It’s kind of crazy… until I started querying for my MG book I didn’t realize how niche this genre was. I thought it would be huge, having a lot of agents who were looking for MG stories to get out there. Regardless, I’m so glad I’ve worked with you to get my querying journey underway! It’s been so helpful!
That’s interesting insight! It’s great to see so much energy around the genre-YA writers are definitely bringing fresh stories and big ideas to the table!
I appreciate how informative your videos are. It's nice to know horror genre is getting more popular, gives me hope for the novel I'm working on. Too bad I'm still at the starting point with the actual writing, I hope horror doesn't go out of trend before I finish it😅
I'm so glad you find my videos informative! Horror is definitely having a moment, and I think it’ll last, but regardless of trends, a great novel never goes out of style! Wishing you the best with your writing!
Thank you for all the effort of putting this list together. Doesn't give me much hope for my Sci-Fi novel i want to start querying this year, but still thank you.
Remember this is a limited survey and only reflects the most commonly requested genres - I am super confident you'll find plenty of agents looking for sci-fi!
Thanks again for taking a look at the first ten pages of my script novelization, I promise to reach out as soon as I'm done. And thank you for this information. Very helpful. You rock!
Have been querying YA fantasy for a while now and still no bites. The last few rejections were at least personal one stating that the skews were too young (agents words). The other said the story was interesting but the writing didn't pull her in. Still many agents to query with my latest YA fantasy so I may have some hope this year. Thanks for the huge effort on making this list and research. Hat off.
@blairewilde The last 3 books were all YA fantasy because they suppose to be more favored by agents. 2 had huge rewrites after one agent at least gave me persona feedback, changed to her liking thinking I finally had a breakthrough, only for her to reject again but at least credited me for doing these changes. Still hope with my latest one, I may have a chance. So frustrating. Good luck to you though.
I once met an author who said she struggled finding editors/agents because her stories didn't feature non-straight characters. I can't help but wonder if their is some kind of nepotism going on where non-straights who work within the publishing industry deliberately hire and promote each other rather than those who would have more organic appeal to the general public.
It's good to know these trends. Another way to use them is to market your book using the genre the agent wants. As an example, I tend to write horror thrillers. If the agent is looking for horror, I'll emphasize that. If not, I'll use supernatural thriller. I have an assassin action thriller meets occult horror novel coming out from a small press this year. I plan on going to Thriller Fest in June and pitching to agents. The book I'm pitching is a ghost/horror thriller meets domestic thriller (women's fiction?) with a female protagonist. Thanks for the info. It's appreciated.
Absolutely!! Understanding trends and tailoring how you position your book for agents can make a big difference. Your upcoming release sound exciting, and Thriller Fest is a great opportunity-wishing you the best of luck with your pitch!
@ That is true, I am aware my book is niche but I'm fascinated by the gaps in our knowledge. Also I love your work, its really helped me as a new writer. Thank you.
So happy you enjoyed it. You can download the full data set at this link: www.queryacademy.com/free-resources/trending-genres-2025. Historical fiction is up there!
Don’t bow to what the current culture demands for characters, or what any political climate dictates. Write the best novel you can, and write what feels right for you.
Hi, Alyssa! Great info as usual---been following you for a few years now! Small issue: I downloaded the MSWL trend sheet but every interface that I try when attempting to open it does not work. Any suggestions?
Great point! On Manuscript Wish List, they list Young Adult as a fiction genre, so that's what the data was based on. But you're totally right that there are many genres of YA (some of which agents specifically mentioned in their profiles).
Hey Alyssa! I feel like I saw a lot of Action/Adventure on the list. I think my novel falls into Adult Sci-Fi and Action/Adventure, though it's tricky for me to categorize (though I think I'll go indie with this one). I also have this idea that would be considered "Women's Fiction" that I was originally going to just write as a screenplay, but I'm wondering if I should shoot my shot at writing it in novel-form this year and go traditional.
If you have any inkling to traditionally publish, I recommend going for it, since you can always self-publish if it doesn't work out (but you can't typically go the other way around). Sounds like you have exciting projects in the works!
