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DAN LAZAR: "How to Craft a Winning Query Letter: Secrets to Keep You Out of the Reject Pile"

Highlights from Dan Lazar, Writers House agent, panel on query letters:

-- Website recommendation: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com (his bio is listed here: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/DanielLazar/)

-- Want some of Dan's secrets to writing a query letter that ROCKS? Here are a couple tidbits:

1. "If you can write the Next Great American Novel, then you can write a great query letter. Period." Dan brought two real query letters to demonstrate what worked for him, and one "fake" letter to show what doesn't work. One letter showed the writer's voice, which intrigued Dan who wanted to see the writer's voice in the actual manuscript. So if your voice comes through in a query letter, that can help get you out of the "reject" pile!

2. If you have never been published and do not have any publishing credits, don't worry. No need to apologize or even bring that up. You don't need logos or colored paper to impress. And it doesn't hurt to open with "a specific familiar reference. "I'm a human being and I have feelings, so you should appeal to my vanity," he joked.

3. Do NOT start with "To whom It may concern"!

4. MAIN THEME: BE SPECIFIC. Dan cannot stress this enough. He says you should be as specific as possible in your query letter, from stating why you are interested in pursuing Dan as your agent, specific details about your bio, your manuscript etc.

5. Try to avoid "What if?" when describing your book's story in a query letter. It's a "good tool" he says for sparking plot ideas and brainstorming, but not for a query letter. He recommends being MORE SPECIFIC and using more original language instead of starting off with "What if..." when describing/introducing the plot of your book in the query letter.

6. For email queries: He says find out first if agents accept these - he does, FYI. Technical note: Do not include any HTML coding because that can result in inconsistent formatting and invite spammers.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Dan offered dozens of tips and secrets on how to write an effective query letter. It was a packed lecture hall and it was clear everyone appreciated Dan's helpful advice. Again, another reason to join SCBWI and attend these conferences for fantastic advice from veteran industry experts!

Posted by Paula Yoo

Courtney Bongiolatti (editor, Simon & Schuster) and Dan Lazar (agent, Writers House) offer a session on "The Top 5 Things and Agent and an Editor Look for the First 5 Pages."

Courtney and Dan broke down five things that they both look for when they're are evaluating a submission that comes in: the character's age, the character's voice, the situation of the story, the tone of the book and an undefinable magic.

POSTED BY ALICE POPE

Courtney and Dan gave handouts to the attendees including passages from books that illustrate their five first-pages criteria.

This was a hard session to blog--attendees have been reading and Courtney and Dan have been trying to define some things that seem undefinable. It's working (and interesting) in person--wish you were all here!

Daniel spoke about Writers House's great website here!

For Submissions, Daniel wants an e-mail query with the first 5 pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the e-mail.

As far as the editorial role of him as an agent, Daniel said that sometimes he'll work with an author for 4-5 months or even a year, but once it's ready to go out, it often goes quickly (because the book is so ready!)

I was honored when Dan Goodsell, creator of The world of Mr. Toast, asked me to participate in a show where artists got to reinterpret his characters. How can I resist drawing his cute little characters with arms and legs?!

I have this little obsession with automats and vending machines, and thought his food characters would be really cute in them.

The show runs March 1st to March 16th (opening on March 1st from 4-8pm) at:
Monkeyhouse Toys
1618 1/2 Silverlake Blvd
Silverlake, CA 90026
Please go check it out if you are in the area!

P.S.-I've owned Dan's book, Krazy Kids' Food! Vintage Food Graphics (by Dan Goodsell and Steve Roden) for a long time. Its a great source of reference and inspiration if you love retro graphics like me!