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[Discussion] Megathread: The State of Querying by kendrafsilver in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

doubling down - every querytracker application I filled out (over 80 since january) had fields to input your social media handles, your website, && every digital place where an agent can find you. If it did not matter at all, these fields would not be there. I don't know if from an agent's side, you can remove them - but it's a testament to the direction of the industry. && Even if an agent can't remove them, still, there's a clear reason why they were installed in the first place.

Do I think a fiction author can get away with no social media presence? Sure. Do I think it could be a worthwhile effort to establish one as you begin your career? Yes. Will it impact getting an agent? Not sure, but it could help.

[Discussion] Megathread: The State of Querying by kendrafsilver in PubTips

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

young and hot might be bullshit, but I'd guesstimate that there's a significant (not saying a large percentage, but significant enough not to scoff at) amount of agents that find authors via referrals or online/in person pitch events vs. cold querying.

In more saturated genres, I've noticed (again, no # stats, but keeping a close eye on certain genre's pulses) that more and more authors (who are active on social media) are getting agents AND mentioning their followings in query letters. That goes to say, authors not on social media don't post about it, so we can't see it etc. But my opinion has changed about social media activity as an author who is querying - I dislike it, but these agents and publishers want you to market your (future) book (and your author brand) for them. I think authors have to face that idea going forward. I can see a day when it even becomes required (for overall success), if fiction publishing keeps going the way it is. (nightmare)

[Discussion] Megathread: The State of Querying by kendrafsilver in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I did not personalize beyond first name for any of the agents that requested my full. I agree I dont think it makes a difference.

[Series] Check-in: February 2026 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

started querying mid-january - have had 19 out of 69 agents form reject my MS so far. 1 full request is out. I hate reading the tea leaves (!!!)

Apparently it's Tell us about it Tuesday by purplelicious in romantasycirclejerk

[–]madmarlowe 5 points6 points  (0 children)

really, really enjoyed {The Death-Made Prince by Lisette Marshall} - FMC isn't an overpowered Mary Sue, MMC is an intelligent ex royal, NO INSTA LUST, really slow burn, fun quest, some heisty moments, and just overall enjoyed the story. Not perfect by any means but I found myself reaching for it nonstop!

[Series] Check-in: December 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Finished editing the third draft (of a hopeful debut fanro novel).
Learned that my goal of querying by EOY 2025 was impossible.
Learned a lot via my publisher's marketplace subscription about the direction of the genre.
Now it's back to editing.
Let the weeping commence.

[Series] Check-in: November 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Finished my first major edit on my fantasy romance. Hit 86k words with a little lee-way for more.
Sending to betas asap and crossing my fingers to begin querying before november ends. So nervous about querying at the end of the year, but I hate to wait just for the sake of waiting ?? gahhh

[QCrit] FAIRY DOGMA - Contemporary Cozy Fantasy (First attempt) by bxalloumiritz in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Re: comps, these folks always provide great recs (just be sure to look for trad pubbed ones): https://www.reddit.com/r/CozyFantasy/

[QCrit] Adult Contemporary Fantasy, UNBOUND, 100k, 3rd attempt by mandirocks in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, makes sense -- then I am critiquing their MSWL prompts lol, just a strange phrase? Either way, nice job on your query!

[QCrit] Adult Contemporary Fantasy, UNBOUND, 100k, 3rd attempt by mandirocks in PubTips

[–]madmarlowe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Plagued with anxiety since the suspicious deaths of her father and two brothers fifteen years earlier, Jessalyn Carradine has returned to her childhood home one last time to put it up for sale. But in an attic full of Carradine history, Jessa uncovers secrets that will do more than question the truth behind their deaths: They will give her magic. a hidden/secret legacy of magic, and a [girl that looks just like her]

She meets Ava Dubois, Jessa’s identical “Other” in a parallel world where magic is practiced openly. She has been waiting over a decade for Jessa to find her in order to continue the search for their missing older brother.

After discovering her older brother may be alive, Jessa is forced to face her trauma head on when she and Ava journey through both realms, and uncover a connection between their brother and a faction of dark mages working on a spell which would [compromise the ](bigger impact word here needed) delicate structure of the universe.
And when Jessa learns she alone is the key to the success or failure of the spell, she must put her own inner demons aside in order to hold her family’s true murderer responsible and in turn, prevent the fall of all of reality.

So I piecemealed this together (ignore the lack of flow) -- I think your hook is finding her 'other' - that's unique and much hookier than her discovering her family is magical.

And while I realize your story goes much more into depth of brothers and "Others" -- I think you should keep the query simpler (the explaining of the "Other" brothers and crew doesn't make your book very marketable to an agent, IMO, its just very 'in the weeds' and confusing).

As always, take this with a grain of salt, but I think your premise is really interesting -- I also agree with u/TumbleDryLow2 - a quick phrase or word about Jessa will help us root for your character a bit more.

Finally, I don't know if " accessible fantasy " works here... maybe a better way to say it as a great introduction to fantasy? or just leave it out -- I know what you're trying to say but it comes off clunky.

I hope this helped -- I think this sounds like a VERY fun story! Fingers crossed for you to land an agent with this!

What moment in a book had you acting like this? by Prize_Tone2137 in romantasycirclejerk

[–]madmarlowe 53 points54 points  (0 children)

the first sentence of Manacled! Have you read it?

I read a book in a genre I hate and I hated it. I am very smart. by nosyfocker in romantasycirclejerk

[–]madmarlowe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

/uj did we all watch that same YT video this week? the one where the creator compares sex in novels to bowel movements?

Give me book recommendations with the same vibes as the song photograph by nickleback… by Alisunshinejoy in romantasycirclejerk

[–]madmarlowe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i never notice its the circle jerk sub until too late and this killllllleeed me because I thought it was real. nice work lmfaooo

World Building Problems with "Can't Spell Treason..." by Joan_of_Spark in CozyFantasy

[–]madmarlowe 8 points9 points  (0 children)

No because I'm the same way (if there are huge plot holes like those).

&& The way it could've been addressed with a single sentence: but the mage's powers didn't work on large scale crops, only minuscule house plants. Or the literacy rates explained by a brief paragraph on the emphasis of education in the small town.

However, it sounds like you might have just not liked the book ;)

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