THE HIGH CONCEPT PITCH

The last of the pitches, and the hardest, IMO. THE HIGH CONCEPT PITCH.

It's quick and catchy like the ELEVATOR PITCH but without ICONS. This pitch is really a play on words. Like a movie TAGLINE.

This needs to intrigue more than anything else. Entice. Force the person to pick up your book just to see what it's about.

Here are some iconic examples.

When you can live forever, what do you live for? TWILIGHT

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water. JAWS 2

In space, no one can hear you scream. ALIEN

Love means never having to say you're sorry. LOVE STORY

HERE IS MINE:

Lost love found along the Jersey Shore. BY GRACE ALONE

Can you create one for your novel? Recreate one for a favorite book or movie?

*Check out CJ Lyons' Website. These posts were inspired by what I learned in her query course.
http://cjlyons.net/extras/for-writers-2/

PREMISE PITCH

MY BOY COLE HAMELS. MAN CAN HE PITCH. AND HE'S HOT. HA CHA CHA!

HE'S THE PERFECT PITCH

But I digress. The PREMISE PITCH  is another way to hook someone, agents and editors to be precise, on the PREMISE of your book. According to CJ Lyons, the inspiration for these posts, it should be no more than 25 words.

It describes your plot, intrigues the readers, and gives off some sort of emotional tug. Movie summaries are great examples. You know, when you press info and that little blurb comes up.

No character names here. It's short and to the point and must leave the reader, agent, or whoever, needing to know more about your story.

Remember, these are ideas for writing conferences and events. We went over the elevator pitch yesterday. These are tools for you to have in your asrenal. When and where to use them is for you to figure out.

TWLIGHT:

The new girl in school is befriended by a hunk.  He’s a vampire, who wants to kiss and eat her at the same time.

My PREMISE PITCH for BY GRACE ALONE:

His wife left him and their son. Her husband died and she's pregnant. Can these childhood friends and first loves rekindle more than their friendship?

What do you have for me? I want to see your pitches.

ELEVATOR PITCHES

To all aspiring scribes. I am breaking down the pitch tonight.

Imagine you are in the elevator at a conference or writing event. In walks your DREAM AGENT. *GULP* You have about ten seconds to pitch. And it better be good.

If you get the chance to corner a literary agent you only have a short window to sell your story. I took a query course recently, with NYT Bestseller CJ Lyons. Great class. Here is what I learned.

ELEVATOR PITCH: Quick. Easy. Memorable. This is not a summary of your entire book but what type of read it will be. Uses pop culture references/universal images.

The DaVinci Code: Indiana Jones meets Murder She Wrote.
Twilight:  Beverly Hills 90210 meets True Blood
A Walk to Remember:  Terms of Endearment meets Grease

For my first MS:
By Grace Alone: The Notebook meets Brothers & Sisters

What do you have for your novel? Let's see what ya got and chat about it. You just might get an agent with the perfect pitch.