Hello 2026! As we get closer to the new year—and my query inbox reopening—it’s time for me to update what I’m looking for. I saw a lot of fabulous projects in 2025 (but more on that later), and I’m excited about what I might find in 2026. #mswl

I’m trying to finish the second act in my WIP while chasing kittens out of my Christmas tree, wrapping presents and celebrating my daughter’s birthday. Now accepting donations of serotonin, dopamine & sleep. I got the acetaminophen handled. #amwriting #amquerying #writingcommunity #neurodivergent

"The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible." —Mark Twain

Happy 20th Friendiversary!

At least I know my historical fantasy WIP is a historical fantasy under the speculative fiction umbrella. Unlike a certain (not) romcom who has caused some serious 🧠⚡️!

Querying is a tough thing to put yourself through. Only to figure out you may have been positioning your book…not wrong, just not completely right the whole time. I wrote a romcom, that is upmarket, but could also be seen as women’s fiction or book club. 🤯 Yeah, that cooked my noggin a bit.

This is your daily reminder: It doesn’t matter if you have 1 request or 32 if it leads to an offer. The stats cannot tell you when your yes is coming. You cannot edit words that do not exist. Sincerely, An author with 19 requests after 8 months and no offers #amquerying #writingcommunity

It’s a tough cycle. Pain gets worse -> Mental health suffers -> Words don’t flow -> Mental health suffers -> Words don’t… Working with my VA provider to figure it out, but not sleeping is the PITS! Especially this time of year. #disabledwriter #amquerying #writingcommunity #combatveteran

Book Broker — An interview with Kate McKean "It is and isn't a numbers game, but moreover it's a connection game. You just want to find the agent who is passionate about your work." darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/b... #amquerying #mswl

Always darkest before the dawn, right? RIGHT?! Today has been a day for anxious thoughts and baseless doubt. Tomorrow has to be better! #amquerying #goodnight #writingcommumity #disabledauthor

How about a little trope treat? #amquerying #writingcommunity #firetowerromcom #adhdauthor

Dearest Wonderful Literary Agents, I am begging you to stop using the words “NOT (A) PERFECT” in your rejection messages. Nothing is perfect, but that word conveys meaning you may not intend. We live in a world of words. Get creative! #litagents #literaryagents #wordchoice

Ever After Books 📚 is the only imprint of Perspective Publishing OPEN to submissions. It CLOSES to queries at midnight on NOV 30th! Full #MSWL @ www.perspective-publishing.com/submissions USE querytracker.net/query/Perspe... #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AmQuerying #IndieAuthors #HistoricalRomance

Clinging to hope, refreshing my email like it owes me money and sometimes forgetting I have queries out at all! Stress & anxiety are weird…and not like a ‘I wear a Kraft cheese slice as an eyepatch’ weird. More, like ‘why does it feel like I NEED to respond to this email now or I will die’ weird.

Happy ‘Ween! Blessed Samhain!

Describing my WIP BADLY: Rainbow Bright, but a traumatized Victorian warrior who uses a crutch, colorful magic that could kill you, and a dangerously attractive Duke she can’t stop thinking about. Oh, and an absurdly stubborn cat instead of a sarcastic horse. #writingcommunity #ADHDwriter

⚔️A Broken Soldier ⚙️A Reclusive Metallurgist ♥️An Arranged Marriage His secrets run as deep as her wounds. Is he truly trying to capture her heart Or the terrible power that she wields? Because he cannot have both. #WIP #writingcommunity

✨ Attention Fantasy & Romantasy Writers! ✨ We're seeking voices in fantasy and romantasy. If your manuscript weaves magic or cross-realm romance, we want to see it! [email protected] #OpenSubmissions #Romantasy #FantasyBooks #CallingWriters #WritingCommunity #FYP #MSWL

Have we forgotten that the MSWL hashtag is for agents, not writers and authors? Agents use it to post what they want to see in their inbox, not shop for projects. For the love of all that is wholly, please use AMQUERYING instead. It keeps MSWL clean. #writingcommunity #authorsky #amquerying

Still the moment, still the month, but WHY IS QUERYING SUCH A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS?! I feel like I’m being logical and treating it like a business proposition, but also “why don’t you love me?” is what my heart is crying. 🤣 Such a funny little thing the human heart is. #amquerying #authorsky

Babysitting the nephew tonight. Yes, he is a cat. And yes, he’s been crying for his mommy in the kitchen for the last 10 minutes. Gojo! Go to SLEEP!

⚔️A Broken Soldier ⚙️A Reclusive Metallurgist ♥️An Arranged Marriage His secrets run as deep as her wounds. Is he truly trying to capture her heart Or the terrible power that she wields? Because he cannot have both. #WIP #writingcommunity

I just entered #RevPit #10Queries. Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages, details @reviseresub.bsky.social !

THIS IS THE MOMENT, THIS IS THE MONTH!

