SlushWire Weekly #11 – March 15, 2026

Novel length at point of agent submission – who does the cutting?

Comments: 17, Upvotes: 0

I have a 220k manuscript and well aware that the absolute maximum wordcount for a debut author is about 120k. I’m willing to make the cuts but concerned that, by gutting half my novel, I run the risk of accidentally throwing away whatever would make it stand out to an agent. Given that part of the…

[PubQ] What to do when an agent you probably wouldn’t sign with asks for your full?

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 2

Hi, throwaway account here. So, I live-pitched an agent at an event and she was really excited about my MS. I had researched her specifically before the event and felt like she’d be a good fit. But after I sent her the query, I dug a lot deeper into her agency and saw a couple concerning things. No…

[PubQ] Snail mail submissions. Any experience with them?

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 1

Currently looking at some smaller presses / imprints to submit to. They’re legitimate, but I’m surprised by the mailing requirement. Anyone have experience with this? Not quite sure what I’m looking for just want to know how it went for you. Thanks.

[QCRIT] Toilette For Two – Adult Contemporary Rom-Com – 74k – 1st attempt

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 20

Thank you so much for the feedback on my past query letters. This is a new story outline that I’m working on. Pitched as: One bed? No. One toilet? Yes. \_\_\_\_\_\_ TOILETTE FOR TWO (74,000 words) is a contemporary rom-com featuring a main cast of queer Filipino-Italians. I will appeal to fans o…

[QCrit] Young Adult Fantasy – SAMODIVA – 130k words (First Attempt)

Comments: 10, Upvotes: 3

Hi everyone! I’m super new to Reddit, so I really hope I’m doing this post right! I started querying in the beginning of the month, but I haven’t received any requests so far, so I’m posting this in the hopes of catching any issues preventing agent interest at this stage. I know the word count is…

[QCrit] Poor Kevin, Young Adult New Adult Crossover, Thriller, 75K, First Attempt

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 3

Hello All, Queried 20 agents eight weeks ago and now have 10 form rejections. I suspect the remaining queries will have no response. Need input please. Query: I am seeking representation for *Poor Kevin*, a 75,000-word psychological thriller that blends dark humor with speculative beliefs, romanc…

[QCrit] Adult Contemporary Romance – LOVE IN RUINS (74,000 words/ Attempt 2)

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 4

Thanks for all the feedback last time! I’ve tried to pare back the story paragraphs and keep the stakes in the end central to the romance, rather than the artifact, while still including a bit more about the artifact itself. I’m also debating changing the name from All’s Fair in Love and Ruins to Lo…

[discussion] Questions for agents. If you turned down a manuscript and years later saw the book on shelves, what were your thoughts?

Comments: 11, Upvotes: 37

Did you regret giving it a pass or was it basically no reaction. I know you guys get tons so you probably don’t remember even a fraction, but I’ve wondered.

What actually is a captivating ‘Hook’?

Comments: 37, Upvotes: 2

I have heard authors say that the ‘hook’ which captivates the reader should be present in the first chapter, some say that it should be within the first paragraph and some even say that it should be the very first line! I have seen a lot of books where the main conflict or the very first big event …

[QCrit] ISOLDE / Adult Literary Fiction / 100k / First Attempt

Comments: 27, Upvotes: 6

No one has ever finished reading *Isolde*. She yearns to be completed – for someone to finally turn the last of her pages. As she is passed from owner to owner through the centuries, she must grapple with what it means to be held but never truly understood. ISOLDE is a literary fiction novel comple…

[QCRIT] WIDOWMAKER, Upmarket Historical Fiction, 100k words (second attempt)

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 2

I did a [first attempt post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1rmozz2/qcrit_widowmaker_upmarket_historical_fiction_100k/)last week and the feedback was *super* helpful, so wanted to get some eyes on the second attempt to see if zooming out and re-positioning it like this is less confusing….

[QCrit] ONCE UPON A STOLEN TART, ADULT COZY MYSTERY, 80K, “First Attempt”

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 5

Hello! This is my first attempt at a query. The manuscript is not complete, so the final word count (and title) is to be determined. Would appreciate any and all critiques for this draft! I’m also looking for new comps, so please let me know if you have any suggestions <3 Dear \[Agent Name\], I…

[QCrit]: THE GRACIOUS ONES, Upmarket Thriller, Adult, 83k [1st Attempt]

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 3

Thank you in advance for any and all feedback. I’ve also included the first 300 words. \——————————– I am seeking representation for my upmarket thriller with dystopian elements, THE GRACIOUS ONES, complete at 83,000 words. It will appeal to readers who appreciated the tense mo…

[PubQ] Confused by agent feedback

Comments: 25, Upvotes: 17

Hi folks! So all the online research I did into adult fantasy’s word limit said as of 2025/2026 that 120k was basically the limit and to stay below it. I just got a query reply from an agent turning down my project because **“In Fantasy, submissions should be in the 75,000-105,000 word range, especi…

