This session was packed with actionable feedback on real queries and manuscript pages. Ivan shared what immediately grabs his attention in the inbox—and what makes him hit reject. Whatever your genre or age group, you’ll find concrete strategies to strengthen your submissions.
Inside This Workshop:
- The 3-Line Rule for Query Letters – Why agents decide in seconds and how to hook them immediately
- Character vs. Plot: Getting Your Category Right – The crucial difference between querying YA versus middle grade
- Dragon Graphic Novels & Market Trends – What editors are actively seeking right now, through Ivan’s POV
- Age Range Shifts in the Market – Why 13-14-year-old protagonists now fall into lower YA, not middle grade
- Targeting Agents Strategically – How to research effectively and avoid the “doesn’t fit my portfolio” response
- Live Feedback on Real Submissions – See exactly what worked (and what needed adjustment) in actual queries and opening pages
Ivan’s feedback was incredibly specific, and writers left with clear next steps. Plus, Julie’s dramatic reading of a picture book manuscript was absolutely delightful!
Keep writing, keep revising, and know we’re cheering you on.
All best,
Jessica, Julie, and The Manuscript Academy Team
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About the Instructor
Ivan Taurisano
Ivan Taurisano was born in Rome, Italy, and moved to the United States a decade ago to pursue a children’s book publishing career. The guiding principle of his work is that a child whose life is changed by a book will always be a step closer to becoming an adult who will change the world. Ivan’s all-time favorite book is James and the Giant Peach, and his best friend is a chihuahua named Bilbo.
Ivan has a BA in English and Creative Writing, an MA in Children’s Literature, and an MFA in Writing for Children. He started his career at Sourcebooks as an Editorial Assistant, then moved on to become an Assistant Editor. His responsibilities included developing children’s board books, picture books, and graphic novels, as well as acquiring board books and picture books. As Associate Editor, Entertainment Publishing and Content Development at Abrams, Ivan has worked on all formats and partnered with many successful series and brands, including How to Catch, Little Heroes Big Hearts, Sesame Street, Disney, Tokidoki, and Pokémon.
Currently, Ivan lives in New York and works at Macmillan, First Second Books as an Associate Editor. In this role, he focuses on children’s and YA graphic novels.
Ivan is interested in plot-driven, action-packed adventures with a strong commercial hook, compelling characters, magic, quests/competitions, and high stakes. He prefers strong commercial hooks, well-plotted, character-driven, atmospheric stories, and series potential. He loves fantasy, magic, and quests/competitions. He likes unique, morally grey characters, memorable villains, and propulsive, cinematic writing.
Ivan is not the best fit for nonfiction, retellings, historical fiction, biographies, and novels in verse.