Your patience is a true super power. I'm amazed at how you were able to pull that off. If I were walking in your shoes, I would have punched through my laptop screen at some point, no kidding...
I'm from Canada and was hoping to start reaching out to agents this year but I'm concerned about stability with the stunts your government is pulling. Should I seek agents outside the US?
Well, since I am a white Christian man writing hard SciFi novel about people in their 30s, there is no point to query them agents. Self-publishing it is then. 😂😂😂
...aaaand Westerns lose out again. :) SciFi should rate higher. I think the upswing in YA titles is because people are losing the ability to read complex thoughts. 140 characters? Unless you're reading to find books for a young audience, mature people should not spend all their reading time on them. Read the classics that created the foundation for our society.
Some adults read them as palette cleansers after heavy books. Some like them because the action and adventure tends to be more visceral and immersive. The older adults might pick them up so they can have something to connect with and discuss if their teen is obsessed with a book. The youngest generation of adults grew up reading first person fiction...and may not have been able to adapt to third person points of view. Some shoppers wouldn't realize they were picking up a YA book... Up till this year when Amazon changed their category system, authors would put YA books into a mix of adult and YA categories because the books did appeal to both audiences. Amazon has changed so you can't do that and now, the authors have to pick one or another, which has massively hindered the indie authros ability to market these books. Which is a common element in most of the genre's on this list. It's not that the books from major genres aren't selling...it's that the trad publishers are positioning themselves so they're taking advantage of the areas in the market where it's difficult for indies to dominate. And yes, you're right about the population changing...but it's not the lack of ability to understand complexity...it's short form video has hijacked people's dopamine systems, shrinking their attention spans. So any book needs the writing to hook the reader, keep them entranced by having really tight pacing, and encouraging them to anticipate the next scene in addition to layering in the complexity. The complexity should come from the twists and themes of the novel...not from the sentence structure.
Dude most people quite literally cannot read past a 7th grade level. Be thankful they picked up a book for entertainment all instead of turning on Hulu
Queer fiction should not be a book category. I am so tired of seeing agents wanting queer fiction. You can't convince me that they are not promoting it.
I would be super interested to see this list compared to a list of book deals made in 2025. I’m curious to see if they’d match or not.
Ooh, that’s a great idea!
“Incredible, powerful books will find their readers no matter what.” This is everything to aspiring authors. Thank you, Alyssa! 👍
I truly believe it!
It’s kind of crazy… until I started querying for my MG book I didn’t realize how niche this genre was. I thought it would be huge, having a lot of agents who were looking for MG stories to get out there. Regardless, I’m so glad I’ve worked with you to get my querying journey underway! It’s been so helpful!
There are absolutely agents looking for MG! You’ll find plenty I’m sure.
Young Adult being #1 doesn't surprise me at all. I'm on the Query Tracker/Critique forum and most of the people that I critique write for Young Adult.
That’s interesting insight! It’s great to see so much energy around the genre-YA writers are definitely bringing fresh stories and big ideas to the table!
I appreciate how informative your videos are. It's nice to know horror genre is getting more popular, gives me hope for the novel I'm working on. Too bad I'm still at the starting point with the actual writing, I hope horror doesn't go out of trend before I finish it😅
I'm so glad you find my videos informative! Horror is definitely having a moment, and I think it’ll last, but regardless of trends, a great novel never goes out of style! Wishing you the best with your writing!
Thank you!
Thank you for all the effort of putting this list together. Doesn't give me much hope for my Sci-Fi novel i want to start querying this year, but still thank you.
Remember this is a limited survey and only reflects the most commonly requested genres - I am super confident you'll find plenty of agents looking for sci-fi!
Don't quit before you try. Your book might need another revision but after that query away
Forge your own path. Don't allow a dwindling sect of Gatekeepers to suppress your vision.
@ Wasn't going to quit at all, but might have to reconsider some prospects.
Turn it into another Left Hand of Darkness knock off and you'll be on your way 😂
Whoa! So much work! Thanks so much for doing this!
