Comments: 27, Upvotes: 46

Hi everyone! I’m on the brink of finishing my novel, and my writing mentor has encouraged me to begin querying in early 2026. I’ve read and received all kinds of stellar advice regarding querying, but it’s often conflicting! In the interest of gathering data…**what was/is your querying strategy?*…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 19

Hi PubTips! We are pleased to be hosting an AMA with the multi-talented Laura Goode on Wednesday, November 19 from 2:00-4:00 EST. Laura Goode is a writer, producer, and professor. She’s the author of three books and a film, including PITCH CRAFT: THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO GETTING AGENTED, PUBLISHE…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 16

I submitted my manuscript to a small publisher months ago and they just got back to me saying they are considering acquiring the book. I haven’t responded yet since I’ve made changes to the book from the original submission. It’s still the same story with the same plot and information just improved—…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 9

Hi everyone! I’ve been on sub since the spring, and so far have received passes from about half of the sub list. I originally wrote the book to be the first in a series, but have a potential R&R from an editor who’d like me to revise it to a standalone. My agent thinks that it’s worth exploring…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 5

I submitted my manuscript to a small publisher months ago and they just got back to me saying they are considering acquiring the book. I haven’t responded yet since I’ve made changes to the book from the original submission. It’s still the same story with the same plot and information just improved—…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 6

I’m a writer with some solid bylines (essays and features in pretty much every major outlet short of *The New Yorker*), but I’ve never written or sold a book before. I also don’t have more than around 3k social media followers, which made me assume a book deal wouldn’t be on the table. Recently a l…

Comments: 11, Upvotes: 10

Hi all, just found this community and eager to jump in to read more on here and give my own critiques where valid. I’m getting ready to query and am looking for some advice from you lovely people. TIA \— Nate Prince, a former pro quarterback with a ruined shoulder and a complicated family legacy…

Comments: 13, Upvotes: 1

I sent out ten queries, tweaking the content as I went. While I wait on those, let’s see what y’all have to say about this one. I realized pretty much all of the agents are taking email or form-based queries now, so the one-page limit isn’t such a big deal. That gave me a bit more room to work. 3rd…

Comments: 11, Upvotes: 3

Dear Agent, [personalized why I chose agent] For three years, Ivy has wandered New York with no memory, a ruined wedding dress, and a tattoo curling down her shoulder—an enigma she doesn’t understand. When a fox lures her through a hidden doorway, she tumbles into Otherworld, where her hair turns …

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 6

Hi everyone I’m back! I took the advice given last time and added plot to the blurb, plus moved sentences around in my first 300. I’m really hoping this is an improvement! Last attempt: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1os7dbp/qcrit\_adult\_contemporary\_romance\_how\_you\_hear\_me/?utm\_…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 7

Thanks for the feedback [last time](https://reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1nnjmbh/qcrit_psychological_thriller_ink_shadows_54k/). I am much more confident in my letter and opening lines so hopefully it’s better received. If you can give me feedback it would be appreciated. \[Query Letter\] Dear \…

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 1

Hi all, appreciate any and all constructive feedback. Apologies if there are no paragraph breaks – I will put ‘//‘ to indicate. Here it goes! Dear Agent, I am writing to you because of your interest in representing novels that skew upmarket and literary and involve narrators looking back and tryi…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 2

Hi everyone! So, I’ve queried 4 agents so far and got 4 rejections so I’m thinking my package needs some work. I’ve rewritten this letter several times so I need fresh eyes to help point out the issues here. Thanks in advance 🙂 Hello, \[AGENT\] I am seeking representation for THE EMPIRE OF SAIN…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 2

Good Afternoon, I am seeking representation for AZARATH THE MACHINIST \[100,000 words\], a queer romantic fantasy novel. It draws heavily from 19th century history while focusing heavily on the protagonist’s own journey through this world. It would appeal to readers who enjoyed the socially charged…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 3

