SlushWire Weekly #18 – May 03, 2026

[PubQ] Question about Pitching Event

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 2

I am pitching my crime thriller at Thrillerfest next week. There is an agent there I would love to pitch. However, six months ago I queried him an he sent me a form rejection on the same novel. My materials are significantly improved since then. Is it appropriate to pitch the same novel, or because …

[QCrit] Adult Sci-Fi LUM: Wrath of Darkness (100k, 1st attempt)

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 3

I’ve been querying for several years and cannot land an agent deal. I recently found this subreddit and I’d love some feedback. With my latest query letter iteration, i’ve sent about 28 queries, all rejections, but with a few agents encouraging me to continue querying after saying they personally di…

[QCrit] Shadows of Nemuria, Fantasy, 90k words (Attempt #3)

Comments: 7, Upvotes: 2

The young boy, Safet, is not the first death in Shadows of Nemuria. The story follows Heigo, a soldier in a crusade, as his faith crumbles under the scrutiny of the heretical priest in his charge. When the veil falls, he chooses compassion and his love for the priest, knowing it makes him an …

[QCrit]: Adult Dystopian Romance TAKE AS PRESCRIBED 126,000 words/ 2nd Attempt

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2

For context, I’ve received one full request from the original query which led to a light R&R that the agent is currently reviewing. Otherwise, I already know the word count is a hurtle. I’d love to hear if this new version is more streamlined, or if it has become confusing! Thanks for your time…

[QCrit] Adult Historical Fiction – HORACE (110k / 2nd attempt)

Comments: 6, Upvotes: 2

Second attempt (first post was removed for going over the sample word count). I had only received one comment before it was taken down, but I have taken on board the points that were made. \—- I am seeking representation for HORACE, a historical fiction novel, complete at 110K words. *HORACE is…

[PubQ] Form rejection on full manuscript. Is it rude to ask about feedback?

Comments: 22, Upvotes: 19

I recently received two manuscript requests (one partial, one full) for the fantasy novel I’m querying. The partial came back with a rejection fairly quickly, but the agent included some feedback on my opening chapters not being to their taste but also not being something I should change. The full c…

[PubQ] Ghosted by my agent?

Comments: 10, Upvotes: 19

I’m looking for advice from anyone who may have been in a similar situation or who knows the publishing industry well. I have an agent at a major London literary agency who has successfully pitched two books for me which are now published. Last year we worked on another pitch which was ultimately un…

[QCrit] Adult Fantasy – ARCHIVE OF SHADOWS (102K/Attempt 1)

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 2

I’m having several consecutive breakdowns over querying… this is my third time in the trenches and over the last few months (and around 45 query letter drafts) I’ve had three full requests and a partial. Two were rejected, two are considered rejected since its been so long. Please tear this apart,…

[QCrit] FRANKIE CARTER-THE KEY OF BITTER THORNS, Middle Grade/ Fantasy, 93K, first attempt

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 2

Hi everyone! I’ve been stalking this sub for a while and was wondering if I could possibly get advice on my query letter. I’ve only submitted to a small batch of about 12 agents, hoping to get a feel for whether my query letter and first pages are working or not. I changed the name of my characters…

[QCrit] Adult High Fantasy, Eyes of Destiny, 135k, #3 Attempt

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 2

This is my 3rd attempt at a query letter. Took everyone’s advice on focusing more on the characters agency and removing my 3rd pov from the query. I know there was at least one comment that suggested I cut down to one character,r but the two main characters’ lives being intertwined is kind of the ma…

[QCrit] NULLKIN – Adult Romantic Fantasy (104k; 1st Attempt)

Comments: 8, Upvotes: 2

Hello! This is my first time posting my query here. I’ve submitted a few rounds and received about a 50% rate of form rejections, with no full or partial manuscript requests. I’m aware it’s a saturated market and I’m a debut author querying a four-book series, but in the hopes there’s another reaso…

Should I stop editing and just query agents already?

