The Self-Published American

If you’ve spent any time with me on the phone or in person, you know I’m very likely to ask you what your elevator pitch is for you book.  It’s one of the most important marketing tools you’ll ever develop, but chances are you’ll spend the least amount of time on it.  It’s crucial that you are able to tell people what your book is about in a very clear and concise manner.  If you stumble and ramble through a long pitch that includes of lot of “ummms” and say things like “Oh, and then this happens,” then you’re going to lose a reader.  Get it down.  Practice it.   Do it in stages.  Summeraize your book in three pages.  Then cut it down to one.  Then three paragraphs.  Then one paragraph.  And finally, come up with a one sentence description of your book.  It will be one of the hardest things you’ll do, but I promise you, you’re going to see your book in a whole new light, and you’re going to be much more confident the next time someone asks you what your book is about.  Here’s the one paragraph description of my book the Takers:

The Takers is a young adult horror novel that features 13-year-old Oz Griffin who wakes up from a high fever only to discover that the world has ended and he is responsible.  Together with a band of survivors that includes a talking gorilla, a middle-aged mechanic and former professional football player, Oz uncovers the secret to bringing the world back, but doing so may lead to an even more horrific outcome. 

Here’s my one sentence description:

The Takers is about 13-year-old boy who discovers he is reponsible for the end of the world.   

Do you know everything about my book after reading these descriptions?  No, but hopefully I’ve made you think.  The pitch should raise an eyebrow not bore you to tears. 

Check out this youtube clip I found.  It features several authors giving their best elevator pitches.  Some are better than others.  One is entirely too long and gives way too much information.  I’ll let you decide which one.