In this episode, Jeff and I will look at two more query letters and break them down line-by-line so you’ll see exactly what works, and what needs improvement. If you missed the first episode in this series, you can check it out here.

In this episode, Jeff and I talk about:

• Query do’s and don’t’s.
• How to ensure that your query gets read.
• Why a strong platform is important.

As I mentioned with Part 1 of this series, one of the things I love about Jeff’s advice is that he approaches the query letter without a set “formula.” Remember: the only “best practice” when it comes to query letters is to write a great book and get the agent to read past the query and look at your pages. In other words, the best practice is the one that works for you.

Also, while A lot of Jeff’s advice can be applied universally, every agent has a different idea of what is important to them and what makes a good query. Make sure you know who you’re pitching and what they’re looking for. Submission guidelines are super important.

Listen in while Jeff critiques some more query letters for us!

You can follow along on the critiques by clicking these links and downloading a PDF of the queries we discussed.

• Query 1 – Romantic Suspense
• Query 2 – Prescriptive Nonfiction

Link to Episode 37

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 37: Interview with Jeff Kleinman – Query Letter Critiques (Part 2) appeared first on DIY MFA.

What I love about working with Jeff is that he has an eye for spotting books that can really make a difference. He has this uncanny knack for sniffing out interesting stories, unique perspectives and, or course, writers with voice. He also has vision, with eye for what projects can be beyond the page. This is one of the many reasons why, when I was looking for someone to represent me and DIY MFA, Jeff was my no-brainer first choice.

Over the course of his career Jeff has represented a wide range of fiction and nonfiction (including many debuts). You can check out his full bio at FolioLit.com, but I’ll just say this: the list of books he’s represented is staggering. Seriously, it reads like a veritable who’s-who of top-notch fiction and nonfiction.

Most importantly, though, Jeff is one of those rare people who not only believes that books can make a difference, he backs it up with action. Aside from working hard for his clients, he dedicates a lot of time to teaching at conferences and helping to educate writers about the business. As he says in his bio “good writing and smart ideas can change our world,” and Jeff is helping to make that happen.

In this episode, Jeff and I talk about:

• What a query letter is and why writers need one.
• What the fundamental components of a query letter are.
• What format writers should follow when writing a query letter.
• Why it’s important to follow the submission requirements exactly.
• Plus, Jeff shares his #1 tip for writers.

What I love about Jeff’s advice is that he approaches the query letter without a set “formula.” If you take only one piece of advice away from this podcast episode it’s that there is no “best practice” when it comes to query letters. The best practice is to write a great book and query in whatever way ultimately gets the agent to keep reading past the query and get to your pages.

Keep in mind that while a lot of Jeff’s advice can be applied universally, every agent has a different idea of what is important to them and what what parts of a query letter catch their eye. Make sure you know who you’re pitching and what they’re looking for. This will increase your odds of sparking that ideal agent’s interest.

Next, listen in while Jeff critiques some query letters for us!

You can follow along on the critiques by clicking these links and downloading a PDF of the queries we discussed.

• Query 1 – Fantasy
• Query 2 – Women’s Fiction
• Query 3 – Suspense

“Query letters are no time for non-essentials.” –Jeff Kleinman
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Link to Episode 35

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 35: Interview with Jeff Kleinman – Query Letter Critiques (Part 1) appeared first on DIY MFA.