Eva Scalzo

Q2: YA SF: This dystopian, tech-based story isn’t the best fit for me at the moment. Like right now is a little bit of a dystopian nightmare and I have a hard time reading it. Hopefully this isn’t a forever thing. Pass #tenqueries

Q1: Science Fiction: This query is personalized, almost too personalized, but it doesn’t tell me anything about what the story is actually about. Pass. #tenqueries

That's it for this week! This set of #tenqueries had some different rationales for why I passed, highlighting that there's more than the story in play when I consider. Market, my current list, paying attention to submission guidelines are all things I think about too. #amagenting

Q10: Urban Fantasy: This is on the more literary end of the spectrum, but my tastes are on the more commercial end so this isn't a great fit. Pass. #tenqueries

Q9: Science Fiction: This is essentially a dystopian story, which I have enjoyed in the past, but am not really in the right headspace for right now. This is more a matter of timing than anything else. Pass. #tenqueries

Q8: YA Fiction: This is a near-contemporary set story that my #tenqueries regulars will know isn't the best fit for me. I know. It is what it is. Pass. #tenqueries

Q7: Urban Fantasy: This story is so similar to another story I have on my list. I just don't have space for two such similar ideas. They'll end up competing with each other in a way that will be too difficult for me to manage. Pass. #tenqueries

Q6: New Adult: Here's another space where I've really struggled to place things, and I am just not looking to build up my list in this category. Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: Science Fiction: This is really focused on the romance, and I have struggled to find a home for SFF with a lot of romance, it ends up in an in-between space that is really hard to sell. Pass. #tenqueries

Q4: Contemporary Romance: So this is a teacher-student relationship story that will not fly in the traditional market. The student is 19 but still in high school...and like there's no way this works. Pass. #tenqueries

Q3: YA Fantasy: This query is active w another agent at Speilburg Literary. Reminder: Agents at SLA must be queried one at a time & we respond to all queries. If you have an active submission w one of us, you must withdraw it b4 submitting to a colleague. Pass. #tenqueries

Q2: Contemporary Romance: This romcom is charming, but it has a lot of similar elements to other projects on my list and I don't think I can take on one more. Pass. #tenqueries

Q1: Paranormal Romance: There's something about the meet-cute that isn't quite working for me, which is a problem in a romance. Pass. #tenqueries

What a glorious week! I'm energized and going through queries today. Reminder: this is the last week to submit before I close to general unsolicited queries next Sunday. Note that Diverse Authors will still be able to submit for an additional month. #amagenting #tenqueries

Q10: YA Fantasy: This story is one that should probably be told from an #ownvoices perspective so that even though this has good intentions, I worry about its reception. Pass. #tenqueries

Q9: YA Mystery. The voice here is great, but it gets too bogged down in exposition that it loses some of its charm. Pass. #tenqueries

Q8: Urban Fantasy: Okay so not everyone is doing NA UF. I don't really understand this plot though. It has some interesting elements, but I'm not seeing how they come together. Pass. #tenqueries

Q7: Urban Fantasy: Why is all the urban fantasy I'm getting these days college-aged? I just am not sure of the market for this, especially in the traditional space. Pass. #tenqueries

Q6: Science Fiction: This sounds like a fun concept, but I am not the right agent for this. I struggle with aliens as MCs, it has to be really, really compelling for me to be able to roll with it. Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: YA Contemporary: I think it's contemporary, it's a coming-of-age story, which aren't always the best fits for me since these tend to lie on the more literary end of the spectrum and I am drawn to more commercial voices with hookier concepts. Pass. #tenqueries