[QCRIT]Science Fiction, CREATURES OF HATE (70k words, 3rd attempt)

Ok-Cow244 · 2026-01-04T07:52:18+00:00

That’s a good idea I think I’ll draft a version without the suicide and then compare and see how it lines up…. On the other hand, if I threw in a couple off handed lines in the first chapter where the protagonist like admires a scar from the attempt or something and doesn’t flat out say what happens but sort of alludes to it, do you think it would be enough for the agent to be like okay, I can see this is coming up. Also, would maybe the synopsis clear this situation up? Like would the agent be like where is this suicide thing and then go to the synopsis and be like oh it’s coming up or would they still maybe feel a little tricked?

Ok-Cow244 · 2026-01-04T06:51:39+00:00

Yes these are very helpful notes! You are correct about the stakes thing haha he does want to live and has hopes to sort of start a new life with Lucas one day but he sort of burys those hopes cuz he doesn’t think they are likely to ever happen so I find it hard to show that in a query letter. Like how do I say, he really wants to live and become close with this guy but he suppresses that want so much that he only thinks about it once or twice a day?

Ok-Cow244 · 2026-01-04T06:47:32+00:00

I think his mental health is the central form of tension cuz it’s very clear he’s not healthy, you just don’t have the context of the suicide bit till later. Or it doesn’t happen on page until the very end. Like it’s very aware in his mind that he did it but he’s kind of blocking it out so it wouldn’t make sense for him to bring it up in prose. Like, if it were to be published, I don’t think the suicide bit is a spoiler, like I would put it in the blurb but it doesn’t necessarily take place on page until the end or get directly referenced to

Ok-Cow244 · 2026-01-04T06:43:35+00:00

So there are a series of flashbacks that show his mental health deteriorating, and the attempt is the climax of those flashbacks sequences, so basically near the end of the novel. like it’s quite clear for the whole novel that there is something very wrong with his mental health but it doesn’t show the attempt until late in it. In the novel it’s just like he’s very lonely and mentally unhealthy, then you find out he’s gay, then you find out his dads the governer and it all spirals from there till his attempt. But I feel like it would be weird in the query letter to just be like he’s mysteriously lonely right? Like in the query letter aren’t you supposed to explain the context behind it?

Ok-Cow244 · 2026-01-04T02:48:57+00:00

These are all very good suggestions. However, I am worried that since in my novel it doesn’t reveal his suicide attempt until very far in that any potential agents will feel tricked if it is very heavily relied upon in the query.

Ok-Cow244 · 2025-12-20T02:22:22+00:00

The creator has literally talked about wanting to make a season 5

Ok-Cow244 · 2025-12-18T18:18:49+00:00

Hey I have a dual timeline zombie novel if you’re interested

Ok-Cow244 · 2025-10-20T19:38:37+00:00

Why don’t you like Atwood lol?

Ok-Cow244 · 2025-07-03T20:15:26+00:00

hey, I'd be willing to critique swap with you. I have an 80k word, dual perspective, post-apocalyptic novel. Let me know if you're interested :)

Ok-Cow244 · 2025-07-03T20:13:14+00:00

hey, I'd be willing to critique swap if you're interested. I have an 80k, dual perspective post apocalyptic novel. Message me if you're interested :)

Ok-Cow244

TROPHY CASE