Literary agents who want character-driven writing — page 4
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.
Or paste your synopsis into ChatGPT or Claude with this prompt; it can read your whole manuscript.
Agents (76–100 of 256)
Says: “stories with a strong emotional heart”
Says: “complex and sympathetic characters”
Says: “stories that are character-driven”
Says: “Gripping thrillers/psychological or domestic suspense—Character-driven, mentally intense reads.”
Says: “outstanding writing and convincing characters”
Says: “character and plot”
Says: “grounded and character-driven”
Says: “creative stories with well developed plots and rich characters with unique voices”
Vice President & Executive Literary Agent Laura Crockett is interested in upmarket, character-driven adult and YA fiction with emotional depth, compelling stakes, and diversity. In both markets she is seeking fantasy––e…
She represents literary and upmarket fiction Kerry also represents select nonfiction and YA. She is particularly drawn to character-driven work, unconventional plot structures, unreliable narrators, complicated family…
Says: “strong emotional development for the main characters”
She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. First and foremost, voice. A strong narrative. Memorable characters. Unusual premises. Underrepresented people, places, and perspectives, includ…
Says: “deeply emotive characters”
Says: “characters who feel like they've been plucked from real life”
Says: “Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook.”
She loves meticulous worldbuilding and complicated characters and is currently looking for well executed speculative fiction in most categories. She is drawn to Middle Grade and Young Adult that asks complicated questio…
Says: “stories with strong character arcs”
Says: “deeply drawn characters”
Says: “interesting, well-developed characters”
Says: “fiction with memorable characters”
She is drawn to writing that creates its own sense of movement on the page, and stories that center unforgettable characters and singular experiences that, once captured, speak to something universal. She loves writers w…
Regardless of genre, Rebecca is looking for stories that have good pacing, grounded worlds, and believable characters. She is interested in fantasy of all kinds and anything that has a good hook. She would love to see…
I’m looking for adult fiction that falls under the following genres (no YA or children’s, please): Book club fiction I’m looking for books with emotional depth and human connections, or ones that will open up a new wor…
Says: “characters I can't stop thinking about”
Says: “emotionally driven stories”
More literary agent lists
- Literary Fiction (456)
- Narrative Nonfiction (431)
- Memoir (364)
- Young Adult (357)
- Romance (276)
- Thriller (265)
- Fantasy (241)
- Historical Fiction (232)
- Middle-grade Books (206)
- Horror (193)
- Mystery (186)
- Children's Books (169)
- Science Fiction (163)
- Women's Fiction (147)
- Crime Fiction (115)
- Humor (105)
- Romantasy (91)
- Magical Realism (90)
- Debut Authors (72)
- True Crime (72)
- Contemporary Romance (66)
- Cozy Fantasy (32)
- Cozy Mystery (28)
- Dark Academia (27)
- Poetry (26)
- Dark Romance (19)
- Paranormal Romance (17)
- African American Fiction (6)