A One-Two Sentence Summary (Premise)

Pitch what HappensDo not pitch a Theme   Examples of themes (what not to do):This book explores forgivenessThis book looks at the thin line between right and wrongThis book explores the meaning of independence, and asks if it’s really possible

WhatAbout 25-50 Words that Capture your NovelWhyTo Get Someone Interested in Reading your BookWhen to Use ItThe Start of a Query, Book Proposalor Anytime Someone Asks, “What’s your book about?”What It DoesA One-Sentence Summary Boils your Book Down into a Simple Statement Generating Interest in the Novel

What The Pitch should Include:                  → A character or two                  → Their choice, conflict, or goal                  → What’s at stake (may be implied)                  → Action that will get them to the goal                  → Setting (only if important, ala SciFi)

                              The Wizard of Oz – MovieWhen Dorothy rescues her dog Toto, they are transported to Oz, where she and her three companions must capture the wicked witch’s broom to return home(26 words)      Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. RowlingWhen a boy wizard begins training, he must battle for his life with the Dark Lord, who murdered his parents(20 Words)

How to Structure the One Sentence Summary   Two Sections: Before & After   “Before” begins with “when”Before presents Two RequirementsRepresents Initial Condition of Story1. Protagonist (Dorothy)2. What is the Protagonist Initially Trying to Do/their Goal(Project) at the Story Beginning (rescue Toto from being put to death by Ms Gulch)

“After”   Denoted by word “Then” – Stated or ImpliedThree Requirements   The Story Goal: Dorothy Returns Home   The Action They must Take to Accomplish that Goal: Get the Wicked Witch’s Broom   What are the Stakes (Stated or Implicit)Forever be Stranded in Oz (Implied)

The Wizard of Oz – MovieWhen Dorothy rescues her dog Toto, (then) they are transported to Oz, where she and her three companions must capture the wicked witch’s broom to return home(26 words)      Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. RowlingWhen a boy wizard begins training, (then) he must battle for his life with the Dark Lord, who murdered his parents(20 Words)

Tips:          → Keep it simple - One plotline, 1 or 2 characters          → Use the strongest nouns, verbs and adjectives          → Make the conflict clear                but you don’t have to hint at the solution

7 Tips for a Back Cover

1. Start with a Headline that Makes or Implies a Promise   Headlines have two simple goals: capture the attention of readers and drive them into your body copy. Simple headlines are usually the most enticing    Start with an action word and then state or imply a promise of what readers can expect to gain from your bookHere are a few examples.   Learn Newly Uncovered Secrets about JFK’s Murder   Discover How to Think and Grow Wealthy   Find Out What Drives Serial Killers to Act   Thought-provoking questions also grab readers.   Are you dying to know who wanted Marilyn Monroe dead?

2. Make your Copy “At-a-Glance” Friendly   If your headline draws readers in, don’t lose them by using large blocks of text to fill out your back cover Instead, make it “at-a-glance” friendly by employing a liberal use of headlines, subheads, short paragraphs and bullet points. This common sales writing technique creates a lot of open space around your copy, which visually makes it look fast and easy to read.

3. Choose the Right Voice Create a definite, confident voice for your back cover. Depending on topic, your writing should emanate compassion, authority, wisdom, insight, humor, suspense, intrigue, mystery, etc   Choose a voice for your back cover that matches your book and fuel it with emotion

4. Create a Powerful Rhythm   Think of the movie trailers you’ve seen for the films you love. They move at a steady rhythm and pace because their creators know they only have one minute to convince you to go watch a two hour movie   The same can be said for a back book cover. You’ve got one page to motivate people to read your entire book. After you’ve written your back cover copy, it should have a beat and pulse to it that you can snap your fingers to as you read it

5. Focus on What Your Book is About – Not on What Happens   It’s certainly acceptable to write about what happens in your book. However, focus your back cover much more on how readers will benefit from your bookWhat curiosity will you satisfy? What challenge will you help readers overcome? What itch are you going to scratch?What thirst will you quench for your audience? What inner desire or need are you going to meet?    Describe the human satisfaction and value readers will gain from reading your book. Take your writing to this level and your ability to motivate readers to buy increases dramatically

6. Stir up Human Emotions   The only marketing messages that really move usare ones that grip us on an emotional level   Always describe the benefits readers will derive from your book in emotional human-value terms

Think of it this way:    You don’t read a murder mystery to find out who did itYou read a murder mystery to stimulate your imagination and create a sense of intrigue and excitement within yourself   No matter what your book is about, your crowd will read it to fuel specific emotions within them.    Identify what those emotions are and use your back cover copy to stir them up

7. Leave Them Wanting More   Always conclude your back cover in a manner that leaves your readers begging for moreWet their beak. Tease them up. Give them the sizzle, but not the steak.    Conclude your back cover so Readers have No Choice but to flip through your table of contents as they’re reaching for their wallet