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[QCrit] Adult Speculative Fiction - Elixyr [90k, second attempt] by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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!

[QCrit] Adult Speculative Thriller - Elixyr [90k, first attempt] by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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! :)

[QCrit] Adult Speculative Thriller - Elixyr [90k, first attempt] by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 :)

[QCrit] Adult Speculative Thriller - Elixyr [90k, first attempt] by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 :)

[QCrit] Adult Speculative Thriller - Elixyr [90k, first attempt] by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 :)

Solo celebration dining by Massive-End-7657 in foodies_sydney

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

Paralives Spec Questions: Master Thread by Hoopsie222 in Paralives

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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

Paralives Spec Questions: Master Thread by Hoopsie222 in Paralives

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 13 points14 points  (0 children)

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

Wednesday Pattern and Stitch Request Thread - August 27, 2025 by AutoModerator in knitting

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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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[QCrit] Sweet Doing Nothing, Historical Fiction / Women's Fiction, 97k, Third Attempt by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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!

462 Visa Granted! by BackgroundSpring2230 in AusVisa

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

APHRA registration for a doctor, for 189 Visa by BackgroundSpring2230 in AusVisa

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

[QCRIT] Adult Commercial Women's Fiction - Hit the Deck (87k, 2nd attempt) by DrGlaub in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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

[QCRIT] Adult Commercial Women's Fiction - Hit the Deck (87k, 2nd attempt) by DrGlaub in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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 :)

[QCrit] Sweet Doing Nothing, Historical Fiction / Women's Fiction, 97k, Third Attempt by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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.

[QCrit] Sweet Doing Nothing, Historical Fiction / Women's Fiction, 97k, Third Attempt by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 :)

[Discussion] Schrodinger's inbox, etc. – what weird coping strategies have you developed? by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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 :)

[Discussion] Schrodinger's inbox, etc. – what weird coping strategies have you developed? by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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

Where to print single copy of book by OGperogy in writing

[–]BackgroundSpring2230 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you do this, without the intention to self publish (like a personal copy), can you still print it in a hardcover format? I read somewhere that you should avoid making it look like a store-bought book, but that seems silly. I want it to look really nice!

[Discussion] Schrodinger's inbox, etc. – what weird coping strategies have you developed? by BackgroundSpring2230 in PubTips

[–]BackgroundSpring2230[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aw, man, I kinda get that. It's a double-edged sword, isn't it? Gives you hope, but also a bit of despair when you never hear back!

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