42 agents · 31 currently open to submissions
UK contemporary fiction is broad enough to hide weak positioning, which is why agent fit matters. It can mean present-day literary work, relationship-led commercial novels, family dramas, workplace fiction, or voice-driven book club novels. The pages need to make the shelf clear quickly.
This UK page shows agents who explicitly represent contemporary fiction. The broad search toggle catches more who'd consider it under commercial fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, romance, or women's fiction.
Children's fiction
Middle grade with mystery/adventure, heartfelt contemporary MG, ambitious fantasy, young fiction (5-8) with clear hook, YA (incl romantasy/thrillers/romance tropes), underrepresented voices
Email chloe@darleyanderson.com when open to submissions
Fiction and non-fiction
Beautifully written but accessible fiction, darker book club with suspense, crime/thrillers, accessible horror, speculative/dystopian, smart contemporary romcom, selective non-fiction (pop science/psychology, narrative history, true crime, investigative)
Email marilia@theplotagency.com when open to submissions
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry
Fiction: novels, short stories, novellas with heart and intellect, protagonists on the margins, fresh subversions, class conflict, formally challenging work. Non-fiction: oral/narrative histories, contemporary political/philosophical issues, investigative journalism, literary/cultural criticism, biography
Online portal - https://felicitybryan.com or submissions or submit-your-work/
Children's authors and illustrators
Children's authors/illustrators across ages/genres, currently especially: witches, teen romance/romcom series, MG/YA sci-fi/fantasy, MG/YA horror/supernatural, YA romantasy, books for boys, compelling contemporary. For picture books/graphic novels currently only author-illustrators
Email childrensbooksubmissions@theagency.co.uk with submissions as attachments, not download links. Do not email the agent directly. No postal submissions.
Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, memoir, history, non-fiction
Sarah Ballard seeks work with a sense of urgency and an attempt to make change in the world. She is drawn to fiction with compelling plot or structure overlaying big ideas, memoir-style non-fiction with obsession that unfolds hidden agendas, and meticulously researched history that changes worldviews. She has particular interest in feminism and feminist approaches but enjoys exploring completely new ideas and angles.
Send the full manuscript for novels plus a one-page synopsis giving the complete story arc, or a proposal including sample text for non-fiction. Include information about your writing experience and explain why you think you would be a good match. Email submissions to ballardofficesubmissions@cwagency.co.uk for the attention of Sarah Ballard and her assistant Liv Bignold.
Literary fiction, commercial women's fiction, contemporary fiction, family drama, historical fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, suspense, magical realism, speculative fiction, sff, horror, gothic fiction, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction
Susan Armstrong seeks strong prose, compelling storytelling, vivid characters, and originality of vision. She welcomes novels that blend genres, feature unusual settings or circumstances, contain unexpected twists, possess some darkness, and present moral dilemmas. Books that evoke laughter are particularly appreciated.
Send all submissions to susan.submissions@cwagency.co.uk.
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