#tenqueries Q1. Start your query with a sentence or two that lets us know what your story is all about. Don't make the agent read through your life story before you even mention your story. We want to get to know you but we want you to pull us in with a good hook first.

#tenqueries 10: YA Fantasy. The plot sounds fun if somewhat familiar, but the pages were a little too surface level. I want an immediate sense of character, but it started with a fight scene w/o investing me in character in any way. Pass.

#tenqueries 9: YA Magical Realism. There are intriguing elements to the pitch but I did not find the plot sparked with me personally -- perhaps it is too quiet for me. I think this has potential for the right agent, though. Pass but forwarded to a colleague.

#tenqueries 8: MG Contemporary. The pitch here feels very didactic – more concerned with theme than story. Theme should emerge from story in a pitch, not the other way around. Pass.

#tenqueries 7: MG Adventure. The author does not sign his or her name to this query, and only spends three sentences actually pitching the book. The bulk of the query should focus getting an agent to want to read your pages, not your plans for the future. Pass

#tenqueries 6: Adult Fiction. There are no sample pages, no real query, and the author complains that no one will read their books. Pass.

#tenqueries 5: Adult Fiction. The plot of this story seems very quirky, but the query doesn’t really convey anything about the characters – just what happens to them, which may put the MC in a passive role. Pass.

#tenqueries 4: MG Fantasy. The first pages in this query are a bit overwritten, with too much unnecessary detail. As Stephen King wrote, “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” Pass.

#tenqueries 3: YA Fantasy. This query is mislabeled—it’s futuristic and feels like a dystopian (by both description and pages). I also wonder if it can be classified as YA given the protagonists ages (all twenties). Pass.

#tenqueries 2: YA Fantasy. This query doesn’t give enough specifics about what will happen in the story; it deals too much in generalities. Queries should be concise, so if you're using a phrase that could describe any number of books, rethink it. Pass.

#tenqueries 1: YA Contemporary. Though well-structured, the query is lacking in tension. I know what the characters want, but why does it matter? What is at stake for them? Pass.

Q10: Adult mystery. Interesting setting for murders. Content not suitable for us. Pass. #tenqueries

Q9: NF/Memoir. We no longer publish these. Pass. #tenqueries

Q8: Adult CR. Solid query. Interesting premise. No sample pages included, but I'm intrigued enough by the query to REQUEST!! #tenqueries

Q7: Historical Romance. Solid query. Followed sub guidelines. Unsure about faith element. Is there one? Overuse of scene breaks makes the story choppy & hard to engage. Pass. #tenqueries

Q6: Hist fic. Minimal info in the query letter. Don't really know what the story is about. Didn't follow sub guidelines. Pass. #tenqueries

Q5: YA dystopian romance. Fantastic premise. Followed all sub guidelines. Sample pages well-written. Request!!!! #tenqueries

Q4: Non-fiction, which we no longer publish. Query focuses on wanting a lit agent to represent the book--we're a publisher. Pass. #tenqueries

Q3: WF (I think.) Query isn't clear. Content not a fit for us. No sample pages included. Pass. #tenqueries

Q2: MG Cozy (?) Query is unclear in terms of genre & age group. Interesting setting / time period. Possible questionable content. Sample pages didn't grip me. Pass. #tenqueries