Hiya, PubTips! I’ve been lurking while editing my first manuscript, and it’s been invaluable. I finally worked up the gall to start querying, and thought I’d get some more eyes on it before I get too far into it. My biggest concerns right now are 1) if it feels “hook-y” at all, and 2) the names of …

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

I posted the first version about a week ago. I have not yet entered the querying field and am finishing up editing. I hope to start querying in a month or two (taking into account the upcoming holidays). Note: I have two books as my reference that were published within the last 5 years. I didn…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 1

Hello pubtips, I am usually a lurker around here and love all the publishing discussions and solid query advice. I broke up with my last agent after severe communications issues and I am working on something new and need some eyes on the query… Thank you. Blurb – Maya is a failed mage. After tryin…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 1

Here’s the 2nd draft for my query letter in regards to Lowi Island, Lowanna the Ninth, once Empress Ban Moa, sits at seventy-three revising the memoir that made her a legend—and tore her world apart. Decades before, her memoir *Lowi Island* became both a bestseller and a political grenade in the cu…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone! I’m preparing to query agents for my nonfiction book on breathwork and healing, and I’d love feedback on the clarity, structure, and effectiveness of my query letter. All constructive critique is very appreciated. \— Dear Agent, I’m seeking representation for my nonfiction book, *…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 8

If I’m agented with someone who liked my romantasy, and I decide to write a contemporary romance – assuming that she isn’t interested in my contemporary romance manuscript, is it standard practice to query new agents for that genre?

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 0

So, I have been writing poems for a while now, I have won a prize in some fancy country-level contest and teachers as well as basically all people, relatives that hear my poems or writing, compliment it a lot, saying it is something they have never heard before! I sort of take this as a sign for me …

Comments: 16, Upvotes: 7

I don’t have much in terms of comps, most I can come up with is “with the disjointed timeline of Paul Tremblay’s *Horror Movie* and the fantastical monsters of Laird Barron’s *Not a Speck of Light*”, but I feel like too many books can be likened to those traits, so I’m hesitant to inject them into m…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 14

AUGURS is a speculative horror novel complete at 80,000 words. Blending the deranged pursuit of beauty in the movies Death Becomes Her with the satirical commentary on pageants in Drop Dead Gorgeous, it will appeal to readers of Rouge by Mona Awad and Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang. Recently ber…

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 6

Dear Agent, *Battle of Pantheons* is the world’s biggest digital card game, and Katrina Chua is a highly promising young player. She knows it, too—maybe a little too well. Every year, the University of California Anaheim hosts a BoP tournament for incoming freshmen, where the champion gets a free …

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 2

Hey, all! I am currently wrapping up the final revisions of my novel, and am seeking help with beginning the arduous query process. This is my first time ever writing a query letter, so any and all critique is greatly appreciated! I am running into problems with categorizing my novel’s genre and wo…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 4

Hi everyone! I’ve learned a ton from lurking on this board, and I finally feel ready to post my query for feedback. I’ve been revising it for about a month now, so fresh eyes would be hugely appreciated. Have at it! // The night **Evie Carrington** meets **Nile Beaumont**, she’s trying to drown h…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 3

I haven’t sent this out yet and would love some feedback. Thank you in advance! Dear Lit Agent, Neurodivergent college senior Chris Taylor never quite fit in with her military-obsessed family. Only her twin brother, Mikey, ever truly understood her. But now Mikey’s gone, killed in an off-roadin…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 5

Hi pubtips! I’m so nervous to post this as I’ve never written a query letter before and I’m sure this one has some major issues that have gone unnoticed 😅 but as for issues I have noticed (and am seeking feedback on): this thing is a bit too long, I know (though this version is even more cut down th…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 2

