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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 2d

Caelis is a failed sniper with broken augments. Serenya is a genetically engineered supersoldier who wants to bake cookies. Before they were enemies, now they're humanity's only hope to stop a signal erasing entire colonies.

Unless they kill each other first.

#DVpit #A #SF #MV

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 2d

Caelis lost the war for his people by refusing to kill the woman in his scope. Now, she needs his help to stop a cosmic signal from overriding humanity. He wants to make amends, but she’ll kill him if she discovers the truth.

#DVpit #A #SF #MV

Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 2d

Mass Effect x This Is How You Lose The Time War

A found family space opera where a failed sniper joins his last target to save the galaxy, as long as she doesn’t discover his secret & kill him first.

Grief, intimacy, & finding your people when the world falls apart

#DVpit #A #SF #MV

Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 7d

For those waiting for the traditional update:

Queries sent: 130
Rejections: 41
CNR: 7
Full Requests: 1
R&R's: 2

“In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm. In the real world, all rests on perseverance.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 13d

OK, I promised an update last night, here it is. Two partials turned into R&Rs, I've been busy working on getting those done.

Queries sent: 130
Rejections: 35
CNR: 8
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 1
Full Requests: 1
R&R's: 2

We keep going!

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 23d

Some more positive movement today!

Queries sent: 130
Rejections: 31
CNR: 5
Live pitches: 4
#PitchDis Requests: 2
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1
Full Requests: 2

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 24d

There was some good news today. Here's tonight's Query Trench update:

Queries sent: 129
Rejections: 30
CNR: 5
Live pitches: 4
#PitchDis Requests: 2
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1
Full Requests: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 25d

I'm just staying quiet tonight.

Queries sent: 127
Rejections: 29
CNR: 5
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1
Full Requests: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 26d

OK. I've about exhausted my list of agents to query until some open up so, if you're an agent looking for a character forward space opera that's the emotionally haunted cousin of Mass Effect, This Is How You Lose The Time War, and A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet...let me know!

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 27d

Need an Agent's Guide to Echo: Directive, the emotionally haunted cousin of Mass Effect and A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet?

#amquerying

A space-themed banner titled "An Agent’s Guide to ECHO: DIRECTIVE" in bold red sci-fi font. A glowing black hole or eclipse dominates the center, surrounded by bright, fiery light. Comets streak across a star-speckled galaxy background. At the bottom, a pink waveform graphic evokes sound or data transmission.

A sci-fi themed graphic labeled “COMPS AND TROPES.”
It compares Echo: Directive to three works:

Mass Effect (left): underlined with “GALACTIC THREAT” and “FIRST CONTACT”

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (center): underlined with “GRIEF AND LOVE” and “THE SHIP IS HOME”

This Is How You Lose the Time War (right): underlined with “AGAINST ALL ODDS” and “DEPTH AND GROWTH”

Red arrows point from the comps to headers reading FOUND FAMILY and EMOTIONAL INTIMACY in sci-fi font. The background is a blue-lit starship corridor.

Sci-fi styled pitch screen with glowing grid background and red block text. The pitch reads:

“AUGMENTED SNIPER CAELIS THORNE REFUSED TO KILL A SUPERSOLDIER.
HE LOST THE WAR—AND CONDEMNED HALF OF HUMANITY TO OPPRESSION.
NOW HE HAS TO STOP A REALITY-ERASING ALIEN SIGNAL BEFORE IT CONSUMES EVERYTHING… INCLUDING THE WOMAN HE COULDN’T BRING HIMSELF TO KILL.”

Header at the top says "PITCH" in bold red text.

A glowing synthwave-style background with stars and pulsing neon waves. In the center, red futuristic text reads:

ECHO: DIRECTIVE
SCIENCE FICTION
105K WORDS

At the bottom, a list of themes and elements:

SPACE OPERA
FOUND FAMILY
NEURODIVERGENCY
POST-WAR SURVIVAL
AI AS A CHILD THAT’S TERRIFIED OF HERSELF
AND A SIGNAL THAT OVERWRITES EVERYTHING WE KNOW

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 27d

I did get a rejection, but it came with very constructive personalized feedback. I had just started editing based on that feedback when I got the FR! So I was in a mad-dash to get everything done in a reasonable turn around, and thats why I've been absent.

There, now we're all caught up!

Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · 27d

It's been a few days since my last update from the Query Trenches. Let me catch you up.

Tonight's report from the trench:

Queries sent: 115
Rejections: 28
CNR: 5
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1
Full Requests: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 10

Tonight's report from the trench:

Queries sent: 113
Rejections: 23
CNR: 3
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

#amquerying

Also, I want to know if you like seeing these, or would you rather not?

Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 9

Today's trench report.

Queries sent: 113
Rejections: 23
CNR: 3
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 8

Today brought a fresh rejection in the trenches. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Queries sent: 100
Rejections: 21
CNR: 2
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

"If you fell down yesterday, stand up today."
- H.G. Wells

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 7

Another quiet weekend in the trenches:

Queries sent: 100
Rejections: 20
CNR: 2
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

“Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.”
― Ovid

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 6

Today was a quiet friday in the query trenches, just some new queries sent:

Queries sent: 100
Rejections: 20
CNR: 2
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."
- Benjamin Franklin

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 5

Today had 2 rejections, but several new queries sent. Here's the update:

Queries sent: 94
Rejections: 20
CNR: 2
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." Confucius

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 4

Let's do tonight's Query Trench update to end off Day 60.

Queries sent: 84
Rejections: 18
CNR: 2
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

"If you're going through hell, keep going."
- Winston Churchill

#amquerying

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Reposted by Irshan Rajput

pounceswithwolves @cayseshultz.bsky.social · Sep 3

A friend of a friend's #debut is on pre-order! Plz support
Alexandra & indie trade pub @crookedlanebooks.bsky.social & @alcovepress.bsky.social by sharing!🥰

"The search for King Arthur's Excalibur invites danger…and potentially love"

#sapphic #HistoricalRomance #WritingCommunity #SapphicSeptember

Beige promotional graphic for a Barnes & Noble preorder sale. Large text at the top reads “9/3 – 9/5, 25% OFF PRE-ORDERS.” Below it says “Barnes & Noble Rewards and Premium Members only! Use code PREORDER25 at checkout.” Smaller text notes: “Valid for physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks at Barnes & Noble. Some exclusions apply.” On the right is an illustrated coral-pink book with the words “Cover coming soon” above the title For the Love of the Quest by Alexandra Amman Parthun. Decorative sparkles appear in the top right corner. Hashtag at the bottom: #BNPREORDER.

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 3

Today marks day 60 in the query trenches. Two months in…and starting today off with a fresh rejection.

Let’s hope it’s all uphill from here!

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 3

I hoped that the day after the long-weekend might be filled with movement in the query trenches. It wasn't, and that's ok. Remember: silence is not indifference.

Queries sent: 82
Rejections: 18
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 2

I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all of us in the trenches, before the trenches, and all of those who have made it through.

We are all writers. And I see all of you.

Queries sent: 82
Rejections: 18
Live pitches: 4
Partial Requests: 2
Queries forwarded to another agent: 1

#amquerying

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 2

I see how hard you try. I see how you hold on to every glimmer of hope. I see how the world presses down and you push back. I see how tired you are, and how small you may feel sometimes.

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Irshan Rajput @irshanrajput.bsky.social · Sep 2

That’s not how it is for the majority of us. If you feel like me tonight…feeling like you’re the only one who believes in your book, worried that you’ll never make it…I want you to know that I see you.

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