Comments: 9, Upvotes: 13

I’ve been working on this manuscript for over three years now. I’m on my fifth draft and, developmentally, it’s where I want it to be. The problem is, it’s too fucking long. It’s a romantasy, which I understand has a word count range of 90k to 110k words. Since I’m a debut author, I gotta stick to t…

[PubQ] Agent requested first 50 pages based on old query and 20 pages from old manuscript

Comments: 2, Upvotes: 7

Hi! Wasn’t sure what to do in this situation, but I had a request for the first 50 pages based on an old query. I’ve changed the plot pretty significantly since then, and wasn’t sure what to do since the agent already has 20 pages and seemed to like the old manuscript. I personally think my new manu…

[PubQ] Editor gave me her direct email two years ago, how do I send her my next book?

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 4

Two years ago I wrote a book and sent it to a number of publishers but ended up self-publishing. One of the publishers considered it for a while and emailed back an eventual rejection but gave me a direct email for any future works, to bypass their usual pitching process. I’m close to being ready t…

[QCrit] LAST CHANCE MATCH, Adult Sci-Fi Horromance / 89k, first att + first 300

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 7

Starting by saying I’m petrified posting because it’s my first time lol but anyway got advice from a friend who knows a lot about the industry to rework query & opening. Very open to changing comps too (aside from The Compound for setting) if anyone has ideas. And for anyone who wonders, Cera is…

[QCrit] THE SLAVE MONARCH, Historical Fantasy, 80k, 2nd attempt

Comments: 5, Upvotes: 4

THE SLAVE MONARCH is a standalone work of Historical Fantasy (80,000 words) with trilogy potential. The story features women navigating brutal systems of oppression towards an unlikely triumph, like Shelley Parker-Chan’s *She Who Became the Sun* and Shen Tao’s *The Poet Empress*, with the warm, hope…

[QCrit] New adult Fantasy – A DANCE FOR BLACKENED STARS (89k words/7th attempt)

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 4

Hi everyone! I ended up sending out a few queries and got a partial request, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with the query itself so I’ve been revising a bit. So here’s the 7th attempt at this. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Dear \_\_\_\_\_, Because of your interest in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, I am pl…

[QCRIT] ROSE, Adult, Women’s Fiction, 85K, Second Attempt

Comments: 4, Upvotes: 2

Hi guys, This is my second attempt after receiving good advice from a poster. Thanks in advance! Dear… I am writing to you because… I am querying my debut novel, *ROSE*, an 85,000-word upmarket women’s fiction manuscript with Southern Gothic and psychological elements. When a stranger is attack…

tiered rejection or standard?

Comments: 6 | Upvotes: 0

basically what the title says, the second paragraph is throwing me off… did they actually like my writing and work history or are they sending this to everyone?

[QCrit] Shoshana and the Golem – Middle-Grade / Historical Fantasy / Graphic Novel – 38k words – First Attempt

Comments: 15 | Upvotes: 8

This is my first query letter. Thank you in advance for your feedback! Dear \[AGENT\], I am seeking representation for SHOSHANA AND THE GOLEM, a middle-grade historical fantasy graphic novel set in the 19th century. Complete at 200 pages, this story blends the silent protector dynamic of *The Ir…

[QCrit] The Vanishing – Speculative Fiction – 103k words – 2nd Attempt

Comments: 7 | Upvotes: 5

Hello all! Thanks for the great feedback on my first attempt [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1soto7t/comment/ogx2fga/), this is the new (and hopefully improved) version. I welcome all feedback and comments! \— Ryan Phelps has spent months justifying a plan to himself: he is goin…

[QCrit] CARBON COPIES, ADULT, UPMARKET DARK ACADEMIA, 90k words, first attempt

Comments: 5 | Upvotes: 7

Dear , When Nadia Navarro’s twin brother, Luca, asks her to cover for him after his beloved girlfriend is found dead, both twins must decide if their lifelong commitment to protecting their family’s reputation is worth sacrificing their morality. CARBON COPIES is my debut dark academia, upmarke…

[QCrit] Bramble Berry Brew * Cozy Sapphic Romantasy (94,000 words) – age group: adult/young adult – first Query attempt + first book

Comments: 6 | Upvotes: 5

Dear \[Agent Name\], Alice is a young witch with a passion for teacraft and spellweave who has always believed a small village life surrounded by family and friends could very well be a happy one. At nineteen, she spends her days brewing potions, studying the ins and outs of magic, and sharing a q…