I’ve been in the query trenches for a little over a month now and have sent out 18 queries on Query Tracker and received 11 form rejects with the closest actionable feedback, “that the events outlined in the synopsis didn’t grab me,” which, after digging through tracker comments, seems to still be a…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone! Can’t wait to hear your feedback. Thanks in advance! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Dear \[agent’s name\], I am seeking representation for my debut novel *Where the Vines Cling Crimson,* an adult contemporary romantic fantasy, complete at 90,000 words, with duology potential,…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 4

Hi there! I am coming to the tail end of a first draft, and to help push me to the end I drafted a query letter. This will be my third time attempting to query – hoping this is the one that sticks. Anyway, I am not sold on these comps. Grateful for any feedback. Thanks! \[Agent\], I am seeking…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

I had a 1-on-1 with someone in the literary world, and they suggested condensing my three paragraphs on plot/summary/characters/etc. down to one—make it even more concise. I know some maintain the three paragraph format; I’m not interested in a debate on formatting the query letter—I’ll try both. Fo…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 3

I am seeking representation for my middle-grade adventure novel, **Maggie and the Monkey Puzzle Tree**, complete at \[TBD\]. This story will appeal to readers who enjoy the heartfelt adventure of *The Wild Robot* and the magic-meets-mischief energy of *The Jumbies*. Twelve-year-old Maggie wants not…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 1

Hey, second post ever on here. Keeping it simple, here’s the pitch minus the personalization. Also, I chose “Adult” as a default. If anything in here suggests it should be directed elsewhere, please point it out. In 82k words, *Bullroarer* probes the gory Horror/Western landscape and finds its bea…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

Hey everyone! First time posting here, any and all feedback on this very much welcome! As tends to be the issue with epic fantasy, there’s a lot of worldbuilding, and so my main struggle is trying to figure out how much to say without saying too much. I tried to strike a balance of giving just enoug…

Comments: 25, Upvotes: 40

Hi everyone. I’ve been querying for a little while now (45 agents so far), and I’m feeling a bit down after my most recent rejection. I had an interaction with an agent who liked my pitch, and my concept aligned well with the niches on her manuscript wishlist. I thought, maybe this will be my first …

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 0

PROTAGONIST CHARACTER ARC: From an innocent boy> empathetic member> curious student> guilty victim> hopeless living corpse> calm strategist> ruthless mastermind> to forever scarred man Logline: A brilliant student’s life shatters when his investigation into a single, bizarr…

Comments: 31, Upvotes: 62

Hello! I am in the editing phase of my third manuscript and am ready to be hurt again (by agents). I still find query letters really difficult so any and all help would be appreciated! Thank you. I am seeking representation for RUN CLUB, an upmarket fiction novel about a young woman who becomes obs…

Comments: 14, Upvotes: 7

I tried to address as much feedback as possible (first query post [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1oq934p/qcrit_literary_fiction_atwill_935k_first_attempt/))… Hopefully this is an improvement…My only reservation now is I’m pretty much explaining/revealing the entire story (albei…

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 7

Dear agent, I am writing to seek new representation after amicably parting with my agent, and you seem like a good fit because \[personalization\]. With that in mind, I would like to pitch my 83,000-word contemporary fantasy novel, THE BOOK OF LIGHT AND DARK, which is for fans of *Starling House* …

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 6

Dear [Agent], THE UNMAKING, a 94,000-word upmarket speculative novel blending the haunting erasure of The Memory Police with the liturgical corporate dread of Severance. [personalization] Nova Callix works as an analyst for the Directorate of Human Stability, taming the passions of the city by re…

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2

Hi all! Taking a leaf out of my friend’s book to post my query letter here for some feedback. This is the third iteration after prior feedback from agented writers. Looking forward to your feedback/con-crit! Thanks for taking a look 🙂 >​​Dear \[Agent\], >I’m excited to share THE NECROMANCER…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 3

Dear \[Agent’s Name\], When Elira opens a forbidden tome and awakens Nyxar—a god erased from history, they must choose whether to reveal a truth that could shatter the world as they know it or keep it buried to survive. Complete at 96,000 words, Remnants of the Forgotten is a duel POV romantic f…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 5

