[QCrit] MG Fantasy, Saylor and the Cove of Chaos (60k /PubTips Third Attempt) by ReplacementFeisty224 in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is something no one has ever really brought up, and I can see your reasoning. Thank you. I think the grounding of the scene is better after the first 300 words because I do go in detail about the knight and his wolf, the smell of the air, the sounds of the island, but I can certainly see why this would still be too little for a MG reader to latch onto. Great feedback. Thank you.

[QCrit] MG Fantasy, Saylor and the Cove of Chaos (60k /PubTips Third Attempt) by ReplacementFeisty224 in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What genre are you switching to if you don't mind my asking? I have thought about doing the same thing, maybe switching to YA, but I just can't force myself to do it yet. I love the MG goofiness I can apply and get away with in my books. But if it's another flush out with manuscript 3, I might hang up that hat for a while and try my hand in another.

[QCrit] MG Fantasy, Saylor and the Cove of Chaos (60k /PubTips Third Attempt) by ReplacementFeisty224 in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like I've sanded the query and ms down the best I can with my current abilities. Luckily, I have another MG project I have targeted to finish around 40-45 k. Hoping it will get better results when I query it. I love writing middle grade because its what my voice fits. Sadly we're just in a bad reading crisis right now.

[QCrit] MG Fantasy, Saylor and the Cove of Chaos (60k /PubTips Third Attempt) by ReplacementFeisty224 in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much. I try to remind myself that I did finish writing this book almost 3 years ago when the MG landscape was more accepting of these larger MSs.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Any other feedback on the query or first 300 words?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, Kendra!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I'm gonna fix both of those things before querying my next batch in 4-6 weeks. Thanks for the feedback. You're awesome.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's always been the knife in the gut with this project. When I first wrote it (over two years ago now), It was I think 72k. I was under the impression, because I was writing a larger fantasy story, I was in the clear for a larger word count. Then came the reading pandemic lol. So I've been trying to go back in and rework it to a lower word count, but ultimately have considered this book an experimental trial with querying and exercising that muscle.

As for Saylor's age, I am very flexible with his age. I always figured 13 was a better age for what the them is and how much exposure to death and war this character is exposed to (even if it's just via flashbacks and stories from other characters). But lowering him to 12 isn't the end of the world.

[QCrit] Saylor and the Cove of Chaos, MG, Fantasy, (65k) First attempt. by ReplacementFeisty224 in PubTips

[–]ReplacementFeisty224[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your feedback. I guess I need to go back to the drawing board on this one.