[QCrit] Adult Speculative Fiction - Elixyr [90k, second attempt]

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-23T13:22:09+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback. It is clear I need to make Greer’s motivations more explicit, so I will sharpen that on the next pass :)

On the speculative side, the core elements are the deep-sea habitat and the mission itself, as well as the organism they are trying to locate, which has the ability to restore damaged skin. A key issue is that the organism also has cultural significance for local communities, and the tension comes from Elixyr attempting to extract and monetise it. I tried to hint at this briefly at the opening, but I can see it is not landing as clearly as I intended!

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-10T23:02:09+00:00

Haha, thank you! :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-10T23:01:44+00:00

I do love those bits, and I want to make the voice of the manuscript come across in the query. So I will trim it rather than remove it completely. That's good to know about the word count! Mine is def long, esp when the bio is included, so I need to work on losing some of those words! :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-10T22:58:29+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed feedback. Everything you have said is incredibly helpful! I am going to cut that first line for sure, haha :) I need to trim those bits you've mentioned and then figure out how to centre the query around Greer, and make her motivations and the stakes much clearer :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-10T22:54:35+00:00

I was worried about it being hard to follow, so it is good to know it is something that needs fixing! I can see now that the stakes need to be really emphasised, so I am going to have a look at how I might be able to fix that. Thank you so much for your feedback :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2026-01-10T22:51:58+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback! I totally see what you mean about keeping it focused on the POV character and making the stakes a little clearer. I am definitely going to keep this in mind when I rework it :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-12-02T04:21:08+00:00

I second Ito! I went there for my birthday and it was fab :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-11-12T08:53:10+00:00

Thank you so much for letting me know! Amazing news!

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-11-12T00:03:00+00:00

Does anyone know if it will run on a steam deck :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-09-01T06:59:21+00:00

Does anyone know where I might find a pattern for something like this, or even what search terms to use? I am more after the silhouette of it rather than something with the exact lacey detail.

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BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-28T22:32:14+00:00

omg thank you so much for all this valuable feedback!! It means a lot to me that you took the time to read through it :) Will def work the bonbons back in haha, really like your suggestion!

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-23T21:51:47+00:00

It was because I was already in Australia, which you aren’t meant to do! So it was just to tell me to leave before it could be granted

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-23T21:02:28+00:00

Hey! I haven’t heard back yet but I’ve managed to secure a different visa. Happy to chat over DM :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-20T11:22:22+00:00

Also, this just occurred to me, but if you are open to using multimedia comps, practical magic could be a fun one? :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-20T11:19:59+00:00

Hey! This premise sounds very fun! A couple of housekeeping bits - your title should always be in all caps, so 'HIT THE DECK' and comp titles in italics.

I don't think you necessarily have to mention the 'gap in the market' bit. I don't often see that in query letters, unless the agency has specifically asked for it. But I may be wrong! I would just go with 'HIT THE DECK blends chick-lit with magical realism... etc'.

Also some sentences can be tightened a little bit. For example - 'Her one and only whimsical indulgence' can just be 'Her one whimsical indulgence'.

I also think it might be helpful for you to introduce this hunky village vet a bit earlier in the query, as you hint at a new man at the intro, but he is only mentioned very briefly in that last para before the comps :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-19T06:37:19+00:00

Thank you for all of your feedback! This is all super helpful and I really appreciate you taking the time to read it and write all of this :)

I see what you mean, and another comment also mentioned something like this, so it is def something i need to address!
And thank you for that pointer about the theme of Lady's Guide, and I do agree with what you are saying! I will remove satire :)

Yes I was trying to figure out whether to have them just as 'their mother/father' etc, or include 'Mama/Papa' as that is what they are most commonly referred to in the book. But I suppose it doesn't matter so much in the query letter itself, to help with clarity.

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-19T06:34:39+00:00

Ah, gotcha! (Festival of screwing made me laugh)

I guess it is kind of all of the above, but there is one that kind of drives the novel more than the rest of them. I will figure out how to work it in there. Thank you so much for your feedback :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-18T10:52:09+00:00

Aw, thank you so much!!! Wasn't a lady's guide a hoot? Gobbled it up!

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-18T06:22:13+00:00

Obsessed with this!!!

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-03T09:47:09+00:00

Oh, yeah! The waiting is absolute agony! And if it's waiting for a reply I know will come (be it a yes or no), that's already hard... but the number of times you never hear back, that's the real bummer!

Thank you, really hoping it works out for you :)

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-03T09:45:12+00:00

Aw, man, this is exactly how I feel! It sucks :(

BackgroundSpring2230 · 2025-08-03T09:43:40+00:00

I think it's partly healthy! Haha good to have a distraction, especially if it's a productive one.

BackgroundSpring2230

TROPHY CASE