It seems rare to get to “Fourth Attempts” here. Not sure what that says about me or my book, haha! Keen for feedback. Dear \[Agent Name\], \[Personalization paragraph\] EXAPTATION, complete at 77,000 words, is a multi-POV speculative thriller with literary scope. It combines the first-contact un…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 2

Hi r/PubTips, thanks for your time! I’m excited to hear your feedback. Cheers. \– I am seeking representation for ARBITER, a 118,000-word adult urban fantasy that blends magic with cyberpunk elements. It will appeal to readers who enjoyed THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN by Cassandra Shaw and Richard Ka…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 1

Hi PubTips! Currently seeking rep for my second novel. I’ve been coordinating with some of my old college writing teachers to get some feedback on my query letter and other pitch materials. Right now grading has them crazy busy though, so I figured while I wait for their feedback on the most recent…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 3

this is version 5 for me, and i would love some feedback. so far i’ve gotten seven rejections, and i have six active queries. maybe this’ll help me move the needle? thanks in advance 🫶🏼 Mia Maitland has always been the scapegoat in her fractured family, enduring years of physical and emotional ab…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

HI there, *This is my second attempt looking for feedback on my query letter. I’ve modified this a ton based on past feedback and really feel that I made a difference.* *I had a lot of feedback last time about the title being the same as a song (by the Fratellis) Yes, I know that. Yes, I still wa…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone. I would love some feedback on my concept and the connective tissue of my query, particularly if it flows well and makes cohesive sense or not. Thank you in advance! Dear Agent, A luxury cruise turned ghost ship. An abandoned oil rig. And the end of humanity… Angry, aspiring teen ec…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

[Attempt 2 Post:](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1ngwkok/qcrit_epic_fantasy_111000_words_the_kings_oath/) Hi r/pubtips! After talking to a developmental editor, cutting my word count down, and making some changes to my query letter, I decided to take another crack at it. Please shred …

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

1st time posting here, but my 3d attempt at this query after attending a query session w an agent online. I’ve gotten 2 FRs (both later rejected) and 18 Rs including 2 saying they liked the writing but didn’t connect to the premise. I’m wondering if this is actually adult, not YA? Looking for any fe…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who commented on my first attempts. I have sent a couple of queries since and am officially ***in. the. trenches.*** (I’ll keep you posted). I’m not 100% confident in my letter so I have decided that I’ll pause it, make a few tweaks and then try again! Hi \…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 1

Hello, I recently finished my debut novel and have started querying publishers as well as agents. My query letter below is the format I use for most publishers with some slight changes and more personalization for individual agents. This is my second version of the letter for this particular novel a…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 1

I’d like to preface with the fact that I don’t think this is ready by any means but I took the feedback from the last attempt and geared this one towards less lore dropping, more main character information. Hopefully through combining the feedback between both then the third time will be the charm! …

Comments: 18, Upvotes: 11

No, this is not a “woe-is-me, no one will publish my masterful writing” post. No, it’s not me having a breakdown in the trenches (although, who hasn’t been there, amirite? \*cries\* ) Some background: Between 2021 and 2024, I wrote and queried 3 books, all queer romcoms – two adult and one YA. Got…

Comments: 14, Upvotes: 3

An agent said my novel was an intriguing idea but passed because she doesn’t handle books with swearing or graphic sexuality. At first, I thought it was just a generic and polite way of rejecting me, but now I’m wondering if she genuinely meant it. My book only has a few mild swear words and a sing…

Comments: 14, Upvotes: 1

basically the title. Is it possible to get published these days without the agent knowing what gender/race/age you are?

