#RevPit #10queries

I had so much fun doing #10queries with the awesome group of #revpit editors! If you missed it, don't worry--here are all my tweets so you can take the advice and apply it to your own WIP.

For this contest, winners received feedback on their query and first 5 pages. I gave one tweet for the query and one for the pages.

Thanks @Miranda_Darrow! I’m the last one for #revpit #10queries. Music queued, tea prepared. Let’s do this!

Rubric:

□= yes, gimme more pages.
□ = maybe. Depends on the mood I’m in.
□ = not this time. Either needs revision or I'm not the right person.

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q1 RomSusp: Interesting premise, but jumps right into plot when we need the hook! Also, a bit too heavy on plot details, when we want the MC’s goals, the obstacles, and the stakes. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P1 Great tangible details, and backstory and motivation are woven in well. Could use a bit more introspective so reader can connect to MC. □ bc goal isn’t clear from this or query, so I’m not driven to keep reading. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q2 Fantasy: Plot sounds intriguing, but again no hook. The details are a bit confusing—query needs to be a bit longer to make sure the MC’s goals, obstacles, and stakes are clear. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P2 A prologue masquerading as ch 1 and it doesn’t work—different voice. Backstory should be sprinkled throughout instead. We don’t have an emotional connection to what’s going on. But first pg of ch 2 is AMAZING and I WANT MORE NOW. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q3 HistRom: MCs come off a little too generic, conflict vague. The exciting specifics are in the pages, but we need them in the query to make it stand out! A fabulous rundown of plot without being too synopsis-y, and leaves reader wanting more. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P3 Great setup that grabs you from the beginning. Could use a bit more info about the heroine’s status quo (she’s clearly in an unusual situation for her), and the hero feels off...almost not important enough? □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q4 Spec Fic: Dare I say, a perfect query. Intriguing hook, MC’s goal and motivations, some plot but not too much. I’m definitely excited to read the pages. *chef’s kiss* #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P4 Emotions are palpable, Deep POV is on point. I really don’t have much helpful to say about this one—I think you’re doing everything right here. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q5 MG Fantasy: Super intriguing! Needs a little clarification on the limits of the magic and why MC is being pursued—it’s a bit ambiguous. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P5 Grabs you from the get go. Lovely “status quo” scene, and nice worldbuilding that draws you in without overwhelming you. Good voice that feels appropriate for target audience. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q6 Spec YA: Structure is okay, good sense of MC’s goals, but drive behind those goals could be clearer. I want to know WHY these things are important to him, because conflict revolves around him NOT getting those things. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P6 Good intro to the status quo. Voice feels much older than YA in spots. 3rd person present is a bit awkward--1st might be more engaging. I’m a bit worried the conflict isn’t going to show up for a while—not certain, just a hunch. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q7 YA contemp: I’m not sure I quite get the hook—it’s snappy, but a bit vague. Otherwise, this is very solid. Goals, conflict, teaser line—it’s all there and working well. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P7 Word choice is incredibly evocative. Fabulous first line + really strong voice = immediate connection. This MC is gonna be a lot of fun, I can tell. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q8 Fantasy Rom: Structure is good, but some sentences are awkward/ambiguous and making me have to reread (not in a good way). Reading aloud can help correct this. Teaser line is great, the rest just needs a bit of smoothing out. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P8 Good worldbuilding—parceling out info at the right pace to keep us engaged without overwhelming us. Conflict is immediately clear, a good idea of character motivations, engaging voice. Bravo! □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q9 Women’s fic: Needs a hook. Good sense of the MC and the conflict. Some awkward phrasing could be smoothed out. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P9 First line is buried further on pg 1. Nice clean writing, with good physical details but I'm having trouble connecting to MC for some reason. □ but that’s mainly because of personal taste. Publishing is a matchmaking game! #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Q10 Says urban fantasy, but comps would help me understand why you picked this genre. Better to put bio at the end—the book is the star of the show and should be first! Good details, but too plot heavy. Make sure we know the MC’s goals! #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

P10 Great sense of conflict, needs a bit of line editing to clean things up and trim the fat. So far MC doesn’t have any agency, and query doesn’t show any either, so it’s tough to want to keep reading. □ #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

Note: a lot are □□, but I’m not trying to fill out a list. If I was acquiring, I might pass bc it’s too similar to what I already have, or no room for more of that genre. Rejections = agent/ed can’t sell it right now, not that your book is bad. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

And that's it for me! I'll answer any Qs now, and I'll be sending emails out to my winners tomorrow. #revpit #10queries

— Megan Records丨Editor (@meganrecords) February 4, 2020

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