Can you boil the essence of your novel or non-fiction book idea into twenty-five words or less?
This is one of the keys to creating a marketing hook that makes your idea sellable in today’s crowded market.
You have less than a minute to make that hook work.
It is also called creating the “elevator pitch” or the “Hollywood pitch.” The goal is get the marketing department to exclaim, “We can sell that without any problem!” And ultimately to get a consumer to say, “I want that” or “I need that” or “I know someone who should have that.”
I recently came across a series of delightful web sites that takes this exercise to hilarious conclusions. Click through these links below and pick your favorite book, kids book, science fiction story, or movie and enjoy.
Let me know which one is your favorite. Then see if you can do the same, albeit in a more serious way, with your own idea. Then go pitch it to an agent or an editor!
A Book-A-Minute Bed Time Stories
A Book-A-Minute Science Fiction/Fantasy
No related posts.
These were hilarious! And the satirical sound bites captured the essence of the novels/movies, that’s what makes them brilliant. By far, my two favorites were:
-Beowulf
-Heir To the Empire by Timothy Zahn–but of course, I think Timothy Zahn is one of the best sci-fi authors alive, so I may be a little partial.
Thanks, Steve, priceless links!
Below is my twenty-three word pitch I used when shopping ROOMS. (Which I still use for radio, TV, and print interviews, describing it for potential readers, etc.)
A young Seattle software tycoon inherits a home on the Oregon coast that turns out to be a physical manifestation of his soul.
Jim
Becky – I have enjoyed all of Zahn’s books, especially his “Cobra” series (read it twice!). You have good taste.
Jim – That is a great pitch! And you make a great teaching point…the soundbite an author creates can become the media hook as well!
Steve
It’s funny, the Sci-Fi/Fantasy ones made me mad. I hated hearing my favorite books mocked.
But the movie ones all made me laugh, and I agreed with most of them, especially:
Romancing the Stone
Sleepless in Seattle
Die Hard
From Dusk Til Dawn
Reservoir Dogs
The Usual Suspects
Interview with the Vampire
(okay, okay, I’ll stop — but I found most of the movie ones funny, especially the action flicks… just goes to show how shallow they are….)
Hysterical! My favorite was Green Eggs & Ham. “I won’t eat green eggs and ham under any circumstances.” “Try it. ” “Yum.” Made my whole day!