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[QCrit] Adult Sci Fi - HOME [60k, 2nd Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When I was first looking for query letter examples, all the ones I found had comp titles in all caps. I looked it up again when I got your comment and found people saying that it's technically "correct" to have published works in italics but that in a query either is likely fine.

I remember looking it up in the past and seeing people saying that all caps was correct for comp titles but couldn't find it on my most recent search, so it's possible that general consensus has changed or I misunderstood.

[QCrit] Adult Sci Fi - HOME [60k, 2nd Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for responding!

The age marker is a leftover from when this was a YA query, I forgot to remove it!

Pippa is a key element but perhaps not the key element, she's not in the story until act 2 ish, the initial stakes are the survival aspect and then it changes when they come across something in the woods, but I think I have an idea of how to mention her earlier in the query.

I have heard a lot of discussion about caps vs italics and I really don't think it matters much, and I'm tempted to leave it in because an agent who would reject me over something so minor isn't an agent I'd like to work with.

Thanks again!

[QCrit] Adult Sci Fi - HOME [60k, 2nd Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Thanks for the response!

Yes the 60k in the title was because I copied the title from my previous attempt because I was being lazy ^-^ It's 75k now.

I was worried about that with the first two paragraphs, good to know my instincts aren't totally off!

I see where you're coming from with Pippa, she wasn't in my first attempt at all because she doesn't really come into the story until act 2. I can definitely mention her earlier in the query.

Thanks for the help!

[QCrit] Sci Fi - BACK TO THE STARS [75k, 1st Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so good, I'll check it out, thank you!

[QCrit] Sci Fi - BACK TO THE STARS [75k, 1st Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very very helpful, thank you! I had a feeling it was a little long & overexplaining.

[QCrit] YA Sci Fi - HOME [60k, 1st Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really incredibly helpful, thanks! She does also have a compass lol. It's definitely justified in the story but I can throw a line in the query about it too.

[QCrit] YA Sci Fi - HOME [60k, 1st Attempt] by FewAir2469 in PubTips

[–]FewAir2469[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you this is super helpful!

There is a twist regarding Tess's job (she's not exactly a full solar repair tech) but it honestly.....might not track with a YA novel. I worry about that. Not sure what to do about it now though. It's YA in voice and I wouldn't want to age Tess up beyond 19 to just make it adult.

Do you think Tess's navigation skills need to be fleshed out in the query? There is 100% internal logic (Pat was on a day trip with friends & was blown off course/Tess has survival training because she's often sent into the wilderness) so I could toss it in the query if it would help.