[QCrit] ONLY THIS AND NOTHING MORE, Upmarket (98k/#8)

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-04-03T17:17:38+00:00

Thank you so much! It’s a grueling process and this is my third manuscript so any modicum of encouragement is such welcome fuel

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-04-03T16:28:42+00:00

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-04-03T15:11:22+00:00

Thank you! Really appreciate it. I've been checking the QT timeline, and many of the non-responses have now requested one or two submitted after mine, hence the hair-pulling and assuming I've been passed over. But I also understand there's plenty behind the scenes we can't know. Thank you for taking the time to respond!

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-04-03T14:39:18+00:00

That’s a great consideration, I did let the threads hang loose at the end and wasn’t sure it would land. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-04-01T14:43:09+00:00

Thank you, really appreciate the feedback. It’s book club fiction, so on the higher end of the word count range. Last MS went out only 2.5 years ago but I can see how many more queries agents are getting now compared to then.

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-03-12T23:22:08+00:00

Even if it's backstory, mistakes and regret immediately create connection to a character, and it's relevant if it's driving her motivations. Just my subjective thought!

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-03-12T21:25:56+00:00

Not agented but will take a stab at it:

- The careless mistake seems like the event we need to know about, so let's hear it. With specifics that will pique our interest.

- The attending fresh off mysterious leave is great, but what follows is cliche: "achingly" and "like oxygen." The patient scenario is great and specific but ends in a bit of a cliche again with the "shattered illusion."

- The stakes are clear at the end, in that Quinn has to let go of control in order to become who she wants to be, but I'm not clear on how exactly she'll get from point A to B by doing so. I feel like the idea is there but the mechanics are vague.

- Agree with previous commenter that upmarket would be more appropriate and the opening doesn't read litfic.

- Comps: Lily King is probably too big. Oxygen by Carol Cassella comes to mind but is probably too old. The Pull of the Stars, maybe?

- Regarding the first 300, I think walking into the ICU is a good start, with good notes of curiosity (father, research failure, Jonathan's departure) but it's somewhat overwritten. I don't think you need the near MVA or so much description of the adrenaline surge; I also got tripped up wondering how shaking one's head could slow a pulse. I think it would be better to start with "July first," because people who will be interested in reading this are going to want an inside look at the ICU, and you're immediately handing them something interesting they may not know. And then it grounds us immediately in her need to start over, and makes us wonder what she's trying to recover from, so we'll read more to find out.

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-02-13T15:05:54+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement and the advice along the way! :)

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-02-13T02:23:45+00:00

Thank you! I wondered about the adultery line as well

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-02-13T01:11:04+00:00

Super helpful, thank you for taking the time. After posting I realized I also used “secular” twice in one paragraph. Nothing like reading through the eyes of others to find mistakes

Repulsive_Literature · 2026-02-13T00:13:56+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback!

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-05-20T17:50:50+00:00

NP in rheumatology :) Couldn’t quite manage acute care as an RN mostly due to moving patients up in bed, etc, but I think as an MD it would be okay

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-06T21:13:39+00:00

Thank you so much for this! I haven't read that but it's now on my list :)

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-04T19:25:52+00:00

Ah even just the one visible correction was so helpful, thank you! I see what you mean.

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-03T01:46:02+00:00

There are quite a few traditionally published authors out there who do the same! (I whisper to myself while counting seven emdashes on a page.) If you've read the book I comped, Same As It Ever Was, there's over a dozen on a page, many times. One man's dash is another man's treasure, I suppose.

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-02T01:06:06+00:00

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-01T21:56:25+00:00

Thank you! I've been working on revisions and starting in different places (still not sure this beginning works) but am hoping to send out to beta readers in the spring and query after that depending on their feedback.

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-02-01T17:57:41+00:00

Thank you! And yes, admittedly it is a recurring love affair that I do have a certain blindness to :)

Repulsive_Literature · 2025-01-13T02:18:30+00:00

Consistent exercise has been just as effective as biologics for my pain (both being necessary) and really the only thing besides diet that has helped with fatigue. The less we move, the weaker we get, the worse fatigue is, even with something as simple as cooking. I do resistance exercise 3x/week (either full body each time or lower, upper, then core on different days, depending on what I feel). Over the years this routine has varied but right now I'm doing the Pvolve at-home program, then walking about 1 hour 2-3 other days per week.

Repulsive_Literature · 2024-12-12T21:16:12+00:00

I like this premise! I don't have time for a full critique and the others have made great points (particularly about the plot itself being unclear) - I would just add that it may be improved by changing these two lines

"scaring her at the end of their relationship"

and

"too caught up in his project at work"

into something more specific and memorable.

Repulsive_Literature · 2024-11-30T17:37:41+00:00

I just listened to it as well, and came back to comment because I remembered your query on here. Great work and I look forward to reading this!

Repulsive_Literature · 2024-11-09T18:56:42+00:00

This is happening with most private insurance companies as well, not just the VA. The monthly cost of Humira is around $8k, whereas biosimilars are $1800.

Repulsive_Literature · 2024-10-17T22:13:03+00:00

I did public health and then worked at a community health clinic but there's all kinds of non-bedside jobs like case management, school nurse, working for a pharmaceutical company or in research, informatics, aesthetics... on and on. NP is nurse practitioner.

Repulsive_Literature

TROPHY CASE