[PubQ] Agent asked me to follow up

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 10

Sent a query to a particular agent, they emailed me the next day (on a Sunday) to ask the word count, which was already in the subject line and query letter. Then they asked me to follow up in 2 weeks if I haven’t heard anything back from them. Then five minutes later they emailed again to say they …

[PubQ] Agent Leaving Agency mid-submission, any advice please

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 11

Long Time Lurker, First Time Poster, fallen down a deep hole of despair Hi everyone, I’ve been on sub for about a year with just one round of editors so far (slow moving but not ghosted). My agent just informed me that they are leaving their agency without much details on what their plan is,…

[QCrit] THOSE WHO FOUGHT THE MOUNTAINS/ Speculative Fiction/ Adult/ 81K/ 4th Attempt

Comments: 16, Upvotes: 1

Hey guys, Very glad to be posting here again, the last three brought TONS of helpful changes into this version. I’m also Including my first 300 words. I’ll be attending a Writing Day Workshop in Denver next weekend and have three pitches scheduled with agents. If all goes well, I’d love to see this…

[QCrit] STRINGS OF FAETE / YA LGBTQIA+ Contemporary Romantasy/ 97k / 2nd Attempt

Comments: 10, Upvotes: 2

Thank you to everyone who gave me feedback on my (mortifying, disastrous) first attempt. I learned an important vocabulary lesson. My gratitude is as deep as my shame. So fathomless, basically. For attempt two, I have *Café Con Lychee* as a stand-in comp. I don’t think it’s an awful choice, but the…

[QCRIT] Macarons and Monsters (adult contemporary fantasy, 80,000, first attempt)

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 5

Trying to put my stuff together for Revpit and figured it would be good to get some eyes on my query. I’ve recently had feedback that my title telegraphs “too cosy” (like low stakes cosy, when mine is a little darker while still whimsical). It was a placeholder working title anyway just ended up sti…

[QCrit] Gothic YA Adventure, THE DARK ONES, 77K, Attempt 1

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2

Hello all! Long timer lurker, first time caller. I recentlygot some amazing feedback from my Reedsy editor, who has encouraged me to query. My original plan was to self publish, but the encouragement has given me some hope to take a swing. Here is my first attempt! \_\_\_\_ Dear \[AGENT\], …

Does the first chapter of every story have to start out with the inciting event?

Comments: 25 | Upvotes: 0

This question was inspired by the discussion of a story at critique style meetup. Chap 1 begins with protagonist at work being threatened with losing her job, comes home to find her boyfriend is leaving early for a trip. She doomscrolls and drinks alone at home but finds out about an event taking p…

[PubQ] Help! Should I leave my agent?

Comments: 3 | Upvotes: 7

I want to preface this by saying I’m genuinely so torn. It took so long to get an agent, and I never dreamed of leaving one. I’ve been signed with them for a little over a year. We’ve had two books go out on sub with zero bites and nearly 50 passes. The thing is, they’re not, from what I can gather,…

[PubQ] How often do agents give referrals?

Comments: 0 | Upvotes: 1

Hi all! As days pass waiting on the answer to my full request, I’m wondering: what makes an agent refer a full to another agent, instead of outright rejecting it? What are the chances of it happening? Maybe it’s just me hoping to get absolutely anything but a rejection, but I’d love any answers l…

[QCrit] MG Fantasy, Saylor and the Cove of Chaos (60k /PubTips Third Attempt)

Comments: 18 | Upvotes: 2

I am in my fourth batch of queries and have faced nothing but rejection after rejection. No requests. No personalized rejections. 20 of 24 queries rejected and 4 ghosted. But I’m not giving up. What am I doing wrong? Thirteen-year-old Saylor Orden wants nothing more than to be wanted. Aban…

[QCrit] THE DETECTIVE DARLINGS – YA Mystery, 72K, 3rd attempt

Comments: 5 | Upvotes: 11

Hello wonderful people of PubTips. Thanks to previous feedback I have retooled both my novel and query, aging up my protagonists and pushing down my word count. Now I’m hoping to get some additional help with my updated query. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Dear [Agent], Two sisters. One…

[QCrit] Forget Me Not, Adult, Mystery, 84,000

Comments: 8 | Upvotes: 5

**Thanks, all.** When people start to die in the Austrian village of Grimmendorf, Rosi Oberlechner, the owner of the inn, suspects foul play even before Toni Aschenbrenner, the old village cop, realizes there is more to the deaths than meets the eye. Rosi can’t fault Toni for ruling the first deat…

[QCrit] OATHBOUND, Adult Epic Fantasy, 120K, Third Attempt

Comments: 4 | Upvotes: 4

Okay it’s been an incredible three weeks of feeback, editing, and researching agents who I want to query. The aid I’ve received from the community has been invaluable and I’m excited to present Version 3 (closer to version 9) of my query letter for your review. thank you again for all the assist…