Pitch paragraphs & back cover copy
I know, I know, I was supposed to do Part 2 of "How I Plot a Novel." I promise to do that on Monday. My agent, Kristin Nelson, has an awesome blog with priceless publishing industry tidbits and insights. Her blog on Wednesday really helped me out, and it just might do the same for all of you aspiring authors out there.
She's at Denvercon right now and was on a panel on how to create the perfect pitch paragraph. Kristin said that fellow panelist Jacqueline Lichtenberg (author and reviewer) suggested that aspiring authors (and it applies to published authors as well) write their pitch paragraph BEFORE writing the book. Here's Kristin's complete post.
But for the "time challenged," here's Jacqueline's pearls of wisdom as quoted from Kristin's Wednesday blog entry:
"From her position as reviewer, Jacqueline recommended that aspiring writers not wait to write their pitch paragraphs or what they would consider their own back cover copy for their novels. She suggested doing that even before the novel is complete. Even, dare I say it, before the novel gets written! If you can write good back cover copy for the novel you have in mind, your writing will be forced to live up to the copy you've created. I think this is a great idea -- especially for writers who are kicking around several ideas and are contemplating which idea to pursue in terms of writing a novel. Write the back cover copy (in the way it would look if the novel were actually be published) and that alone will force you to focus on that essential plot catalyst that will drive your story forward and force you to focus the novel."
What a fabulous idea! I am definitely going to do this for Bewitched & Betrayed. I think it'll help me narrow my focus on what the story is REALLY about. Because if you don't know the core of your book, you're gonna run into big trouble later on while writing it. You'll end up with scenes and chapters, but no plot/story to speak of. I speak from painful personal experience on this one. ; )
Coming up tomorrow: The Saturday Fun Pic.
Coming up on Monday: Part 2 of "How I plot a book" -- what I do with the "bits & pieces"
TGIF!
Lisa
She's at Denvercon right now and was on a panel on how to create the perfect pitch paragraph. Kristin said that fellow panelist Jacqueline Lichtenberg (author and reviewer) suggested that aspiring authors (and it applies to published authors as well) write their pitch paragraph BEFORE writing the book. Here's Kristin's complete post.
But for the "time challenged," here's Jacqueline's pearls of wisdom as quoted from Kristin's Wednesday blog entry:
"From her position as reviewer, Jacqueline recommended that aspiring writers not wait to write their pitch paragraphs or what they would consider their own back cover copy for their novels. She suggested doing that even before the novel is complete. Even, dare I say it, before the novel gets written! If you can write good back cover copy for the novel you have in mind, your writing will be forced to live up to the copy you've created. I think this is a great idea -- especially for writers who are kicking around several ideas and are contemplating which idea to pursue in terms of writing a novel. Write the back cover copy (in the way it would look if the novel were actually be published) and that alone will force you to focus on that essential plot catalyst that will drive your story forward and force you to focus the novel."
What a fabulous idea! I am definitely going to do this for Bewitched & Betrayed. I think it'll help me narrow my focus on what the story is REALLY about. Because if you don't know the core of your book, you're gonna run into big trouble later on while writing it. You'll end up with scenes and chapters, but no plot/story to speak of. I speak from painful personal experience on this one. ; )
Coming up tomorrow: The Saturday Fun Pic.
Coming up on Monday: Part 2 of "How I plot a book" -- what I do with the "bits & pieces"
TGIF!
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
7:45 AM
2 Comments:
I actually do this. I have one sentence Publishers Marketplace-style blurbs on all my unwritten novels, and before I got started with Starcaster, I already had my hook. It did help me focus on a very twisty plot. Hopefully, it will help even more come query time!
I'm thinking that it'll really help me out with Bewitched & Betrayed -- the plot for that one is complex to say the least.
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