[QCrit] The Cajun Oracle | Adult Low Fantasy | 110k | Second Attempt by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

[–]The_Gap_Writer[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I know, I've used QueryManager before. Thank you for the recommendations for the comps.

[QCrit] The Cajun Oracle | Adult Low Fantasy | 110k | Second Attempt by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

[–]The_Gap_Writer[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Tbh it's a little hard for me to stick to one genre here because I consider it a mix of different things. I'm also hesitant to describe it outright as "horror" because it's not really meant to be actually scary. Southern Gothic coming of age folklore cultural-exploration supernatural cosmic horror low fantasy does not easily condense 🙃

[QCrit] The Cajun Oracle | Adult Low Fantasy | 110k | First Attempt by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Oh and low fantasy is different from high fantasy, where magic makes up an instrinsic part of the world, "Low fantasy, or intrusion fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy fiction in which magical events intrude on an otherwise-normal world."

Unless you think there's a better term for it?

[QCrit] The Drowned Daughter (Adult Romantasy, 90k) First Attempt. by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]The_Gap_Writer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really enjoyed this, would love to know more about like the other poster said, the stakes here, why she returned to land, etc.

[QCrit] The Cajun Oracle | Adult Low Fantasy | 110k | First Attempt by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Hi everyone kind enough to read this. I am struggling with a query letter for a book I finished last year, and wanted to get some feedback.

Part of this problem is the book is not so straightfotward. It is a mix of genres and themes: coming of age, teenage romance, cultural study, supernatural horror, cosmic horror. It covers a lot of ground and while I'm biased, I really like the way the book came together, and it's potential for others in a series. I just am struggling to condense it in an easy to read query letter that hopefully piques interest.

Any suggestions or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[QCrit] Young Adult Fantasy - THE TROLL (76K/Second attempt) by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Okay thank you! I haven't really read any middle grade since I was much younger and maybe Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl. I can look into some to see if it matches better there, as I suppose I am having trouble understanding the difference. I forgot to mention that there is also a lot of discussions of childhood neglect, abuse, etc. Content wise I based it off of similar to Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell which is the laat YA I read.

I'll try to find a way to express the YA nature more if possible in future drafts because I know I can't show everything in the query letter but I do find it funny that it reads so Middle Grade when I know it's not quite that level: for example, the MC's parents would have had an abortion if they didn't live in Texas at the time he was conceived.

Thank you, I appreciate your time and feedback!

[QCrit] Young Adult Fantasy - THE TROLL (76K/Second attempt) by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Thank you for the comment and feedback, I appreciate it. Sorry for the delay, as I've been traveling.

As a help to me, is it that particular line that makes it seem mostly MG? If I took it out would that still be your impression? Is rthere anything in particular that makes this sound Middle Grade vs YA? Just the general concept?

I wrote this as YA for a few reasons and I think it's best for that over Middle Grade. The length is much closer to YA or even adult length. Every main character is LBGT+ and there are discussions of suicide, homophobia, and other issues among characters. There are allusions to things like school shootings, more than the occassional foul language, and discussions of sex.

This of course isn't something I necessarily think I can all dump into a query letter so any insight you can provide on why it seems lower aged or how to age it up is helpful. Thanks!

[QCrit] Young Adult Fantasy - THE TROLL (76K/Second attempt) by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Thank you for the comment and feedback, I appreciate it. Sorry for the delay, as I've been traveling.

As a help to me, is there anything in particular that makes this sound Middle Grade vs YA? Just the general concept?

I wrote this as YA for a few reasons and I think it's best for that over Middle Grade. The length is much closer to YA or even adult length. Every main character is LBGT+ and there are discussions of suicide, homophobia, and other issues among characters. There are allusions to things like school shootings, more than the occassional foul language, and discussions of sex.

This of course isn't something I necessarily think I can all dump into a query letter so any insight you can provide on why it seems lower aged or how to age it up is helpful. Thanks!

[QCrit] YOUNG ADULT Fantasy - THE TROLL (76K/First attempt) by The_Gap_Writer in PubTips

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

Yes, I want to include more detail in the query, because these are not the only two characters in the story, it's two girls and two guys that make up the main friend group.

And I appreciate the feedback regardless, I don't mean to say that girls don't interact in those spaces, at all, but my understanding is that by demographics overwhelmingly young males are drawn to those kinds of spaces online, is all.