Q7: A Fantasy. Brilliant concept! Powerful opening action scene severely weakened by characters' unrealistic dialogue. Pass. #tenqueries

Q6: Dystopian. Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: MG/YA Fantasy. Chosen One is Sent on a Quest and Makes Friends. Show me what makes this unique, different, stand out. Pass. #tenqueries

Q4: YA fantasy. Answered a mswl call. A super awesome Shakespeare play written all over this. Drool! Partial. #tenqueries

Q3: Contemp YA. Diversity, friendship, resiliency (yay!). Writing in sample clunky, lots of stop & go, lots of telling. Pass. #tenqueries

Q2: All the email contained was "Attached is my query and manuscript." Follow submission guidelines! Pass. #tenqueries

Q1: The writer attached 10 manuscripts & demanded I pay $500 for each. "I do not know what genres interest you." Big ol' PASS. #tenqueries

Yes, I know it's tough to see all the PASS here. Almost all my clients come from query slush pile = it does work! #10queriesIn10tweets

Here is an example of a successful query letter BTW: writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/g… #10queriesIn10tweets

#10 = dystopian YA. Hero feels more like a caricature (needs more character motivation/ development) PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

"I know I don't have a chance in heck with all the drivel out there" = not the reason I passed. Still = Don't Do This. #10queriesIn10tweets

#9 = science fiction. Query goes for self deprecation instead of serious (see next tweet) Also, writing not strong PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#8 = middle grade fantasy. Introduces heroine but not conflict and the magic system feels generic. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#7 = fantasy. Fabulous world building and very strong writing. Intriguing heroine + clear/strong pitch. ACCEPT #10queriesIn10tweets

#6 = contemporary middle grade. Narrative voice feels too old and plot feels like it's talking-down to reader. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#5 = YA science fiction. The conflict and world feels generic and writing isn't *quite* strong enough. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#4 = science fiction. Query talks about reasons why these themes are important but doesn't introduce characters. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#3 = romance. Self published so PASS. I don't rep previously published at all (and I see this too often in queries) #10queriesIn10tweets

#2 = YA fantasy. Interesting heroine and strong hook but grammar and writing not quite strong enough. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#1 = fantasy (adult, not YA). Query focuses entirely on backstory and setup - no hook, pitch, plot. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets