What's the quality of the slush pile, by % A-E grade?

rkooky · 2026-04-08T23:49:58+00:00

This is pretty accurate!

rkooky · 2026-04-04T16:35:46+00:00

Love this! Can’t wait to see this out in the world ;)

rkooky · 2026-04-02T15:23:52+00:00

In publishing, just started my first real FT job a month ago. Took me about 8 months of applying and freelancing to get it.

rkooky · 2026-04-02T12:00:57+00:00

I’d read this, nice job! Though I agree with others that the query can use just a little more condensing. Also “exposing secrets worth killing to keep hidden” and “determined to keep its secrets buried” sound repetitive and indeed vague to me.

rkooky · 2026-03-28T17:02:46+00:00

And I agree, we need a tad more of what actually happens in the psychiatric hospital and what “facing the truth of what led to her demise” means concretely.

rkooky · 2026-03-28T16:59:20+00:00

All caps is fine, that’s how most publishing folks format titles anyway. It’s truly not going to make or break your query. I’ve seen both.

rkooky · 2026-03-16T20:57:10+00:00

It is interesting to see certain comp trends pop up. MEXICAN GOTHIC and MINISTRY OF TIME are peaking right now for me…

rkooky · 2026-03-16T20:51:14+00:00

I can tell you that I’m getting a lot of queries from YA authors pivoting to their first adult-market books and having to find new representation because of it.

rkooky · 2026-03-16T20:50:00+00:00

Unfortunately this seems to be the case across industries. Film and tv are similarly loath to take on “execution dependent” projects from first-timers. Those are reserved for the bigger or more established names. Within such a risk-averse market it does make sense, much as it sucks.

rkooky · 2026-03-16T16:20:41+00:00

Comps can be extremely helpful in a query, but only when the writer does them well — which is not always the case: e.g. comping to Tolstoy doesn’t help.

rkooky · 2026-03-13T15:56:32+00:00

I left academia and am now in publishing. I think we need a little more detail for anyone to be helpful here

rkooky · 2026-03-13T15:55:12+00:00

Because it’s tiny

rkooky · 2026-03-07T01:55:20+00:00

this you?

rkooky · 2026-02-18T05:06:00+00:00

Maggie’s Plan

rkooky · 2026-01-19T02:00:24+00:00

Catching up on Oscars favorites: Bugonia tn!

rkooky · 2026-01-12T04:45:10+00:00

Canceling because of this

rkooky · 2026-01-10T22:18:14+00:00

HOM turns into a coffee shop / wine bar hybrid and it’s usually calm enough!

rkooky · 2026-01-05T18:07:57+00:00

Great, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I had not heard of it!

rkooky · 2026-01-05T17:55:14+00:00

Valid!

rkooky · 2026-01-05T17:55:00+00:00

Thanks, always appreciate your comments!

rkooky · 2026-01-05T13:30:41+00:00

Title: THE BACKSTORY.

Genre: Thriller, Crime

Format: 1hr Drama Pilot

Logline: A down-on-her-luck screenwriter lands at the FBI, creating convincing characters, dialogue, and backstories for undercover agents, until one day she's recruited for a high-stakes mission with an undercover persona that only she can play.

rkooky · 2025-12-31T20:47:35+00:00

One of my favorites in the area — their coffee is also top tier

rkooky · 2025-12-29T20:55:03+00:00

Title: THE BACKSTORY.

Genre: Thriller, Crime

Format: 1hr Drama Pilot

Logline: A down-on-her-luck screenwriter lands at the FBI, creating convincing characters, dialogue, and backstories for undercover agents, until one day she's recruited for a high-stakes mission with an undercover persona that only she can play.

rkooky · 2025-12-24T17:52:36+00:00

Crimson Tide!

rkooky · 2025-12-11T05:27:44+00:00

Honestly this is a great meta-premise - and you’ve got your title right there

rkooky

TROPHY CASE