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 0

I’m very curious about this as I just recently had an agent solicit one of my manuscripts from a pitch contest while already having one of my manuscripts beforehand. At first glance this seems like a no-brainer, better-than-average sign for an author’s chance of finding a good match. But like… wh…

Comments: 15, Upvotes: 2

Hey there everyone. I’ve just started querying but I’ve gotten back a few form rejections, and I was hoping to get some feedback to fix up my query letter to make it stand out. For reference below, Cenric is the closest to a ‘main’ character as I’ve got but both Sionnan and Gristle are also POVs wit…

Comments: 11, Upvotes: 4

Good day fellow writers. Since attempt # 1, I decided to revise my whole manuscript to non lyrical. My manuscript is stronger, and I hope that my query reflects this. I know I have many more moons to go… I would appreciate your feedback and thank you for taking the time to critique. Dear (Agent…

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 4

Hello lovely humans!! I’m back in the query trenches after parting ways with my agent and would be super-super grateful for any feedback on my query letter – I feel like it needs more specific plot elements / should be shorter / might come off as shock-value, but I’ve read it too many times haha. Th…

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 2

Hey everyone! I’m getting ready to query my new manuscript and could really use some honest feedback. I *think* it’s close (but maybe you’ll tell me otherwise), but I’m second-guessing whether it’s hooky and distinctive enough. I’ve also included the first 300 words of the ms. \——— Dear (Age…

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 3

Hi all! I’m newer to this sub and have loved seeing all the helpful query critiques. I just finished drafting what I’m hoping will be my debut and have a few editing passes planned, but I wanted to get feedback on the query so I have an idea of possible agent/reader concerns as I’m editing the novel…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 3

\[Thanks so much to everyone who offered feedback on previous drafts! You were great and gave me lots to consider. I hope the main conflict is clear now and the query is more coherent as a result. I’d really appreciate nitpicky, line edit type feedback for this attempt. Also I’d like to know if thi…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 3

Hi, First time posting. I’ve been working on this query letter for what feels like eternity and have gotten a ton of feedback from fellow aspiring authors and one published author friend. Hoping I can get some feedback here too. **To Note:** This letter is for an ***agency requesting a specific fo…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 5

Thanks everyone for their previous feedback. It’s been very helpful, particularly Significant Goat for the explanation of action oriented wants vs deeper wants. Hopefully this is the last round ——- Dear Agent, AND UP SHE RISES (119,000 words) is an epic space opera that draws inspiration from tra…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

I’m seeing some success in the trenches with the edited version of my first attempt, but at a conference I attended, an agent suggested starting with a hook. I’m trying it out and want to see what everyone thinks. Leaving out my author bio 🙂 Dear \[Agent’s Name\], I’m seeking representation fo…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

Hello again, PubTips! Thank you so much for all your advice so far. I’m hoping I’ve improved a bit on this query. I’m over halfway through editing the novel and hope to have a letter ready to go by the time I’m done. One of my biggest problems at this point is probably that I don’t have any comps. G…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 1

Hello, I’m back with a second attempt at my query after soaking up the feedback from my first attempt (which can be found here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1n0zs7v/comment/naxlwh7/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_b…

Comments: 27, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone! First off, thank you so much for the responses on my [first attempt ](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1oer99s/comment/nl96x86/?context=3)\- they were super helpful! I’ve managed to cut 21k words from my manuscript, so I’m back again with another stab at my query before I …

Comments: 22, Upvotes: 6

I’ve never written a query for a mosaic novel, so I’m a little shaky about it, but I’m interested to hear what you think! Also, not totally sure what genre to put it under, it’s a bit of a weird duck that kinda got out of my hands. {QUERY LETTER} Dear Agent, ALL’S WELL IN DESERET is a 65,000-word…

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 9

Hello! I’ve just started querying my third novel (no dice on the first two), so I figured I’d turn to this community for help with my query letter before I continue firing off queries. I’ve sent out 10-12 so far in the past week, so I’m just starting the journey, but already received 3 rejections. A…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 7

Hi all! First time poster, long time lurker after some feedback! This is the first time I’ve ever posted anything I’ve ever even written so would love some positive/constructive criticism. ••••••• Grey’s Anatomy meets Not In Love in THE TREATMENT PLAN, an 83,000-word contemporary romance that bl…

