Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

10. YA F. The query pitch is all vague pat phrases that sound appropriately dramatic but tell me nothing concrete about the story. Opening paragraphs are very confusing to follow--see Wednesday's thread about not starting in the middle of The Action. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

9. YA F. This one was close for me--the voice was strong, but there was a lack of clarity about what the big picture was for the story, both in the query and the pages. Sadly a pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

8. MG F. I actually really like this MG voice, but I'm struggling to connect with the characters. Synopsis ultimately determined this one--a pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

7. MG F. Seems fun, but features a number of elements I think are tired, and the voice is too campy for me, personally. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

6. YA F. I like the premise, but similar to one from the other day, the dialogue can't seem to settle on time period or voice. The tonal whiplash is jarring. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

5. YA F. I was so-so on the pitch, but the voice is fantastic! Authors, take note: it's hard for a good query letter to save so-so prose, but great prose can absolutely save a so-so pitch. Request. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

4. YA F. The writing isn't quiiiite where I'd like, but the premise is really compelling and I'm taken with the characters. I'll give this one a shot. Request. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

3. YA F. Another intriguing premise, but sadly the writing just doesn't grab me. The narrative style is heavy on dramatics but nothing unique or compelling about the voice. This is a frequent issue in first-person POV YA queries for me. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

2. YA F. This premise is SO cool, I really wanted to love it. But there were a few elements of the plot that I was not a fan of, and the prose just wasn't connecting me to the MC. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

1. Adult F. The plot is awfully dark for me personally, and I'm not following the logic of the protag's established motivation to her actions--it seems nonsensical. Pass for me. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

10. Adult UF. Caught my attention but didn't keep it. Good opening scene, but the subsequent scenes seemed incomplete and haphazard. More detail in the query letter would also have helped. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

9. YA F. Weirdly, exact same situation as the previous one. I actually think this one is a stronger story, but also more concretely a romance novel. I don't work much in the romance genre, so this is a pass for me. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

8. YA F. There's a lot I like, but I'm having trouble seeing it fit within categories--there are elements that would make this a hard sell as YA; structurally, I think it might be better pitched as a romance. Sadly I don't love it enough to work through this; pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

7. Adult F. Strong writing, timely themes, and two comps I LOVE? Request! #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

6. Adult UF. Both the writing and the pitch are very good, but it's just not the type of story that grabs my attention, personally. But I feel sure another agent will pick this one up at some point! Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

5. YA F. Repeat query, but makes no mention of revision--in fact, the query doesn't even acknowledge that this is a repeat submission. I only consider repeats if they have been substantially revised, and you must mention that in the query! Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

4. YA contemporary. Query letter only contains author bio--no description of the book. This is also just not at all the type of book I represent. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

3. YA SF. Skeevy language regarding women--hard pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

2. YA F. Writing is just not there yet. Query has a weird oversimplification of the human condition & morality that feels very old-school Good Vs Evil. I prefer to see more nuance. Pass. #tenqueries

Caitlin McDonald
@literallycait
Literary Agent
literary agent @MaassLitAgency for SFF, YA, & GN • she/her • queer • ADHD • intensely editorial 📚 #BLM #TransRightsAreHumanRights
69 MSWL
33 AskAgent
124 Queries
39 Tips

1. MG F. I liked the premise but I'm concerned about the implications of the ending, and the writing just wasn't working for me. Pass. #tenqueries