KERRY HANSEN

Case Solved: Demystifying the Query Letter

 

An effective query letter is a mystery that could stump Nancy Drew. It becomes less mystifying, however, once you understand its function. With a query letter, you’re doing more than trying to convince agents to represent you; you’re giving them the tools to sell your book. Using advice from experts in the industry and sample letters that drew the attention of agents, I’ll break down the important elements of a query letter, explain their function, and provide instructions for writing your own. I’ll also delve into other aspects of the querying process, like finding agents most suited to your work. Case solved!

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Age Range: Adult

Time: 60-minute presentation (includes time for Q&A); can be expanded to two-hour workshop.

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Gotcha: How to Catch a Three-Year-Old Reader

 

Story time with a group of three-year-olds can be like wrangling puppies. Instead of sitting still, they may wrestle or chew the DUPLO blocks. As a preschool teacher for eight years, I made it my mission to find picture books that captivate squirmy audiences. Over time, I determined which traits most appeal to this age group and discovered that they win over older readers as well. Using over 60 mentor texts as examples, I’ll dive deep into these characteristics so you can write picture books that’ll catch the attention of three-year-olds and beyond. (Elementary school teachers and librarians will thank you.)  

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Age Range: Adult

Time: 60-minute presentation (includes time for Q&A); can be expanded to a two-hour work

 

The Build Up: Techniques to Create Edge-of-Your-Seat Suspense

 

A teenager creeps into a dark basement. Something shifts in the gloom, and she calls out, “Who’s there?” No response. She steps closer, just as a shape leaps out—

 

The shape could be anything from a cat to a serial killer. Doesn’t really matter. As every horror movie aficionado knows, the true nail-biter moments are the ones leading up to the action. This is true for all genres, whether you’re building to a first kiss, a cancer diagnosis, or a medieval battle. In this presentation, I’ll use examples from middle-grade and young-adult novels to explain the techniques you can apply to your writing to build edge-of-your-seat suspense that keeps readers turning the pages.

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Age Range: Adult (can be modified for middle and high school students)

Time: 60-minute presentation (includes time for Q&A); can be expanded to two-hour workshop.

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Spice Up Your Style: Developing Techniques That Enhance Your Writing

 

Your novel is a Thanksgiving turkey. When you serve it to potential agents or editors, garlic salt isn’t going to cut it, no matter how juicy your plot or tender your characters. If your writing doesn’t pack a punch, no one’s coming back for seconds. In this presentation, we’ll dig deep into the individual spices that boost your style: figurative language, white space, spicy verbs, and even Thor’s hammer.

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Age Range: Adult (can be modified for middle and high school students)

Time: 60-minute presentation (includes time for Q&A); can be expanded to two-hour workshop.

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Plot vs. Character Arc

 

Often, when we start a novel, we focus on what happens. Plot is certainly important, but the real story is how the character changes because of the plot, called the character arc. The plot is simply the vehicle for that change. In this workshop, inspired by Lisa Cron’s Story Genius, we’ll compare the plot and character arcs of well-known movies and books and discuss the importance of knowing your character arc before you commit words to the page.

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Age Range: Adult (can be modified for middle and high school students)

Time: 60-minute presentation (includes time for Q&A); can be expanded to two-hour workshop.

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