2. It’s a way to capture the attention of
an editor, agent, or publisher quickly.
It is NOT a query.
It is not a synopsis.
It is a very short (25 words or less)
description of the premise of your
work.
3. Here’s the scenario:
You’re here at EPICon and find yourself
in an elevator with a publisher or editor
you think might be interested in your
book. You have two floors to tell that
person about it. What do you say?
4. Have a quick, condensed tagline of your
book memorized.
Oftentimes an agent or editor will ask,
“What’s your book about? It takes some
serious work to get the bare bones down in
twenty-five words or less, but once you do it,
you’ll be very happy you did so.
Terry Brooks
5. Always be prepared for the fleeting opportunity to tell an
industry professional about your book.
PLAN AHEAD!
Write your pitch; polish it; memorize it.
Write your pitch as early as possible, BEFORE you finish
your manuscript, but don’t pitch it until your book is
finished.
If you can’t reduce the arc of your book to one or two
sentences, you don’t have a book or you don’t know what
it’s about.
Once your pitch is as polished as you can make it,
practice reciting it aloud.
6. You’ve written your book. You know what it’s
about, so why is a pitch necessary?
Each year, thousands and thousands of new
book titles are published. It’s your job as an
author to make yours stand out.
One way is by coming up with a short
description of your book that summarizes
the plot and leaves a listener wanting more.
7. Writing the book is the easy part. Once it’s finished,
the hard work of finding a publisher to publish it
starts.
And even that isn’t the end. Once it’s accepted for
publication, the marketing starts and continues
thereafter.
Unless you are a famous TV personality, sports star,
or the latest news darling, your publisher has neither
the personnel, money, nor time to do much publicity
for you. It’s your job.
8. It summarizes the entire story
It may introduce an interesting
character
It may define what the character has
at stake
It may describe an interesting
situation or place
9. 1. Thou shalt know thy audience. (i.e., who
are you trying to reach?)
2. Thou shalt understand who they reach and
what their needs are.
3. Thou shalt be precise and concise with thy
pitch.
4. Thou shalt be prepared to be available.
5. Thou shalt be satisfied with singles and
doubles, rather than expecting to hit home
runs.
10. 6. Thou shalt not pitch “angles.”
7. Thou shalt not make a promise of
exclusivity unless you intend to abide by it.
8. Thou shalt not present false or
misleading information in thy pitch.
9. Thou shalt not expect the results to be
tailored to thy specifications.
10. Thou shalt not pout if the answer is
“no.” (i.e., “Sorry, but we’re not interested.”)
Adapted from an article by Mark Dodosh
11. If the editor/publisher is interested, be
prepared with follow-up comments and
elaboration. But don’t waste time reciting
every scene!
Respect the hearer’s time.
Know your goals for the project. Know your
target audience, target genre, etc.
Is this part of a series? A summer read? A
holiday book?
12. What is your business plan?
How do you intend to market it?
Do you have a website, Twitter feed,
Facebook page, blog, etc.?
13. Even if you are as-yet unpublished, be sure to
carry and distribute business cards.
Make a note on the back of the title of your new
work so the editor/publisher will better remember
it.
If you have previously-published books, always
carry printed material about them.
Editors and publishers, particularly at
conferences, meet lots of people. Make yourself
stand out.
14. What if four little guys go on a
dangerous quest to destroy a
stolen ring?
Lord of the Rings
15 Words
15. What if a matchmaking young
woman focuses on her friends but
misses her own perfect match who
has been there all along?
Emma
22 Words
16. Use a clear statement of the plot or a
question to grab the reader’s attention
and prompt the response:
“Tell me more.”
17. What if a young girl lands in a
surreal world, kills the first person
she meets, and then unites with
three others to kill again?
The Wizard of Oz
25 words but it’s misleading
18. A farm girl lands in a surreal world,
incurring the wrath of an evil witch.
A scarecrow, woodsman, and lion
help her get home.
The Wizard of Oz
24 words
19. What if a young girl lands in a
surreal world, accidently kills the
first person she meets, and then
joins three others to kill again?
The Wizard of Oz
25 words but it’s misleading
20. A tornado blows Dorothy to Qz
where she must fight a witch and
seek a wizard who has the power to
send her home.
The Wizard of Oz
24 words – Thank you Debra Dixon
21. Near the end of his sixty-ninth year,
Acjachemen Indian, Tomás Romero,
born in 1820 in San Juan Capistrano,
recalls the events of his life.
The Memory Keeper
23 Words
22. Unless you can reduce your book to 25
words or less, unless you can impress an
agent or editors in less than 20 seconds
with your pitch, the chances of finding a
publisher for your book are low.
Sam Horn
Author of Tongue Fu, Pop, Take the Bully by the Horns,
Con Zen Trate and featured speaker at Maui Writers
Conference
