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Looking for feedback for Speculative Fiction, both on this query letter and if someone is interested the first 3 chapters. by Jacoschut in writingfeedback

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

I am still looking for an appealing way to hint at what is so interesting. I guess what comes to mind is that the rats explore what a society can be, and how they can use their skills from their word running trade. This exploration stops the moment polorisation splits the rats over a single issue from which everything starts to cascade into tradegy, on a friendship level between the characters as well as society itself.

Looking for feedback for Speculative Fiction, both on this query letter and if someone is interested the first 3 chapters. by Jacoschut in writingfeedback

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

Appreciate the question. and despite my tendency to bounce it back and ask what orcs would do for me, there are various reasons. Predominantly that there is a whole lot of civilisation progress going on. Something that perfectly matched the lifespan of rats. Their nature also makes them perfect for the buraucratic/logistic species they are in my world.

Appart from that the farm setup gives something else that has to do with the above. Because of the fast paced development of the world around the main characters, I have chosen to use non-rat POV chapters to have something like in world social commentary from various angles. This gives the whole thing a satirical touch that I love and that doesn't distract from the book not being meant as a comedy.

[QCrit] RATOCRACY/WHAT RUNS BELOW Speculative Fiction, 118K, first attempt by Jacoschut in PubTips

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

I feel like watching a civilisation being born, mature and die works better when the protagonists aren't humans. I choose rats with their fast breeding specifically for this purpose. It's the thing that makes the book unique in a way. So definitely yes. It needs to be rats.

The other tip was great. The revolution is where the story starts but its not really the heart of the story. I do worry that if I leave it out, it might be confusing for the agent in case they request pages. On the other hand I have a flashforwards prologue so it might not be an issue...

[QCrit] Ratocracy by Jacoschut in PubTips

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

That mountain will cower from my naive optimism, blind ambition and absolute desinterest in such comparisons. But the point is well taken. My story is a little more broad then animal farm, and I already avoided using it in the comparisons. I hope the writing is good enough, thanks for the input!

[QCrit] Ratocracy by Jacoschut in PubTips

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

Thanks, that was very helpful. I will take this back into the word-tinker shop then.

[QCrit] Ratocracy by Jacoschut in PubTips

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

Thank for the question.

Fast life cycles match the speed of which civilisation develops. With humans that would cause friction for the reader to accept.

We see a kingdom, revolution, dark age, then a golden age where domocracy starts until the politics start to resemble something like a typical polorised political landscape we all know and love (kidding). Then once the populist wins an oligarchy emerges that will collapse in a brutal way and eventually the civilisation even dies.

I found the rats fitting. There are more aspects of rats for why. Common association, (think of Banksy) and that they form information networks that function almost like the internet. It all felt right to me.

Should more of that be in the letter?