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 3

Alrighty, I’m between drafts and taking a break from edits. Need a break. So, thought I’d give this a go. First time ever, so I know it needs a lot of work. Where better to learn? (My god, I feel naked and stupid.) Any feedback at all would be wonderful. Specifically, I sort of don’t know where to …

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2

Hello! This is my third attempt, I completely reworked it so I hope the stakes come across more clearly. **THE FIFTH FACTION (80,000 words) is an adult romantic fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FAERIES NOVEL by Heather Fawcett, ONE DARK WINDOW by Rachel Gilli…

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 5

Dear \[Blank\]: Thomas uproots his whole life after a sudden break up with his boyfriend. He comes to a new town as a new person, starting totally from scratch, and totally lost. Until he meets Brian, who he worships as the love of his life. He sets out to find himself in this new world. Joining c…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 3

Hey y’all! I’m up to 8 form rejections from agents, no requests. I’d posted an earlier version on QT Critique a while back, but figured I’d get feedback on this revised version before I send out another batch of queries. Hugely appreciate any advice or commiseration lol // Dear \[agent\], Palm Fl…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 5

Dear X, I saw on your #MSWL that you’re looking for X and Z. I hope you’ll consider my Adult near-future sci-fi with speculative elements, UNDER A BROKEN SUN. Complete at 117,000 words: it’s a standalone story with series potential. Jack Montgomery stole the power to fix the broken sun. He stole …

Comments: 3, Upvotes: 3

I posted a few versions of this query over the last two years, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1bwpv69/qcrit_thriller_with_speculative_elements_chaos/), [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1j7n2gi/qcrit_3rd_attempt_chaos_theory_a_dual_pov/), and [here](https://www.reddi…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 4

Hello! First time poster, long time lurker. I would really love some advice on my query, as I see so much great feedback from this community! Please bash it to bits as you see fit 🙂 Dear AGENT, I am seeking representation for FLAME TO DUST, a 75k, enemies-to-lovers, standalone romantasy with ser…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 5

Hey everyone, Thanks for all the feedback on my previous attempts – [1st ](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1j0vrmn/qcrit_ya_fantasy_the_hand_of_a_goddess_90000/)and [2nd](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1l8mrru/qcrit_ya_fantasy_the_chaos_of_stolen_skies_90000/). I’m doing a big …

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

Hi everyone! I’ve embarked on the journey to write something that can be described as urban biblepunk, and I’m trying to see if the query is any good. I’m also horrible at comps, but I tried my best. Thank you for any and all help! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone! I’m here to ask for feedback on my query letter. I’m also including the first 300 words. So far, I’ve gotten two full requests, one of which was rejected. After making significant changes based on the feedback from the agent who passed (and realizing myself that she was absolutely right…

Comments: 1, Upvotes: 2

Hi PubTips. First time poster, long time lurker. Thanks for any feedback you can give me with this query letter I’ve been working on. Dear \[AGENT\], I present for your consideration, Ending the Endless, a 120,000 word adult fantasy with series potential. Isabella has just killed someone, n…

Comments: 16, Upvotes: 27

Hello! Long time lurker, first time poster. I got in agent in May (wahoo) for my debut novel and I’m now on my second round of revisions. It’s….very challenging. I feel like the agent’s feedback broke all the chains of cause and effect, and now I can’t figure out what any character wants or why an…

Comments: 34, Upvotes: 1

Hi everyone, I’ve sent this query out to around 20 literary agents – got no bites. Prior to querying, it went through many revisions. I also had it critiqued by readers and a traditionally published author. I’d like to check again though to make sure I’m going in strong on my next round of querying…

Comments: 13, Upvotes: 12

Hi everyone! I’m super nervous to be posting here, in all honesty T-T. I love this story, and after my last novel died in the trenches, I’m seeking all the (kind) feedback I can get. I recently worked with an agented author on revising this, so I’m (for the most part???) confident in at least the co…

