Literary agents who want character-driven writing

Phrasemill lists literary agents who want character-driven, based on what they say on their public websites. “character-driven” is a tone tag; its identifier is character-driven. 256 agents currently want it. Agents whose websites say they are closed to submissions are omitted. The quoted evidence for each tag is on the agent's profile. How it works.

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Agents (1–25 of 256)

Victoria Hobbs
A.M. Heath & Co. · GB
Says: “intricately wrought and beautifully characterised”
I am omnivorous when it comes to reading and my list reflects this, encompassing a wide range of genres and styles. I am open to submissions and always hoping to hear from new writers. In terms of who they might be, my…
Rebecca Ritchie
A.M. Heath & Co. · GB
Says: “protagonists I can root for, fall in love with, or cheer on from the sidelines”
I represent authors of fiction and non-fiction. On the fiction side, my list spans the commercial spectrum: from contemporary fiction – be that funny, romantic, moving or high concept – to reading group, historical ficti…
Euan Thorneycroft
A.M. Heath & Co. · GB
Says: “a book that portrays real psychological insight and moral complexity in its characters”
I am looking for a book that I'll be thinking about long after I finish the last page. This could be a twisty suspense with an exciting and original hook (I love a high concept hook!) or an epic or intimate love story wi…
Maria Cardona Serra
Aevitas Creative Management · US
Says: “character-driven, heart-wrenching fiction”
She focuses in upmarket and literary fiction by authors who write in English and Spanish. Maria is an editorially minded agent that works closely with her authors with a long-term career plan. She is passionate about in…
Lesley Thorne
Aitken Alexander Associates · GB
I represent novelists, non-fiction writers and screenwriters with a particular emphasis on guiding authors to write for screen and screenwriters who originate their own material. My taste is fairly broad but I tend to f…
Emma Paterson
Aitken Alexander Associates · GB
I represent writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, among them a number of bestselling and prize-winning authors. Across all forms, I want to be surprised and transported but moved principally by the quality of the…
Harriet Moore
Aitken Alexander Associates · GB
Says: “scrupulous (sometimes comic, sometimes tragic) observers of character and life's emotional plots”
I am drawn to novels which have energy, ambition, and a distinct sensibility; literary novelists who play with genre and form, who often have an unusual devotion to the paraphernalia of daily life and are scrupulous (som…
Gyamfia Osei
Andrew Nurnberg Associates · GB
At ANA, Gyamfia is focusing on expanding the agency’s list of children’s authors, particularly in genre fiction and Crossover, while also representing a select list of adult commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.…
Julie Gourinchas
Bell Lomax Moreton · GB
Says: “compelling character development”
Julie Gourinchas (she/they) is a French-American literary agent championing an award-winning, selective list focused on upmarket adult fiction with commercial drive and appeal, across a wide variety of genres. In fictio…
David H Headley
DHH Literary Agency · GB
Says: “begins with character”
First and foremost, I am drawn to story. Not just a clever idea, but something that begins with character and carries real emotional weight. Confident writers often have that spark, a sense of a storyteller arriving on…
Camilla Bolton
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Says: “an epic character at heart if it is a series”
My focus is to find authors and books that will become future bestsellers and brands. I specialise in mysteries, suspense, thrillers, crime and book club fiction, but I’m also a huge fan of anything that embodies the nat…
Clare Wallace
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Says: “characters that will stay with me”
Clare is building both the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency and the Darley Anderson Illustration Agency lists and also represents a boutique list of commercial adult fiction in both the UK and US. Clare’s very busy wit…
Jade Kavanagh
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Says: “slow-burn, emotionally resonant stories that lead with character and atmosphere”
Jade represents a list of thriller, horror and book club authors. She represents a growing list of authors writing book club fiction, suspense, thrillers and horror. Since then, Jade has continued to build a dynamic li…
Rebeka Finch
Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency · London
Rebeka is building a dynamic list specialising in commercial romance and romantasy, representing New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, Kindle, Apple Books, and Audible bestselling authors from around the world. Begin…
Veronique Baxter
David Higham Associates · GB
I represent authors of literary and genre fiction including Naomi Alderman, Belinda Bauer, Carys Bray, Oliver Harris, Holly Gramazio, Sarah Hilary, S.E Lynes, Stephen Kelman, Charlotte Philby, Sarah Pinborough, M. L. Rio…
Nicola Chang
David Higham Associates · GB
Says: “captivating in their sustained exploration of character and setting”
I love reading new work and discovering emerging writers. There is nothing more enlivening than encountering a new voice, thinking seriously and playfully on the page, and a writer who has a sense of how their work might…
Stephanie Glencross
David Higham Associates · GB
Says: “character is as propulsive as plot”
I am obsessed with crime, thriller, and dark commercial fiction. I’m looking for dark, gripping commercial fiction that completely absorbs me: books where I care about the characters and find myself reading far later th…
Molly Ker Hawn
David Higham Associates · GB
Says: “strong emotional core”
My primary focus is books for children and young adults. I also represent select fiction for adults, generally but not exclusively speculative. I have a thriving list, but I always have room for an irresistible new pro…
Christabel McKinley
David Higham Associates · GB
I am very involved editorially with my clients’ work and more focused on getting submissions out that are in excellent shape than getting them out quickly. I represent writers and illustrators based around the globe and…
Jessica Woollard
David Higham Associates · GB
I represent a diverse range of narrative non-fiction and have always been attracted to memoir (I was the agent for H is for Hawk). Working with books that change the way we see the world or can deftly interweave multiple…
Caroline Wood
Felicity Bryan Associates · Oxford
Says: “the complexity to be in the characters and their relationships”
I represent a range of fiction, from literary prize-winners to upmarket reading group fiction, and well-written crime novels. I’m looking for work that is ambitious and surprising, both satisfying to read and deep enoug…
Carrie Plitt
Felicity Bryan Associates · Oxford
Says: “emotionally complex novels”
I am actively building a list of non-fiction and fiction at FBA, where I represent award-winning and bestselling authors including Reni Eddo-Lodge, Natasha Lunn, Catherine Belton, Joseph Jebelli, Lindsey Hilsum, Suzannah…
James Gill
Felicity Bryan Associates · Oxford
I have worked in publishing and literary representation since 1995, and act for a broad range of both fiction and non-fiction authors writing for the general-trade market. I am always on the look-out for the original an…
Laura Heathfield
Greenstone Literary · GB
I read widely across genres! I am always looking for commercial crime, thriller, suspense, bookclub, historical and romance fiction as well as very select non-fiction. Above everything I want to be entertained. I’m look…
Maria Brannan
Greyhound Literary · GB
She has wide-ranging tastes in fiction and is interested in writing for adult and new adult/crossover readers. She loves character-driven and high concept novels that combine intelligent writing with a commercial hook an…

Literary agents who want character-driven writing

Agents (1–25 of 256)

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