#tenqueries 2: YA Sci-fi. I wanted to know more about the plot in this pitch. What's motivating the character to rise above her struggles? We get the very initial set-up, but then what? Pass.

#tenqueries 1: MG Animal Story. I would call this a MG fantasy or perhaps MG animal fantasy. The lack of clear stakes and a cliffhanger that makes me think "what happens next?" is giving me pause. Pass.

#tenqueries 10: YA. I'm not given a genre; I'm not addressed directly ("To Whom It May Concern"); there is no word count; and while I'm told that it has factors that I will find enticing, I'm not shown that at all. Pass.

#tenqueries 9: YA Contemporary. We're just not given a deep enough glance into the characters in the pitch, so it's feeling a touch superficial or flat. I want a sense of not just what happens but why it matters, which comes back to caring about characters for me. Pass

#tenqueries 8: YA Adventure. The main plotline is clear, but as an adventure story, I feel like we're lacking high stakes and drama. We're told X, X, and X happen, but what makes each of these plot points exciting or challenging? Pass

#tenqueries 7: YA Sci-Fi. The tone in this query doesn't match the content. It's too light, almost trying to be funny or positive, while describing intense, life-altering moments for the main characters. Pass

#tenqueries 6: YA Fantasy. This is definitely more of a dystopian than a fantasy, and it doesn't feel particularly stand-out. Dystopian remains difficult at the moment, so anything in this genre has to be different in some way. Pass

#tenqueries 5: YA Contemporary. There's some thriller, some mystery, and some secrets in this pitch. I worry the main plot is a little familiar, but there is something compelling in the edgy voice in the first pages. Request.

#tenqueries 4: YA Fantasy. The first few pages in this manuscript are atmospheric on the setting-level, but the writing is a bit too overdone. Too many descriptors will make your language feel flowery instead of purposeful. Pass

#tenqueries 3: Contemporary. This pitch is very quiet. There's romance and secrets, but I saw hardly any tension or stakes the characters would have to overcome. I can't tell what the climax of the story would be. Pass.

#tenqueries 2: YA Fantasy. There is so much going on in this story: magical abilities, time travel, secret societies, espionage, a … I worry that there won't be one main plotline, and the story trying to be told will get lost. Pass.

#tenqueries 1: YA Contemporary. This pitch is very vague. I wanted to know more details about what makes this novel stand out from others in its genre. Pass.

Q10 Romance. Good dialogue and realistic setting but characters feel flat. Needs more plot. Not for me. #tenqueries

Q9 YA Fantasy. I don't rep fantasy. Not for me. #tenqueries

#tenqueries intermission and quiz: how does this email fail as an engaging approach to a literary agent?

Q8 Rom com. Promising writing style but premise not interesting and themes/plot possibly not right for this genre. Not for me. #tenqueries

Q7 Children's picture books. Charming looking idea but I don't rep picture books. Not for me. #tenqueries

Q7 Memoir. Lively and engaging writing but not an area of interest for me in terms of subject matter. Not for me. #tenqueries

Q6. Rom com. Great title and premise. So great in fact that I can't not now have a look at the whole manuscript. Requesting the full. #tenqueries

Q5 YA. Interesting international setting but I am lost as to what is going on. Needs to intro characters and setting. Not for me. #tenqueries