MSWL: The ins and outs
It’s that time of year: the update of the manuscript wishlist.
You can find my updated 2023 wishlist here, but my MSWL isn’t the subject of this post. No, this post is about manuscript wishlists in general, what it is, what it means, and how to use it successfully.
Let me start with this (something you probably already know): manuscript wishlists are what an agent is looking for in any given time period.
I usually make mine yearly, but that isn’t to say that others don’t make updates at the mid-year point or a random day in July. MSWLs are ever evolving, which can make them both incredibly useful, and incredibly frustrating. An agent could be looking for YA fantasy one year, and step back entirely from it the next.
Because agent livelihoods rely on finding books to love and sell to publishers, the more information they provide, the better. Which is why doing your MSWL research is one of the best ways to find an agent for you.
So here are my best tips for utilizing an MSWL!
Check multiple websites.
While most agencies keep a tab of what an agent requests on their agency website, typically, an agent doesn’t have direct access to changing this information, this means that it might not always be the most accurate data available. I recommend checking out sites like Manuscript Wishlist which is run by some literaries in their free time, and allows agents and editors to update their page as needed. Twitter is also a great resource as people will often create a thread, either running or at a specific point during the year, to keep people updated. The reason why double checking is so important is because agents’ tastes are constantly changing, so cross referencing is the best chance you’ll have to getting the correct information.
Reference their MSWL in your query.
This isn’t necessary, but I find it incredibly helpful when I see in a query: in your MSWL you asked for this and this, and my work fits that and that. This a) lets the agent know that you did your research, and b) it says that you have thought about how your work relates to both the agent’s desires and the market. This is especially useful for when you need to find comps!
Be specific.
Does your work compare to the tone or the voice of that book? Does it match in genre and nothing else? Does it have a similar vibe? Similar characters? While agents aren’t always super specific in their recommendations, using their MSWL to provide specifics will help them parse out why that book would be a good fit for them.
Accurately fill out the rest of the query.
This one probably seems obvious, but I mean it in the sense that you make sure you’re providing the most accurate information possible for the agent to view. Is your book 92k or 93k? Is is YA fantasy or YA sci-fi? I’m not talking about making sure you spell someone’s name right (though it is polite, everyone makes mistakes, and no agent worth their salt is going to say no to a query for a spelling error!), I’m talking about making sure that you aren’t using the MSWL as a way to make your manuscript into something it’s not. This definitely opens a longer dialogue about comps, and maybe I’ll get into that one day, but referencing a MSWL poorly (saying a book has the tone of the agent’s beloved Dracula when it really has the tone of Emma), is going to negatively affect how the agent reads your work. Which leads me to my last tip:
An agent’s MSWL isn’t end-all-be-all.
You could send in something that the agent has never even imagined and they love it. You could send in something that word for word fits an agent’s MSWL, and they could say it’s not for them. Querying is a moving goal post, and it’s all about taking an educated guess. Take the resources that are available to you, and know that it could not work out. MSWL are useful in their ability to provide information, but they are also difficult in that they can only provide so much information. You might not know that an agent loved Six of Crows for its magic system, but hated the multiple POVs, especially if they say “I’m looking for a YA fantasy like Six of Crows”. Keeping in mind that MSWLs should be taken with a grain of salt and broken down into their disparate pieces when applicable will help you find the best agent suited for your project.
I think one of the most frustrating but important things to remember is publishing is a marathon, not a sprint. MSWL are a glass of water with oranges along the way, just giving you an extra boost on your journey. Remember to keep pushing!
Current read:
Brideshead Revisted by Evelyn Waugh
Current drink:
Vanilla latte, all the way (especially in the cute little green floral tea cup I have🌸)
Current vibe:
📖💙💻
Stay tuned and stay well!
Annalise