#1 = fantasy. An interesting premise but the writing isn't very strong. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

#10 - YA, which once again falls victim to a lack of detail in the query. Pass.

#9 - Though billed as a coming of age novel, this query reads more as adult than YA. Pass.

#8 - YA fiction about a star crossed couple "destined to" something or another. Pass.

#7 - MG fantasy humor, but the writing feels unpolished, and the query has typos. That's not a deal-breaker, but it's indicative. Pass.

#6 - YA magical realism. The query letter reads as almost too quirky for words, with every character's name seeming to mean something. Pass.

#5 - very generic YA with no specific details about plot, MC, antagonist, nothing. Sounds like "In a world where..." Pass.

#4 - MG mystery. I love a good Nancy Drew story, and the pages have a strong voice, so this is a request! (1st 5 chapters & synopsis)

#3 - adult spy thriller. I don't rep adult fiction. Pass.

#2 - Contemp YA with a strong compelling hook, but the writing in the opening pages felt unpolished. Pass.

Query #1 - author calls it a picture book, but it's really an early chapter book. Either way, I don't represent. Pass.

Thanks to @SaraMegibow for the hashtag. #10queriesin10tweets is a quick look in my query inbox, with my brief reactions to what I see there.

#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.

Q8: MG humor. Bathroom humor. Just not my thing.

Q7: MG humor. Told from POV of much younger protagonist. Perhaps better for chapter book series. Short for MG, long for chapter book series.