Hope it helps!
Thanks again for taking a look at the first ten pages of my script novelization, I promise to reach out as soon as I'm done. And thank you for this information. Very helpful. You rock!
You're too kind - excited to keep in touch!
This list shows us all once again a big reason why Independent Publishing is flourishing and growing, while Traditional Publishing is dying.
Brilliant insight! Thank you Alyssa!
Your topics keep getting better and better. Great work!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for putting in al the work to compile the list.
Have been querying YA fantasy for a while now and still no bites. The last few rejections were at least personal one stating that the skews were too young (agents words). The other said the story was interesting but the writing didn't pull her in.
Still many agents to query with my latest YA fantasy so I may have some hope this year.
Thanks for the huge effort on making this list and research. Hat off.
I'm also writing YA fantasy and hope to query in a couple months, so I hope some agents still are looking for that!!
@blairewilde The last 3 books were all YA fantasy because they suppose to be more favored by agents. 2 had huge rewrites after one agent at least gave me persona feedback, changed to her liking thinking I finally had a breakthrough, only for her to reject again but at least credited me for doing these changes.
Still hope with my latest one, I may have a chance.
So frustrating.
Good luck to you though.
I think my novel kinda fits all but the young adult categories there 👀
I'll be self publishing thought kickstarter tho
Awesome! Self-publishing through Kickstarter can be a fantastic way to connect with readers early on. Wishing you the best with your launch!
I once met an author who said she struggled finding editors/agents because her stories didn't feature non-straight characters. I can't help but wonder if their is some kind of nepotism going on where non-straights who work within the publishing industry deliberately hire and promote each other rather than those who would have more organic appeal to the general public.
"like" for all the work you put into this!
Horror, YESSS! That's my novel series. And what I'll be doing.
LOVE THIS ❤❤❤❤
It's good to know these trends. Another way to use them is to market your book using the genre the agent wants. As an example, I tend to write horror thrillers. If the agent is looking for horror, I'll emphasize that. If not, I'll use supernatural thriller. I have an assassin action thriller meets occult horror novel coming out from a small press this year. I plan on going to Thriller Fest in June and pitching to agents. The book I'm pitching is a ghost/horror thriller meets domestic thriller (women's fiction?) with a female protagonist. Thanks for the info. It's appreciated.
Absolutely!! Understanding trends and tailoring how you position your book for agents can make a big difference. Your upcoming release sound exciting, and Thriller Fest is a great opportunity-wishing you the best of luck with your pitch!
@@AlyssaMatesic Thanks, Alyssa!
RIP my early medieval historical fiction novel lol
Trends come and go, but great storytelling is timeless!!
@ That is true, I am aware my book is niche but I'm fascinated by the gaps in our knowledge. Also I love your work, its really helped me as a new writer. Thank you.
Thank you, Alyssa, for such a great in-depth analysis. This is incredibly helpful 🙏. I wonder how historical genre is ranking?
So happy you enjoyed it. You can download the full data set at this link: www.queryacademy.com/free-resources/trending-genres-2025. Historical fiction is up there!
Wonderful as always...Thanks
So glad you enjoyed!
Cries in Literary Fiction
Don’t bow to what the current culture demands for characters, or what any political climate dictates. Write the best novel you can, and write what feels right for you.
Thank you for the insights.
Hi, Alyssa! Great info as usual---been following you for a few years now! Small issue: I downloaded the MSWL trend sheet but every interface that I try when attempting to open it does not work. Any suggestions?
Thanks! I'm not sure, I just tried myself on a different computer and it worked. You need to open it in Excel or Google Sheets (did you try that?)
Young adult is a category, not a genre. There are genres within young adult fiction
Great point! On Manuscript Wish List, they list Young Adult as a fiction genre, so that's what the data was based on. But you're totally right that there are many genres of YA (some of which agents specifically mentioned in their profiles).
