It's almost like the pitch is filled with backstory and not the current narrative. #100Queries

89. YA Contemporary. This pitch doesn’t give enough information. It sets up the characters ok, but doesn’t go any futher. #100Queries

88. Adult Fantasy. Not a thing I represent! #100Queries

87. YA Thriller. The pitch is really confusing. Too much information that doesn’t link together. #100Queries

I’m hesitant about an aspect of the story, but I’ll request pages anyway and test it out because the premise is really unusual. #100Queries

86. MG Magical Realism. I really love this premise! Some unusual things going on here. #100Queries

85. YA Fantasy. The premise just doesn’t sound like something I’d read. I think I’m particularly picky with fantasy concepts. #100Queries

The pitch isn’t necessarily bad, but when agents read so many queries day after day, you want to keep it as simple as possible. #100Queries

84. YA Fantasy. This query is way too long. 3-4 paragraphs max are all you need (this one has 15). #100Queries

83. Commercial Fiction. Another pitch that focuses on theme instead of plot. Not really sure what the stakes are in this one. #100Queries

82. Picture Book. Almost identical premise to a book published last year… #100Queries

81. Picture Book. Pitch is short, but effective. Manuscript (often included with PB submissions) just doesn’t speak to me. #100Queries

Thanks y'all! Another great #10queriesIn10tweets - remember, crazy as it seems, most of my clients come from query slush pile. It does work!

#10 = science fiction. Query focuses on world and backstory but not on characters, plot or story. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#9 = young adult fantasy. Follows heroine from birth to death = not likely a YA novel & needs a stronger conflict. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#8 = fantasy young adult. Too much agenda in the query ("I'm writing to teach youngsters about...). PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#7 = fantasy romance. Query talks entirely of heroine and nothing of hero. I see this too often btw. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#6 = fantasy. Query should read like back cover of a book. This one is character descriptions + chapter outlines. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

#5 = young adult fantasy. Writing is choppy (grammar, etc). Heroine seems fun but not enough to win me over. PASS #10queriesIn10tweets

note on word count - it's not usually a deal breaker but under 25,000 for a middle grade is really short. #10queriesIn10tweets