original, distinctive voices, literary and general fiction including short stories, non-fiction with persuasive perspectives and interplay between personal/political (power, class, culture), literary memoir/auto-fiction borderlands, selective cookery/food writing and cookbooks
Email - nicolasubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk
Poetry, literary nonfiction, literary fiction, investigative nonfiction, translation, criticism, music writing, food writing, cookbooks, children's
Wants: Query letter
Erika seeks projects that excite, invigorate, argue or surprise across poetry, literary nonfiction and fiction, investigative nonfiction, translation, criticism, music writing and food writing/cookbooks. In children's literature, she seeks inclusive work for children with gender-expansive identities and families.
Submit through Erika Stevens's QueryManager form. Submit to only one SLM agent at a time, no response within 12 weeks means pass.
Young adult, poetry, adult fiction, horror, fantasy, romance, romantasy, dark academia, gothic horror, graphic novels, creative nonfiction, memoir
Wants: Query letter
Kenna is looking for LGBTQIA+ adult fiction and YA, horror, fantasy, romance, poetry collections, weird girl fiction, romantasy, dark academia, gothic horror, full-length story collections, graphic novels, and punk memoir or creative nonfiction.
Submit through Kenna's official QueryTracker route.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, cookbooks, poetry, translation
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Nora is interested in literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoirs, cookbooks, select poetry, translation, Spanish-language authors, and international writers.
Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter describing the work, author information, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate which agent you are querying, do not email agents directly.
Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, crime, sci-fi, poetry
Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, well-crafted crime and sci-fi, building a curated list of poetry
Send a covering letter, a synopsis of approximately 500 words, and the first three chapters by post to Georgina Capel Associates Ltd, 29 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PS (mark envelope 'Submissions Department'), or by email to irene@georginacapel.com. Include your email address and or or telephone number. AI-generated content is not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Popular science, investigative journalism, history, novels
Email submissions@janklow.co.uk with your name, the title of your work, and 'FAO Will Francis' in the subject line. Include a covering letter in the body of the email. For fiction, attach a synopsis and the first three chapters or first fifty pages. For non-fiction, attach a chapter-by-chapter outline and, if possible, a sample chapter. For poetry, attach a short pitch and 3-5 sample poems. Attachments should be in Word format, PDFs are acceptable. Do not include external links. Notify the agency if you receive a full manuscript request elsewhere.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, illustrated non-fiction, serious non-fiction
Novels across the literary-commercial scale and non-fiction from highly illustrated to serious non-fiction, with diversity within the list as an ever-present priority. Does not represent scriptwriting, high fantasy, or, in non-fiction, business, self-help or parenting books. Represents poetry and children's books (including MG and YA) only where she already represents the author.
Email submissions@philippasitters.co.uk with a cover letter in the email body. For fiction, attach the first 30 pages (double spaced) and a 1-2 page synopsis (single spaced) as Word documents or PDFs. For non-fiction, attach a proposal with a detailed chapter outline and up to three sample chapters (double spaced), information on target market and comparable titles is helpful but not required.
Poetry, picture books, young fiction, middle grade fiction, ya fiction, children's non-fiction, author-illustrators
Wants: Children's fiction/non-fiction; picture books; first 3 chapters for fiction
Poetry, picture books, young fiction, middle grade fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction for children, and author-illustrators who both write and illustrate their own work as well as illustrate for other authors
Send a short synopsis, first 3 chapters for fiction (excluding prologues), or full manuscript for picture books, plus a covering letter with full contact details including email address. Submit electronically to john.mclay@btinternet.com or by post, if posting include a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, crime, sci-fi, short story collections, poetry, narrative non-fiction, history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science, popular psychology, children's, ya
Wants: Cover letter and ~500-word synopsis and first 3 chapters; include contact details
Literary, book club, and commercial fiction including thrillers and YA; short story collections and poetry; narrative non-fiction with strong style; well-crafted crime and sci-fi; history, politics, science, psychology, true crime, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, and popular psychology. Writers for children and young adults are also welcome.
Submit by email or post. The postal address is 29 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PS. For email, visit georginacapel.com or contact to find the address.
Illustrators, children's illustration, middle grade, non-fiction, poetry
Wants: Pdf portfolio, website link, art samples
Artists and visual storytellers for children's books, with a background in Middle Grade fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and illustrated storytelling.
Use the official Bright submissions form. Illustrators should upload a PDF portfolio with at least 10 samples and a website or social media link. Author-illustrators should follow the relevant picture book or Middle Grade instructions and include art samples.
Author-illustrators, picture books, board books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, poetry
Wants: Query letter, portfolio link, picture book dummy, first three pages, bio, comparison titles
Authors and author-illustrators of books for children and teens, including board books, picture books, fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. She does not want adult projects and does very few chapter books or Young Adult projects.
Email the full text for board books or picture books in the body of the message. Author-illustrators should include a link to the dummy and sample illustrated pages, with no attachments. Longer works should include the first three pages, project description, bio information, relevant experience, recent comparison titles, audience notes, and why Mary Cummings may be a fit.
History, science, medical, politics, biography, literary fiction, poetry, theology
Wants: Query letter
Don roams widely in terms of subject areas and categories, but what catches his attention first is the author's voice. He is particularly drawn to historians, scientists, medical writers, political commentators, novelists, poets, and theologians.
Send a query letter using the online form to one agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include manuscript, proposal, or writing samples unless requested.
Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, reportage, social history, cultural history, memoir, poetry
Wants: Query letter, sample chapters
Alice represents a wide range of nonfiction, including voice-driven narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, reportage, social and cultural history, and memoir, literary fiction, and a select list of poets.
Send a query letter briefly describing your project and professional background, along with up to three chapters of sample material. Do not query more than one agent.
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