Hannah Kate Kelley

Yes, I would!

The word count should be appropriate for the age and genre, so something under 70K or so. I like both high fantasy and grounded fantasy! And I recommend submitting the story you think is strongest.

Based on the log line, it certainly sounds interesting! I like stories where the MC is framed/blamed.

I tend to prefer darker arcs, themes, and content vs. the cozy stuff. Love unique magic systems. Love slow burn romances. Love found families and good writing. MCs with a heavy dose of meanness. MCs who discover their self worth. And always a sucker for enemies to lovers.

Personally, I love a slow burn. Especially in romance and especially in gothic horror. And this genre calls for it. That said, the story starter should still have a strong hook. Just like MEXICAN GOTHIC. Even THE HACIENDA.

It's mostly to ensure that I have time to complete my manuscript evaluation in our given timeframe. Outside of #RevPit, I work with a lot of 140K+ manuscripts and love helping writers trim those down (when necessary). But I want a leaner one for this year's round.

I think a good balance between the two lies in how the context is handled. Trust your readers to infer and acclimate instead of over-explaining cultural elements they're unfamiliar with. Readers don't need an exact definition for every word or action.

Ooh yes!

Epic fantasy readers love unique, sophisticated world building. I think stories that are lighter on the magic will hook readers best when their internal conflict and themes are at the forefront. Like CIRCE which has a mythic frame, but it's largely about her emotional journey + arc.

Hi! Definitely the protagonist's character arc first. Once that's ironed out, each scene should reflect how the MC is getting closer or further from their arc. Story-level edits first, then scene-level edits.

Hello! When editing a series, I ask for a brief outline of the full series for reference. I'd send an easy worksheet for this.

It's very normal for content to shift from book to book. As long as the word count doesn't exceed my 110K limit upon submission, we're good.

Does that answer your Qs?

Please do!

3/3 The amount of contact depends. We have a few calls scheduled, then I'm available by email and for additional calls throughout.

Thanks for the Qs! LMK if you have any others.

2/3 I can't choose! They all affect one another. Most important thing to cover first is plot, since it encompasses both internal and external conflict, including character development. Once those are ironed out, we dive into everything else.

1/3 Love a prologue. What's most important though is that the story starts in the best place and that there's a strong hook pretty quickly into the story.

Suspense is crucial, especially if you're writing horror, thrillers, or similar genres. Gradual suspense building with sharp stakes is 🤌

It's a night where each person presents a topic or project near and dear to their heart via a PowerPoint presentation. I once presented a story idea that I wrote. Someone else did a brief history on door architecture. But you can do any topic. 10/10 would recommend!!

Hannah Kate Kelley Bio Hannah Kate Kelley is a developmental editor and Author Accelerator certified book coach living in New York City. She is a member of Wom

For more about me and my editing style, check out my MSWL here:

reviseresub.com/editors/hann...

Got questions about my editing, MSWL or anything else? Now's the time to ask!

a peacock ad for the traitors shows a man in a cape ALT: a peacock ad for the traitors shows a man in a cape

📚 current read: BABEL by RF Kuang
⚔️ current watch: Traitors, Love Is Blind + Shadowhunters
💓 current obsession: making deeper friendships
🌭 current snack: Trader Joes corn dogs
⌛ latest life lesson: aging is fun

Photo of Hannah in period costume as she smiles at the camera.

A bit about me:

💫 Developmental editor for fiction writers of all genres
💫 Lived all over the world, including Paris, Namibia + Midwest
💫 Currently living in my cozy brownstone in Park Slope, BK
💫 Training for my first full marathon (NYC 2026)
💫 Love line dancing + costume parties

A close up on an oil painting of a person in a white dress holding a green notebook and gold pen.

Hello, #RevPit writers! It’s time for my #MeetTheEditor thread 💖

This is my second year as an editor with RevPit, and I’m so glad to be back. I'm eagerly awaiting your submissions.

Got questions about my MSWL or editing process before you submit? Now’s the time to ask!

@reviseresub.bsky.social

Practical advice for querying writers:

Query in batches. Only getting form rejections? Revise the query letter and first pages. Getting partials and fulls without offers? Consider agent feedback. Developmental edits may be needed. But often, it’s just not a fit. Get a hug, revise, and keep going. 👏

Yes!

Yes, I would include the author bio in that word count!

close up of a hand flipping the page of a book that's resting in their lap

And voila! ✨

Thank you again for submitting to #RevPit #10Queries. As always, feel free to reply or DM me with any questions, even if these aren't your submissions. And you can find more writing tips from me at the link in my profile.

P10: Inner monologue is good, but can it go even deeper?Elaborate on MC’s motivation for their goal. MC seems distressed by finding no answers, so what are stakes-both external and internal? Will they struggle to survive? Fail to heal recent trauma? Fail to connect to others?

Q10: Strong comps. Important themes. Can’t place tone yet. Whimsical with touch of darkness, a la Practical Magic? Or much lighter/much darker? Also, what lead to MC’s accident? What negative external and/or internal repercussions did the accident have on their life that they’re trying to reverse?

P9: Strong prose that makes me feel I know the first MC immediately. The dialogue and inner monologue are snappy and funny, which is perfect tone for the genre. As long as there’s more of a hook at the end of this initial scene, I think these first few pages are query-ready.

Q9: Formatted well with each MC POV. Presents main conflict clearly. First MC could use more description. We know right away what second MC struggles with and why it's hard for them to love again. What is first MC’s biggest goal? What are the stakes if they stray from their rigid life path?

P8: Main conflict and MC’s fatal flaw feel apparent right away, and there’s good worldbuilding and description, too. I like how you waited to reveal purpose of villager’s death, but since MC’s sibling faces trial next, I think readers need to know more stakes and context before sibling enters trial.

Q8: Interesting premise with clear setup and inciting incident. There’s still room to add more context, so I think it’s important to know where the MC moves to in Act 2 and who they are living with. And who is the romantic interest, as suggested?