tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post2130334124439168017..comments2024-03-16T01:00:59.945-04:00Comments on Query Shark: #302Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-79765528071491333862018-03-28T10:37:29.049-04:002018-03-28T10:37:29.049-04:00OP, I have to agree with Janet, time for a pause. ...OP, I have to agree with Janet, time for a pause. We sometimes think our novels are finished when in fact they're nowhere near what they should be to query. Do you have good critique partners and beta readers who can show you where things are working and where they aren't? If not, find some. <br /><br />You asked if this was MG, to me this seems more like YA which makes the word count on the low end especially because you say it's, "high action...that mixes elements from past, present, and future." If it is MG, then yes, 50,000 is right on the money. Good luck to you.LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-66419623152222159992018-03-26T07:35:30.214-04:002018-03-26T07:35:30.214-04:00Popping in with a proofreading tip. Word has a fea...Popping in with a proofreading tip. Word has a feature that will read your text aloud to you. If you keep your eyeballs on the text while this annoying, robotic voice pronounces every word, you'll find most of your typos. It's incredibly tedious, but invaluable. <br /><br />I'll even use it for important emails, pasting the text into a Word doc and using the voice feature to proofread. I seem unable to type even a single paragraph without a typo, so it's critical. Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794791220323089387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-82476708625635720852018-03-25T16:53:04.872-04:002018-03-25T16:53:04.872-04:00Nothing more to add, Janet pointed out every piece...Nothing more to add, Janet pointed out every piece you need to work on.<br />If I can suggest a few things, your word count seems pretty low, especially because I suppose to make sense your novel will necessitate a lot of context.<br />I would say, that yes, as nightsmusic suggested, this seems more like a blurb than a query.<br />I think you’ve a good novel in your hands. Good luck!Frankiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14515451171608119922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-19333752963168118462018-03-25T13:23:10.211-04:002018-03-25T13:23:10.211-04:00Janet hit every point I would have, but I do have ...Janet hit every point I would have, but I do have one or two suggestions. If Cassy figures into this story in a prominent way, she needs to play a bigger part in your query.<br /><br />"Star is a wolf-hybrid, one of few to survive when the humans who created the hybrids withdrew from her planet and returned to earth. They haven't been seen in almost 100 years but now, they've returned. Star has been taught to hate them, but when she meets Cassy (and here, you would put what it is about Cassy that changes her outlook as to whether all humans are evil or not)...<br /><br />You're writing a query. Not a back blurb for an all ready to publish book. You want the agent to have enough clear and enticing information to read on. I was very confused as to what the stakes were here. Her growing possible friendship with Cassy? Total annihilation of her planet? Colonization of her planet and banishment to some other planet for her species? (See <i>Star Trek II, Wrath of Khan</i> for a great example) I have nothing to make me care what happens or to cause me to read on. Right now, I don't matter, but the agent does, and needs a reason to read more pages. nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.com