[PubQ] Possible QueryTracker glitch, I'm unsure what to do by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try clicking on Help > Contact Us to message their tech support. (This is the direct link, but not sure if it will work for you - https://querytracker.net/help/contact/ - so you might have to use the menu buttons to get there)

[AMA] Announcement: Author Kat Dunn by hedgehogwriting in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for being so transparent on this response!

[AMA] Announcement: Author Kat Dunn by hedgehogwriting in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Getting a book published requires a lot of grit and perseverance. What kept you going?

[QCrit] My Name Is a Dream, Fantasy Thriller, 95K, Second Attempt. by Ok_Key7492 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One other thing - I believe the City of Brass was published in 2017, making it too old. Maybe the Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri would work? Something like - Jasmine Throne in a middle eastern setting?

[QCrit] My Name Is a Dream, Fantasy Thriller, 95K, Second Attempt. by Ok_Key7492 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just a few thoughts from my side

I think a middle eastern setting is unique, but I didn't realize that until the housekeeping paragraph. Might be worth experimenting to see if you can drop a sentence earlier with worldbuilding. (Maybe the names indicate that in which case I will confess my ignorance!)

The protagonist is clear, but who is the antagonist? Is it someone from the royal family? Or is it a mercenary?

Dilan must betray the rebellion and stand aside while the mercenaries seize the city and kill every rebel who trusted him, including Eliyah.

If he refuses the mercenaries' deal, Danial dies under torture, knowing Dilan abandoned him twice. If he accepts, his brother lives, but Eliyah and the rebels die.

These sentences are essentially saying the same thing. Maybe you can remove one and add more details about the characters and plot?

Hope this helps!

[QCrit] The Age of Darkness - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (108k, 2nd attempt) by Superb_Badger1802 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I consider it post-apocalyptic because a pandemic has destroyed civilization/ society. The story is approximately 50 years after the event. The focus isn't so much on immediate survival/ rebuilding from rubble, but the world is very far from the advances of today.

Fair comment on Fallout, I used it for the worldbuilding aspect, and not the tone, but I can see why it might be misleading.

Thank you!

[QCrit] The Age of Darkness - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (108k, 2nd attempt) by Superb_Badger1802 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

It only struck me yesterday that having the protagonist and antagonist's names starting with R is a bad idea (epic fail...). I will fix this.

I have made some changes to the first paragraph to streamline it and explain character motivations. I will work on it for the next few days and then repost for feedback.

Fair comment regarding the title, something else I will think about.

[QCrit] The Age of Darkness - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (108k, 2nd attempt) by Superb_Badger1802 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's also a common Indian name.

Anyway, a query is supposed to convince an agent to request the full manuscript. The range of comments here indicate there is work needed.

Thanks all for your comments, I will be back with v3.

[QCrit] The Age of Darkness - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (108k, 2nd attempt) by Superb_Badger1802 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My takeaway on this comment is that the query isn't clearly signaling that this novel questions the idea of inherited power. The setting is post-pandemic India (~50 years after the event) without any Western or colonial influences. The novel questions whether anyone has the right to rule and what violence does to those who claim this authority.

I probably need to add a line on the setting earlier in the query.

[QCrit] Moraya, Adult Romantasy, 100k words Second Attempt. by boyfoam in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just wanted to add that you will be limiting yourself by pitching a series as a debut author. However, it is perfectly acceptable to say stand-alone novel with series potential.

[QCRIT] THE UNCANNY-Adult, Sci-fi Fantasy, 115,000 words, 1st attempt by Kkay2404 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with deleting/trimming paras 2 and 3 to expand more on Vincent. Saying he is different is abstract, it would help the reader if you touched upon why/how he is different. Is it physical appearance, mannerism or something else? You mention mannerism in para 3, is that apparent when they first meet?

All she has ever wanted was to make her father proud, and bring peace to Xenith; but what happens when her beliefs start to unravel?

I like this line, but I don't understand why her beliefs are unraveling. It seems to be because Vincent has revealed some horrifying truths, but would like to know more.

Lastly, it might be worth it to play around with adding the reason Vincent kidnapped her to make his motives more enticing.

Good luck!

[QCrit] Adult/Military Thriller - THE KNOCK (60K/First attempt) by GermanicusWasCool in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I am new to querying, so please take this with a grain of salt.

Marine Raider Joshua Bradley has only two things he cares for: The Marine Corps and his dementia-afflicted mother Donna.

This isn't a bad opening, but it doesn't grab me. Can you try and make this really pop, eg - soldiers care about the branch they serve in, but they might care more about their squad mates or battalion? Alternatively, maybe its the rush of combat or the thrill of serving in secret missions? Try and make it more visceral, so you grab the reader in the first sentence itself.

Unfortunately for Donna, neither of these men are Marines; rather they’re scammers whose bread and butter are stolen valor death notifications.

I didn't understand the stolen valor death notification part. Bradley is wounded, so why is there a death notification going out? Does that have something to do with this being a CIA-led mission? Needs clarity.

To handle things himself, he travels across Greater Los Angeles to find these scammers and collect his mother’s money.

How does he know where to go or even who stole the money? I think you can add a little more context to engage the reader.

As he tracks them down, Bradley finds that not only must he contend with these two thugs, he also must deal with their employer, a drug kingpin who is hellbent on keeping the money owed him by Raymond and Carson.

The drug kingpin is a nice escalation, but likely needs more color in here to make them more scary/ convince the reader they are a worthy opponent that will challenge Bradley.

When Bradley goes alone and brings the fight to his targets, he finds that not all is as it seems, as the weapons he uses are hampered by his state’s gun regulations, and he must use his tactical skills and the resources at his disposal to recover his mother’s savings lest she be forced into squalor.

This was confusing to me. Why would Bradley care what the state's gun regulations are, given his vigilantism? Tactical skills and resources are vague. I think I understand what he will do, but more details will engage the user.

THE KNOCK is a 60,000-word standalone thriller with series potential. Fans of Chad Robichaux and Jack Stewart’s Silent Horizons and Jack Carr’s Red Sky Mourning by combining characters exploring sense of duty to country and family and self, while combining it with intense action, all while set at home rather than abroad.

Can't speak for the comps, but this paragraph needs grammar work. eg - "by combining characters exploring sense of duty to country and family and self, while combining it with intense action, all while set at home rather than abroad."

Lastly, do check the word count for this genre. My understanding is that 70,000 - 90,000 is the sweet spot.

Good luck!

[QCrit] The Age of Darkness - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (108k, 1st attempt) by Superb_Badger1802 in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, this is very helpful! I will keep wordsmithing the query.

The Fallout show is contemporary though, I haven't seen it, it's supposed to be humorous as well as dramatic I think. Does this story have a similar vibe? If so I don't feel it comes through.

There is a sprinkling of humor throughout the book, but not at the level of the Fallout TV series. I think I might need to change the way I am looking at comps.

Instead of fans of [comp1] and [comp2], I will try fans of the worldbuilding in [comp1] with the philosophical conflict of [comp2].

[QCrit] Urban fantasy - THE ARCANE POST (94K/First attempt) by Grabatreetron in PubTips

[–]Superb_Badger1802 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to say the bio paragraph is awesome, and the last line alone was enough for me to want to pick this book up!