by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Attending a writers conference can be a stressful undertaking—even for a seasoned writer. A lot of writers have gravitated toward our profession because we’re not comfortable with crowds, especially crowds of strangers.

That’s why I’m posting this series on writing conferences. It’s not to add to your stress—but to alleviate it. For me, when I know what to expect and am prepared, I’m less anxious. No one likes to feel like they’re under the gun. I assume I’m not alone in this feeling.

So the first subject we’re going to tackle is the one that makes most writer’s stress levels spike off scale—pitching.

Over the years I’ve had people tell me they’re not worried about pitching—they’re just going to learn. Nice thought, but not always based in reality.

Let’s consider this scenario. You’re standing in line or sitting beside someone and they ask you what you’re writing. If you answer them, you’ve just delivered a type of pitch.

We don’t want to stress you out, but we do want you to be prepared for any appointments that God may have for you.

It’s important to keep in mind that everything you prepare for the conference to pitch a project is incremental in nature.

1. Your tag line or hook should make the editor or agent ask to hear more about your project (this is the time for the elevator pitch).
2. The elevator pitch should lead them to ask for your one sheet.
3. Your one sheet or pitch sheet should lead them to ask you to send them a proposal when you get home.
4. Your proposal should lead them to ask you to send them your entire manuscript.
5. Your entire manuscript should lead them to offer you a contract.

These are the generic steps in publishing. God can step in at any time in the process and something completely different can, and often does, happen. But, until that happens, I try to take it one step at a time.

• tag line or hook – this is one sentence, preferably 15 words or less. It should NOT be a synopsis of your book, but rather it’s to intrigue the editor/agent and make them want to know more.
• elevator pitch – this should be short, around 45 seconds. It will sound a lot like back cover copy or what is on your one sheet. Again, it’s to make the editor/agent ask to see more.
• one sheet or pitch sheet – this gives the blurb about your book, information about yourself (bio) and general info, like genre and audience for your project. If it’s fiction, it states that the project is finished. If it’s non-fiction it gives a completion date if the project is unfinished.

So Back to the Pitch

The idea behind a pitch is to get the person you’re talking with to ask for more. It’s a simple concept, but harder to execute. So here are some of the do’s and don’ts of pitching.

Do

• Set up an intriguing scenario.
• Introduce your main character.
• Give a hint about their situation and goal.
• Tie in the disaster or obstacle to that goal.

Don’t

• Go over two sentences—try to keep it to one sentence.
• Answer all the questions the listener might have.
• Substitute cleverness for specifics.
• Give away the ending.

Now, here are some real life hooks or tag lines from popular movies. I’d love to read some of your favorites as well.

“She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.” —Erin Brokovich

“To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman.” —Silence of the Lambs

“What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew was the only someone for you?” —Sleepless in Seattle 1993

“A businessman falls in love with a hooker he hires to be his date for the weekend” —Pretty Woman

 “When you can live forever, what do you live for?” —Twilight

 “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.” —Jaws 2

 “In space, no one can hear you scream.” —Alien 

Now it’s your turn to chime in. Do you have any questions or is anyone brave enough to try their pitch out here?

I’ll get the ball rolling with the pitch for my new science fiction, ALONE. (And yes, I sold this book because of pitching at a conference):

“A young woman has grown up expecting to die for her faith, but when her world is invaded by a race of giants, she has to decide if she’s willing to live for it.”