Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q10: YA fantasy. This letter was well-written, but I struggled to understand how and why the characters got themselves into the situation in the first place when it seemed easily avoidable. Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q9: Chapter book. This is a genre with which I am less familiar. The summary was difficult to understand and I find it difficult to judge a project without the accompanying illustrations. Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q8: Adult sci-fi with an interesting premise, though one that feels too familiar. The writing in the letter is clunky. Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q7: Says it’s a YA fantasy, but seems to feature an adult main character. I’m also not connecting with the plot as there’s not really a clear goal for the MC aside from something super selfish. Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q6: New adult fantasy. The entire letter describes the writing process and I know nothing about the characters or plot. Don’t do this!!! Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q5: PB. Cute idea, but I am not currently looking for rhyming. The illustrations also look too computerized. I like more of a paint, freehand kind of style. For reference see @korrieleer. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q4: Maybe I’m crazy, but it felt like this letter was put through Google Translate. I have absolutely no idea what this is. Seems like it could vaguely be adult fantasy, but I’ll never know. Pass. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q3: Adult fantasy with Demons. Automatic pass for me. Aside from the demons, the letter is also super confusing. It references characters and creatures without grounding us in plot or world. #tenqueries
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q2: YA Horror. Love the opening few sentences, and it’s very hooky. But the writing in the letter feels awkward. Pass.
Samantha Wekstein @SWekstein · Aug 11
Q1: YA fantasy. Query letter doesn’t set up the goals or the stakes for the MC. We learn a bit about magic, but not enough to be intrigued. Pass #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q9: MG fantasy. Really not my thing. I recently posted about wanting to get more into fantasy books, but I'm still having trouble garnering enthusiasm. Pass. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q8: This author might be too talented for his own good. Read the first 10 pages, which were BEAUTIFULLY written...but I have absolutely no idea what I just read. Pass. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q7: Mystery novel that's already out on Amazon, but author is able to pull the book at any time. Once a book is published, in any capacity it's published; not much else to be done there, with very, very few exceptions. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q6: Too much dialogue in the opening pages, and way too many exclamation points. Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I think exclamation points can, for the most part, get lost. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q5: This query is like so many others I get; decent writing, not a bad story, and I have nothing critical to say about it. But I wasn't blown away by these pages, and I have to be blown away, or at least very intrigued, to request more. Just the way it works sometimes #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q4: Book of short horror stories. Think the writing is good, but short stories are all but impossible to sell as a debut. I'll likely write the author, pass, but ask if she has a novel that she's working on; would love to see that. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q3: Memoir about time spent as an MLB umpire. I get these every once in a while; I just don't think the audience is there. Pass. #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q2: Russian spy thriller. I think I've ever heard the word 'Russia' more times over the past 10 months than my entire life combined. I'm very Russia-ed out. Pass #tenqueries
Alec Shane @alecdshane · Jul 29
Q1: Military fiction. Super hard to sell, so unless I'm completely wild about it, I have to err on the side of passing. #tenqueries