The Saturday Slash

Don't be afraid to ask for help with the most critical first step of your writing journey - the query.

I’ve been blogging since 2011 and have critiqued over 200 queries here on the blog using my Hatchet of Death. This is how I edit myself, it is how I edit others. If you think you want to play with me and my hatchet, shoot me an email.

If the Saturday Slash has been helpful to you in the past, or if you’d like for me to take a look at your query please consider making a donation, if you are able.

If you’re ready to take the next step, I also offer editing services.

My thoughts are in blue, words to delete are in red, suggested rephrasing is in orange.

Child stars Felicity Mae Shaw and Zachary Ward were the brightest stars in Hollywood, following the wild success of their breakout kids made-for-television, break-into-song movie franchise, Breaking Free. You're hitting pretty heavy on the word "break" here. I think you're over describing what the show was, which is tripping up word flow and not getting us to what actually matters here. On screen, the fans loved their PG romance, defying expectations and following their dreams. How did they defy expectations? How did they follow their dreams? Off screen, the media loved catching them on hot-and-heavy romantic getaways, dropping condoms on the red carpet, and posting not safe for work photos at the Chateau Marmont to Instagram. Both followed What followed? Confused on that point Zac and Felicity through their romance that lasted eight years, ending with a very quiet engagement, and then an unexpected breakup shortly after.

Now, in their late twenties, Felicity, facing a longer-than-expected lull in her career, is desperate to retain any kind of stronghold within the industry, and with a life changing role on the line, she’s even desperate enough to agree to her publicist’s plan of faking a love affair with her ex, leading up to Breaking Free’s televised ten-year-reunion. This is a really long, convoluted sentence. Break up the thoughts here. Unlike Felicity, Zac has had no problems keeping that stronghold within Hollywood–the fame, the parties, and money, have they’ve elevated him to A-list. But, after a very public dismissal of the Breaking Free franchise during press for his new movie that’s getting early Oscar buzz, Zac is on a mission to clean up his party-boy reputation.

A very gossip-inducing relationship is the last thing that either want, Is it though? It sounds like that just wants Felicity is looking for. but soon, their sizzling chemistry starts to feel like more than just an act. But, to survive within the industry that they’ve known for so long, they’ll have to put aside all of the things that had come between them before–the jealousy, the parties and their perks, the constant attention from fans and casual flirting with costars–even if they threaten to do so again. Even if what happens to do so again? Confusing end here.

Told in tandem with gossip rag articles, ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING, an adult contemporary romance, complete at 82,000 words, is for fans of The View was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, and Birds of California, by Katie Cotugno.

I graduated from Madonna University with a bachelors in Journalism and Public Relations, and currently work as a Closing Agent.

I think this is a really strong and marketable idea, and for the most part, the query is quite good. You'll need to trim down some of you wording as advised above, but I think you're in good shape!

The Saturday Slash

Don't be afraid to ask for help with the most critical first step of your writing journey - the query.

I’ve been blogging since 2011 and have critiqued over 200 queries here on the blog using my Hatchet of Death. This is how I edit myself, it is how I edit others. If you think you want to play with me and my hatchet, shoot me an email.

If the Saturday Slash has been helpful to you in the past, or if you’d like for me to take a look at your query please consider making a donation, if you are able.

If you’re ready to take the next step, I also offer editing services.

My thoughts are in blue, words to delete are in red, suggested rephrasing is in orange.

