Madelyn Knecht ✨🌈

This Thursday!

It opens on my birthday! So you’re sending me a lot of great stuff to read, right? 😉 #RevPit

No auto rejects, but I’m less likely to be interested in something with vampires or werewolves unless they’re realllllly different from the norm

Yes! I’m picky about paranormal, but love a good ghost story. And crochet is so fun

If it’s accessible, yes!

An ending can be bittersweet, or a bit ambiguous, as long as there’s a hopeful undertone and things feel (mostly) resolved. But that’s also something we can work on in revisions

Curious... would it be helpful to write a blog post about how I go through queries/submissions? 🤔

I would love a MG or YA set in fandom. Fanfiction, conventions, etc. the same vibe as Turning Red, where kids feel like kids with their obsessions #MSWL

It would depend on how and the context... I'd just ask for a warning in the query letter. I'd rather be spoiled than surprised

WRITERS!! I will be closing to queries on 3/12 (my birthday!!)

I won't reopen again until April, so if you'd like to query me, please get it in before then! #amquerying

querytracker.net/query/Madely...

Within my listed genres! I’m not a good fit for contemporary pieces

I like upmarket speculative! Sounds interesting to me

1) Yes 2) For the annual contest specifically, since we're under time constraints, I'm more likely to choose something under 100k 3) No set limit, it all depends on the writing and voice

Fae as a species in the overarching world is fine. I'm mostly not into fae romance

Social/political commentary in every genre is welcome!

Rune Factory 2 is my guilty pleasure. But I also love Stardew Valley and Cozy Grove

Sicilian could be interesting. I like fairytale retellings if they're unique. I don't have a preference between first and third POV. It depends on the voice

That should be fine. I just ask for a warning in the query letter

Yes, as long as it's accessible for newer readers to the genre (pretty much the same for all scifi and subgenres)

I've dealt with this exact same thing as a writer with one of my older manuscripts. It's hard to balance. But that's also something that would be tackled in edits - what has to happen in order to *force* them to act and leave them no choice?

I'm not the best fit for either. I'm not a fan of hard-boiled detectives, or the dark/hopeless vibe. The world is dark and hopeless enough, so I like levity in my reads. Even if they deal with difficult topics, it needs to have some levity and have a happy ending.

Nope! Mentions or allusions are just fine. For on-page self harm, it depends on how "light." If we're using sharp objects on ourselves, then no, it's likely not for me. Then again, it depends what the context is. But if the character's pinching or plucking at their skin, that's fine.

I love cult horror! When I say faith-based or religious stories, I more mean Christian tales and the like. Anything that is based in and pushing a real religion's values onto the reader, subtly or not, isn't for me.

Hmm an active protagonist is definitely easier to follow, BUT if the voice is strong enough, I (and I think a lot of readers) will follow them, regardless. It depends on the execution

1) Cutting word count - first I look at big picture pacing. Is the bloated wordcount because we have scenes we don't need? Areas we can streamline? Repetitiveness? I'm pretty good at slashing and consolidating without losing the important aspects of the story

2) I don't have a strong opinion

Authors can still submit to me after being rejected.

Although if I rejected based off the query letter and sample pages, it may be best to try someone else, as it could be a matter of clashing tastes with the concept/voice.

That sounds right up my alley!

Hmm examples of magic/whimsy...
F.T. Lukens books (whimsical, often silly, humorous romance with magic)
Bartimaeus Trilogy (while sometimes heavy topics, has a general humor about them)

Overall, it depends on the tone and the voice. If the voice captures me, the rest can fall into place

Only my winner and my runner-up wouldn't be able to submit to me, as it's a conflict of interest.

If a writer submits to me through RevPit and they aren't chosen, they're feel to query me.

Higher word count doesn't bother me. I like epistolary structures! Always looking for something new & fresh

...it's been out for a minute, but Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. I'm a big fan of all of the Rune Factory games and I adore them

I like time loops, like in The Last Hour Between Worlds. Dismantling hierarchy and sentient ships/technology like in The Red Scholar's Wake. But if it's set in space, it has to be very accessible. Think more entry-level SciFi than hardcore SciFi

For games...