How about High Fantasy???hve Been Quering. 7rejectiona out of 21😢
Hey Alyssa! I feel like I saw a lot of Action/Adventure on the list. I think my novel falls into Adult Sci-Fi and Action/Adventure, though it's tricky for me to categorize (though I think I'll go indie with this one). I also have this idea that would be considered "Women's Fiction" that I was originally going to just write as a screenplay, but I'm wondering if I should shoot my shot at writing it in novel-form this year and go traditional.
If you have any inkling to traditionally publish, I recommend going for it, since you can always self-publish if it doesn't work out (but you can't typically go the other way around). Sounds like you have exciting projects in the works!
Your patience is a true super power. I'm amazed at how you were able to pull that off. If I were walking in your shoes, I would have punched through my laptop screen at some point, no kidding...
Haha, it was definitely more time in Excel than I like, but worth it!
Are these about US publishers, or US and UK? I have three manuscripts that each fill 3/5 of that list, but I would heavily prefer UK.
I'm from Canada and was hoping to start reaching out to agents this year but I'm concerned about stability with the stunts your government is pulling. Should I seek agents outside the US?
Go with a UK one if getting paid is something that matters to you. Private and business bank accounts being frozen is common during trade wars
But YA isn't a genre, it's an age category...
Vampire yeet glowmancia
Ngl queer fiction being popular at this point in US history is very surprising
Sought by agents and popular with the public are not the same. It's not surprising at all.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
So for fiction, LGBQ+ written for YA. The list is no surprise to me.
Goku is goated
I'm genuinely wondering why YA is so popular? Why would adults read books targeted toward kids?
Traditional publishers are destroying their own industry. And that's a good thing.
Well, since I am a white Christian man writing hard SciFi novel about people in their 30s, there is no point to query them agents.
Self-publishing it is then. 😂😂😂
Join the club, even for those of us who aren't Christians.
👍🏻
I've been writing a fantasy novel for a year, does that mean I am cooked now?
Btw it's not young adult
Not at all! These are just the most commonly requested genres, but fantasy is absolutely still on many MSWLs!
...aaaand Westerns lose out again. :) SciFi should rate higher. I think the upswing in YA titles is because people are losing the ability to read complex thoughts. 140 characters? Unless you're reading to find books for a young audience, mature people should not spend all their reading time on them. Read the classics that created the foundation for our society.
Some adults read them as palette cleansers after heavy books. Some like them because the action and adventure tends to be more visceral and immersive. The older adults might pick them up so they can have something to connect with and discuss if their teen is obsessed with a book. The youngest generation of adults grew up reading first person fiction...and may not have been able to adapt to third person points of view. Some shoppers wouldn't realize they were picking up a YA book...
Up till this year when Amazon changed their category system, authors would put YA books into a mix of adult and YA categories because the books did appeal to both audiences. Amazon has changed so you can't do that and now, the authors have to pick one or another, which has massively hindered the indie authros ability to market these books.
Which is a common element in most of the genre's on this list. It's not that the books from major genres aren't selling...it's that the trad publishers are positioning themselves so they're taking advantage of the areas in the market where it's difficult for indies to dominate.
And yes, you're right about the population changing...but it's not the lack of ability to understand complexity...it's short form video has hijacked people's dopamine systems, shrinking their attention spans. So any book needs the writing to hook the reader, keep them entranced by having really tight pacing, and encouraging them to anticipate the next scene in addition to layering in the complexity. The complexity should come from the twists and themes of the novel...not from the sentence structure.
Dude most people quite literally cannot read past a 7th grade level. Be thankful they picked up a book for entertainment all instead of turning on Hulu
@@Misty-j6r I refuse to set expectations that low.
Real
Dark rizzdemia
Queer fiction should not be a book category. I am so tired of seeing agents wanting queer fiction. You can't convince me that they are not promoting it.
There certainly isn't the mass scale market for it that they claim. It is a niche category they are artificially trying to inflate.
Yall stay mad
That's been obvious for years.
@@Misty-j6r The anger is a two way highway.
@@Misty-j6r I wouldn't be mad except for the woke hive-mind 'expects' me to go along and believe what they believe or I am an Ism or Phobe.