A young couple struggles to find their footing in marriage, causing the wife to no longer want children with the man she married. Why? What happens? Does she not want to have kids at all, or just with him? But she still wants to be married to him? We definitely need a lot more detail to understand and sympathize with the main character. When she discovers he is cheating, they come to an understanding she will stay if he stops pressuring her to have kids. But again... why? What's the motivation? Why does she want to be with him at all, if she 1) doesn't want to have kids with him and 2) he's cheating? I don't understand why she would want to remain married to this person. Then they meet a woman who makes life look easy by employing her wiles. What does this mean? It doesn’t become clear what she wants from the wife until she has ingrained herself into their life. What does she want? A query isn't the place to be cagey. Alliances are tested when it’s revealed the friend has been having an affair with the husband from the beginning. But why would this even matter at all, since he was already caught cheating? But the wife is guilty of lies of omission as well. She has been formulating a fallback plan to not end up a victim. Way, way, way too vague. I don't really know what makes this any different from any other "bad marriage" book that's out there. Name your characters, tell us their motivation, and don't keep any secrets from an agent in a query. What does the friend want from the wife? What are the lies of omission? And what is the fallback plan? Right now this is so vague it could be for any number of books. Figure out what makes yours distinctive, and get that in the query.

Her Grass is Greener is approximately ninety-thousand words in length.

The novel is in the spirit of The Last Mrs. Parrish and When Life Gives You Lululemons. It promotes female empowerment and touches on the negatives of comparison culture. That sounds interesting, but I don't see any of it represented in the query as it stands.

I reside in Atlanta, Georgia and have a Creative Writing degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

The Saturday Slash

Don't be afraid to ask for help with the most critical first step of your writing journey - the query.

I’ve been blogging since 2011 and have critiqued over 200 queries here on the blog using my Hatchet of Death. This is how I edit myself, it is how I edit others. If you think you want to play with me and my hatchet, shoot me an email.

If the Saturday Slash has been helpful to you in the past, or if you’d like for me to take a look at your query please consider making a donation, if you are able.

If you’re ready to take the next step, I also offer editing services.

My thoughts are in blue, words to delete are in red, suggested rephrasing is in orange.

It’s 1955, and in Manhattan, three sisters embark on individual life journeys that will test their resolve to follow their dreams. Even when that pursuit means going against the wishes of their family as well as societal norms family’s and society’s norms. Not a bad lead in, but watch for awkward usage. I'm not sure that the second sentence is a complete sentence.

Helen, the eldest, has finally fallen in love and wants to get married. However, her father forbids it due to an ancient feud he refuses to abandon. Need more. How is this different from any other star-crossed love story?

Carolyn, the middle daughter and most beautiful, is determined to become New York City’s most sought after woman. Chasing this dream gets her thrown out of the family home, but her pigheadedness may have landed her in the lion’s den with no way out. What does this mean? And what are her goals? Doesn't sought after mean she's looking for marraige? If not, what does it mean? Marriage wouldn't get her thrown out of the house, so we need details here.

Peggy, the youngest, is determined to become a doctor, not a married housewife. When she meets a man twice her age, her resolve falters and she must decide whether a family or a career is more important to her. Why is his age relevant? How does that factor into her future?

Right now, these are all very vague, and verging on tropes. We need specifics in order to see what makes this different from every other star-crossed lovers, good girl acting out, and choose between a career and family narrative. Details are going to be important to show that this is different from any / every other historical title with a similar vein.

A TALE OF THREE SISTERS (102,000) is a historical romance full of family secrets Like what? I didn't see any secrets mentioned above. which will appeal to anyone who has gone after their dreams in spite of challenges. This novel is in the style of We Are the Brennans (Tracey Lange) and The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany (Lori Nelson Spielman).

Your word count is a little high. You'll want to get this under 100k. I also question the genre slightly - is this romance or is it women's fiction? Only you can know the answer to that, but romance tends to have a heavier focus on the relationips in isolation, whereas this seems to have a function beyond the that.

My traditionally published debut historical novel won the 2019 Marie M Irvine Award for Literary Excellence. My historical fiction, Maybe clarify not the ms you're querying presently with Woodhall Press and scheduled to be released in September 2022, won the 2021 When Words Count nationwide competition. I’ve also had short stories published in various themed anthologies. My non-fiction essay appeared in the 2021 Chicken Soup for the Soul Blessings of Christmas. I received my MA in English (Writing Emphasis) from Northern Arizona University. I’m a member of the Historical Novel Society, Women’s National Book Association, Women Fiction Writers Association, and Authors Guild.

Good bio!