Comments: 10, Upvotes: 5

With the advice from my [first](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1ogylhp/qcrit_adult_cozy_romance_before_the_snow_melts/), [second](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1oh7p7k/qcrit_adult_contemporary_romance_before_the_snow/), and [third](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1on…

Comments: 12, Upvotes: 3

I’m having major trouble getting to a clear, concise query that hooks the reader… I posted it on other forums for critique, but anytime I talk about her body stuff, people assume I’m talking in vague metaphors when I’m actually talking literally, or their mind jumps to some frankeinstein type of s…

Comments: 10, Upvotes: 3

Hi all, Looking for some feedback on this please. Have submitted to around 25 agents, but no bites yet :/ – I’m writing to submit my 84000 word novel Long Shadows for your consideration. Long Shadows is a coming-of-age literary novel, which deals with the rise of far-right politics amongst disen…

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 4

Hello everyone….I’ve had a few agents in the past and thousands of query rejections in the 15 years of this journey (agents submitted to big 5, close but no cigar, few indie deals with publishers that went down, 16 completed projects with many getting query rejections) but I am getting back on my …

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 4

Hi everyone, Here’s the link to the first attempt: [\#1](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1onkxde/qcrit_streets_and_stones_adult_sf_sf_thriller/) It lacked some clarity, so I did my best to explain things as much as possible. Compared to #1, it’s a bit on the chunky side. I still need to…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 8

Hey everyone. MONTHS after my first attempt, and a fair bit of manuscript revision later, coming back with a second go around. Thanks to everyone for their help the first time. I am feeling really good about my manuscript but I must have written twenty versions of this query letter in the last mont…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 6

Hi everyone! I’m looking for your thoughts on whether this query works or not. The story itself is fairly low-stakes, and I think that gets reflected in the query as a sort of dwindling down into generalities instead of specifics as it goes on (bad, I know!), but I’m wondering if it works despite …

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 2

Hi all, first time posting a query here for critique – currently in the query trenches and would love some insight regarding how this comes across. I do worry that the word count might be high (this is already cut down from 130k), and I’m not sure how strongly the plot itself comes across here. Will…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 3

Dear Agent, We are seeking representation for our mystery, (Title), our debut novel at 61,130-words. In 1976, Bill Jackson and three other men had been out drinking, deciding to take the back road home. As Bill navigated the sharp bend, he never saw her, hitting and killing a young wife and mother…

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 2

Still workshopping a concise query hook and keeping it under 200 words. Thank you in advance for any thoughts or feedback! \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Callan Grey sought refuge in the goblin city of Raythasa—not to fall for Princess Teeka, the queen’s overlooked daughter. Their connection is inst…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 5

Thank you for good feedback! I decided to try a more personal approach when it came to the main character, as I felt like the other query became a bit too focused on the plot points. Any feedback appreciated, as it still feels wordy and long. Dear X, I am seeking representation for FIMBULVINT…

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 2

Hi all, this is the most recent draft of my query. Dear agent, I am thrilled to talk to you about THE LAWLESS (103,000 words), a science fiction novel. Think BOOK OF THE NEW SUN blended with African spice and spun like a BLOOD MERIDIAN-esque fever dream. Menander might be a liar. He might be a …

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 1

Hey! New here, and new to reddit in general so not quite sure how this all works. I started my querying journey 3 weeks ago- have had 1 full request and 18 form rejections and not really sure where to go from here. Have had feedback in agent 1-2-1s that my query needed work, so I’ve tweaked it, but…

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 1

It’s been a long while since my last revision, and I’ve completely rewritten it. Here, I tried having one tight middle paragraph, since the detailed versions got too confusing. Dear \[Agent’s Name\], I am seeking representation for *In the Valley* (75,000 words), a YA sci-fi mystery that echoes …

