Craft Articles from the Study Hall
The Pits of Pitching Hell
by Kira Sinclair
You’ve signed up to give a pitch to Brenda in June, or at the national conference in San
Francisco. And now you’re panicking because you have no idea what to do next. The first thing
to do is to take a deep breath. And follow these simple steps.
1. Research the editor/agent you’re pitching to. This is the
most important rule of pitching! If you don’t do anything
else, make sure you do this. There is no reason to pitch an
inspirational book to Brenda just like there’s no reason to
pitch a self help book to an agent who only represents
fiction. You must know that the person you’re pitching to
is interested in buying/representing what you have to offer
otherwise you’re wasting not only your time but theirs.
That’s not a very good way to make friends and influence
people.
2. Don’t take up the entire 5 or 10 minute slot with your book blurb. Your actual pitch should
take no more than 2 or 3 minutes. It should be similar to the blurb that you would include in a
query letter or the cover copy you’d see on the back of a novel.
You can take in notes – I recommend note cards.
3. Open with your hook or high concept.
Hooks:
- Cowboy
- Marriage of Convenience
- Woman in jeopardy
High Concept:
- Basic Instinct meets The Bodyguard
4. Description of your characters – not necessarily their names but WHO they are. What makes
them different and sets them apart?
- Occupation
- Characteristics
- Description
5. Goal, Motivation and Conflict – you can weave the who into this statement :
Your characters wants ________ because ________ but can’t have it because ________.
A by the rules Air Force Public Relations Officer will stop at nothing to succeed in her
high profile career because she craves the approval of her Major General Father. But if he ever
finds out that she accidentally married the hot shot pilot he’s never liked she’ll lose his
respect...not to mention her career.
6. Plot turning points – NOT everything! The most important things.
- The inciting incident
- The black moment
7. Tying it all together
- Tying in the title
- Closing with a question – never in a synopsis but it can work in a blurb. A synopsis is to tell the editor/agent that you have followed through on the idea and can sustain the story through the length of an entire book. A pitch is designed to grab their attention and make them ask for more.
8. After the pitch wait for the editor/agent to ask you questions about the story. Be sure to have
answers prepared.
- Character goals, motivations, conflict – be able to go into more detail
- External forces
- Sub plots
- What books have you read lately in the genre/line you’re pitching for?
- What authors do you think your voice most resembles?
- What publisher/house do you see your book fitting well with?
- Be prepared for just about anything. Have additional pitches ready just in case the editor/agent asks if you have anything else available.
9. Be prepared to ask the editor questions of your own – about her line, her job, her likes/dislikes, anything that makes you sound intelligent and informed.
10. When you’re finished be gracious and appreciative whether the editor/agent asked to see
more of your work or not. This business is small and a bad reputation can get around faster than
the latest viral video.
Kira Sinclair knows firsthand the ups and downs of pitching. She sold her first novel, Whispers
in the Dark an August 2008 Harlequin Blaze release, from a pitch session. |
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