Sorry About Your Luck ART! Sam & James arguing while Charlie slides in there on the sly, just for those pets! I love it! Thank you to my artist, Nemmie! You can find them here: toyhou.se/millipedes

🥹 Surprises around every corner!

Dwight D. Eisenhower cries before an audience of veterans in 1952 as he recalls the sacrifices soldiers made on D-Day.

Ok, that rejection stung a bit! - Veteran agent (& #1 on my list) - 5 months with my full - Personalized but no feedback I will go find a sweet treat, pout about it for an hour or two, then it’s back to fighting for 4yo me’s dream. #Writingcommunity #amquerying #reportsfromthequerytrenches

"I'm looking for fantasy novels with shorter word counts and immersive worldbuilding. Ex: GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner, EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett.” @mariavicente.com #MSWL psliterary.com/submissions/

It's a Booklist star for YOU WEREN'T MEANT TO BE HUMAN by @ajwhiteauthor.bsky.social 🌟 “YA author White’s adult debut is brutal... but encapsulates the best of the modern horror genre.” Read the full review here

Querying update: 5.5 months into the process for the lightly speculative romcom Queries Sent: 100 Rejections: 58 Referrals: 5 Requests: 14 (3 partial, 11 full) Romcom is hard to break into with a saturated market, but I’m still making a run at it! #amquerying #writingcommunity #booksky

Just giving this lil’ workshop a bump. Still have some space! 👇🏽

Chilling with 10 needles in my ears for the next 3 days is METAL AF. It’s also pain management aka Battlefield Acupuncture for the win. That is all.

Have I mentioned that the exercise of “describe your book badly” is what helped me figure out my blurb? It forces you to break your manuscript down into (hilarious) pieces but also shows you the themes and incidents that stand out the most! #unsolicitedwritingadvice #writingcommunity #writingtip

Who’s ready to send in their #PitchDis entry this week?! Here are a few things to remember after you hit submit.

Stop autocorrecting to add “that” into my perfectly adequate sentences, you weird grammar checking app! You can leave “that” out of 90% of a manuscript and still have it make sense! *bows, jumps off box of soap and exits stage left in unlaced combat boots* #writingcommunity #adhdwriter

Since my summer query one went so well, I’m doing another workshop in the winter. Come hang! The goal is to help get a nonfiction book proposal wrangled up and polished. These workshops will help fund my free events in the New Year. www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2025/9/...

As a first time querying author, this journey has been banana-pants! I’ve had some “this is unheard of” good moments and some crushing lows. Still waiting to see how it ends. 🤞 Now, back to my *other* manuscript, already in progress. 😉 #amquerying #writingcommunity

🤣 Poor James. So, determined to live he’ll fight off whatever cryptid that just came through his cabin door with a frying pan if he has to. Now Querying: Sorry About Your Luck, a lightly speculative romcom #amquerying #adhdauthor

When one agent refers you to 5 others after passing on your manuscript.

Working on a story this close to my heart leaves me with tears in my eyes every chapter. Emotional tears. That’s how much of me is in this manuscript. It’s excruciating and cathartic. This is storytelling and nothing makes me feel more myself: scars, trauma and all. #writingcommunity #authorsky

The #PitchDis practice form is now open! Remember - this is ONLY for practice purposes. forms.gle/jHQRPfbUXLqk...

Quietly kicking my feet alone in my dark living room because I’m having a gratitude moment. I finished writing a WHOLE book this year. Querying (while stressful) has gone better than I could have ever imagined (for a debut). I finally AM who kid/teen me always wanted to be when they grew up. 😉

I love visiting my friend’s books when at B&N or indie bookstores! Hi @danicanava.bsky.social !

I survived WorldCon 2025! And by survive, I mean I made it through 2 whole days before my body betrayed me and demanded rest. So unfair! Back home now after a lovely drive through the mountains. 🏔️ Queries to wait on, notes to decipher & plot holes to fill!

I’m at #WorldCon. I am taking pitches for novels. I expect to relaunch Flying Pen Press in late 2026 with about 8-12 titles. I’m headed to the Cantina on Floor 2 for lunch. Look for my sign. Might hit the filk dealer booth first. #WritingCommunity #MSWL #SciFi #Horror #QueryTip #AskEditor

Starting a new hashtag so I can track all the pitches and comments to Flying Pen Press. Behold, #PitchFPP! Use it, abuse it, tell me about your book! Feel free to ask questions. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AskPublisher #AskEditor #MSWL

When a bisexual witch and a wayward ranch-hand are accidentally hired as a married couple to man a remote lookout tower in the Oregon wilderness, their battle of pranks and hexes sparks an unexpected romance hot enough to ignite the forest themselves. #queerpit #A #RC

Selwyn rarely accepts help. The orphan knows people are undependable, but as soul-eating creatures advance on his town & time freezes, he must lean upon his ex & a fairytale girl who bleeds ink in order to save his home, his sister, & himself. #QueerPit #YA #DF #NA