Comments: 38 | Upvotes: 20

As the title states, as a big fan of Romantasy in general, I’ve noticed that a majority of popular books these days have often been much longer than I’m told is an acceptable word count (Which I’ve always read, for adult fantasy, was in the 100k-120k range) and I’m wondering if anyone has been query…

Comments: 15 | Upvotes: 4

I’m in the query trenches listening to crickets and staring at my three rejections. Yes, my first batch was only 12 queries but they’re all between 2-3 months of at this point and I was hoping to at least get one bite. I worked on my query with a writer friend after the last time I posted here but I…

Comments: 11 | Upvotes: 6

Thanks in advance for your feedback! Dear \[Agent\], I am seeking representation for my debut literary novel BOY (WC: 75,0000), a tender coming-of-age about an eighteen-year-old whose affair with an older woman results in life-altering consequences. BOY is for readers who enjoyed the character ind…

Comments: 11 | Upvotes: 3

Dear **\[Agent’s Name\]**, In Cathartia, prophecy isn’t divine revelation – it’s civil service. The Ministry of Prophetic Affairs oversees the process with all the warmth and efficiency of a tax audit. But when the king falls ill and his son, Prince Owyn, assumes control, he decides prophecies need…

Comments: 6 | Upvotes: 4

\[Agent name\], Thank you for your encouragement in #DVPit this past October. I was so excited to see you liked my pitch and I’m even more glad to present to you my debut novel MOONMARROW. A sapphic sci-fi horror complete at 50,000 words, MOONMARROW is told through journal entries and audio transcr…

Comments: 3 | Upvotes: 7

First Attempt I’ve been fine-tuning this letter for a while now. I am a little conflicted about how many ‘spoilers’ to put in the query letter. For some background – this is a dual POV novel. Monica tells her story traditionally, while the second narrator is referred to only as “Her”, and she tells…

Comments: 5 | Upvotes: 1

Hello everyone, this is my second time posting my query letter and rewriting it is driving me to the point of insanity. Please help! Here is my query letter, as it stands: ‘Dear , Audrey, a young writer in fake fur and fishnets, occupies a place between exhilaration and panic. Fare-dodging the Tu…

Comments: 3 | Upvotes: 3

Hi, everyone While I wait on partials and fulls for my latest MS, I decided to work on something else and ended up with this project. I tried posting here a couple of weeks about the genre, but it got taken down. I was told I had to attach my question to a query, so here it is: I was talking to a …

Comments: 2 | Upvotes: 3

Hi everyone, finally back to give this another go. The tone is wildly different from the first attempt but I believe it’s more focused, as always appreciate any feedback, thank you! \*\*\* Dear \_\_\_\_\_, Glaswegian criminology student Rianne Jackson never considered herself a mean girl, but the…

Comments: 1 | Upvotes: 2

Hey again! I’m back with the second attempt for my query after implementing some of the feedback I received on my first post. Please let me know how this one reads and what criticisms you may have. Anything and everything is appreciated. Thank you all! Dear \*\*\*, Dr. Harrison Balaam made a dea…

Comments: 1 | Upvotes: 2

I’ve reworked the query to approach it from a more character-driven perspective. I’m honestly not sure which version I like better. This query feels less high-concept to me than the first attempt, but I do like that you get to know Renly a little more in this one. I’d love feedback on which version …

Comments: 2 | Upvotes: 1

Hello PubTips! I’m about to start querying in earnest, so I’m hoping you all can help me improve my pitch before I really start. Last time I posted this, you all gave me some really good advice, which I used to make this variant: \[Personalization\]. I am excited to share SAINTFIRE, an adult dark…

Comments: 1 | Upvotes: 2

Hello all, First off, thank you to all who helped out on my first attempt from a couple of weeks back, especially u/Imaginary-Exit-2825 and u/WaryCleverGood. Very much appreciated and much-needed feedback! Hopefully, you see your inputs directly addressed in my second at-bat here. **Please note…