#8 = historical young adult. Query explains the agenda and what kids "will learn" from reading. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

Yes, I know these responses sound harsh, sorry. Partly it's 140 characters and partly I'm going for my gut reaction. #10queriesin10tweets

#7 = fantasy. World building feels stiff and the setup feels generic/ not-attention-grabbing. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

#6 = paranormal New Adult. This query is very long (3 pages) and rambles without really nailing the pitch. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

Word count is rarely a deal breaker for me, but in *general* I want young adult novels to be 50K to 90K. In general. #10queriesin10tweets

#5 = contemporary YA. Setup feels cliche- not big enough to tell a whole story. Also, it's 22,000 words (short). PASS #10queriesin10tweets

#4 = science fiction. Queries should be short but not this short. No pitch included, just a character bio. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

As an aside, you can find out what genres I do represent here: publishersmarketplace.com/members/SaraMe… and here: nelsonagency.com #10queriesin10tweets

#3 = self help nonfiction. We don't represent this genre of work. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

#2 = contemporary YA. Generic characters and generic premise. Lots of teen angst without a bigger hook. PASS #10queriesin10tweets

#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.