Peter Knapp

Q3: Pass. Futuristic sci-fi YA—even if it's great, I just can't sell this right now.

Q2: ...and, on the other end of the spectrum: this query letter is WAY too long—unfocused and unedited. Pass.

Q1: Pass. Word count under 40k for YA—way too short.

#tenqueries complete. Takeaway: I am still looking for great, smart MG and YA. I love realistic, but I also love to be surprised. Try me!

Q10: Pass. Love the premise, but the writing rushed through opening scenes so fast that it was hard to follow & feel invested. #tenqueries

Q9: Pass. An interesting premise & strong credentials but the voice is too flowery. Adjective:noun ratio is too high! #tenqueries

Q8: Pass. MG mouse book. There are so many mouse hero books & MSs, and this one’s premise just didn’t stand out enough. #tenqueries

Q7: Request. Strong YA contemporary with great dialogue and compelling MC. Some small issues in opening but want to read more! #tenqueries

Q6: Pass. MG historical. I’d love a literary MG historical, but the slice of history explored has to be new or have a new angle. #tenqueries

Q5: Pass. YA fantasy – I only like very accessible fantasy & this just felt too genre for my taste. Voice didn't pull me in. #tenqueries

Q4: Pass. The self-described allegorical novel & after reading the pitch I have NO idea what the story is actually about. #tenqueries

Q3: Pass. Contemp YA w/ an interesting but overly familiar premise. Needed to LOVE the voice right away & didn't. #tenqueries

Q2: Pass. Futuristic YA sci-fi. A difficult sell right now, regardless of how good the writing may be. Doesn't stand out. #tenqueries

Q1: Pass. Vague pitch, described as a MG/YA story, suggesting lack of understanding of the category he is writing in. #tenqueries

#tenqueries takeaway #4: Episodic narratives don't work. Story needs to pull you through, not skip along, & the pitch needs to reflect this.

#tenqueries takeaway #3: I want your contemp YA but it's all about the voice.

#tenqueries takeaway #2: I want to love your literary MG (contemporary or historical). Truly. Keep sending it to me! #mswl

#tenqueries takeaway #1: I'm still not the best fit for fantasy.

Q10: YA Contemp. The pitch was, yes, pitch-perfect, but the voice was distant. Almost entirely dialogue, with a few stage directions.

Q9: MG Fantasy. A little too idiosyncratic without a reason for my taste. And the plot pitch suggests it's too episodic.