Acquisitions Manuscript Wishlist

What is an Acquisitions Editor?

An acquisitions editor is responsible for finding and securing new content for a publisher. We scout promising authors/manuscripts, assess editorial strengths and pitch to the rest of the team, discuss contracts, and guide each writer from acquisition to publication. We are the people who build up the publishing list for our respective houses or presses.

I’m an acquisitions editor looking to acquire speculative Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction titles for Inked in Gray Press. We are open to both agented and unagented submissions.

What genres and age groups are you looking for?

Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Fiction– short story collection, anthologies, novellas, and novels.

Anything in the speculative sphere – science fiction, fantasy, romantasy, and horror primarily

We take agented and unagented submissions at Inked.

Can you expand on the above question a bit more?

To give a sense of my broad tastes, I love voice-driven stories with interesting plots. I also prioritize diversity across the board, as represented by both authors and characters. I am passionate about amplifying historically marginalized writers. I would especially love to see submissions from BIPOC and/or chronically ill authors. I love genre-melding, so give me all the mish-mash manuscripts. I am not the best fit for dark romance or gore-filled horror.

What are the submission guidelines for Inked in Gray Press? Are you open for submissions?

I am currently closed for submissions, except for referrals, pitch contests, or conferences.

Once I reopen, guidelines will be posted here: https://inkedingray.com/work-with-us/.

While I wait for submissions to open, do you have a Manuscript Wishlist?

Absolutely!! I can’t wait to see your project!!

#MSWL:

  • portal fantasies

  • Very niche myths specific to marginalized cultures (must be representative of your culture)

  • Was it a fanfic at some point? Send it to me!!

  • Mermaids. Give me all the mermaids. Spooky, sweet, or somewhere in between

  • Treasure Planet or Atlantis adjacent

  • Enemies to lovers energy included but not limited to: Reylo, Zutara, Dramione, Bellarke, CatraxAdora, JaimexBrienne, and SwanQueen. Tbh anything enemies to lovers, send my way.

  • Eco horror of any sort! Sentient plants and flowers! On a power/vengeance trip! YES

  • Ballet inspired anything. I'd love to see something inspired by Coppelia or the Firebird or the Nutcracker

  • Art history/Renaissance/museums

  • Heist stories but make it speculative

  • Bridgerton but speculative. Any and all historical fiction that’s speculative.

  • Short story anthology pitches!! If you have a strong theme, send it to me!!

  • Found family

  • GOTHIC HORROR GOTHIC HORROR GOTHIC HORROR   

  • Chronic illness, disability, and/or neurodivergent rep!!

  • High court fantasies! Try not to make it fae but I'm not opposed if you absolutely must 

  • Anything at a magical university!! Give me dark academia magic! ALA The Order or The Magicians (but it ends well).

  • If you can comp it to a Taylor Swift song, send it to me immediately. Especially anything off of folklore or evermore or TTPD

  • I have a soft spot for superhero stories!

  • Magical realism from Latinx/Latine authors; open to surrealism or fabulism from all other BIPOC communities

  • Lovecraft but not problematic– I love terrifying monsters without a side of racism

  • Arthurian retellings

  • If your book could be turned into a guilty pleasure CW show aka Reign or The 100 or Roswell, I want to see it!

  • Sirens and selkies and sea nymphs and pirates and witches

  • Time loops! Time slips!! Historical figures misplaced in modern times!!! Weird things with time in general!

  • Reincarnated soulmates trope 

  • Classic literature retellings and honestly, any retellings in general! Make them so diverse the canon writers would gasp!