In which I discuss Willy Wonka's tunnel of terror, transformation, book diamonds of the season, and the fun house doorways of pitching your (future) book + a prompt from Sara Moore Wagner
But why does it seem so hard to answer the question, “What is your book about?” Or to come up with the pitch? Are we (am I) afraid to get it wrong? For people to be sorry they asked?
I think of pitches as the ultimate form of try, try again. Sometimes I don't get it quite right the first time (a lot! mostly!) and since so many audiences want so many different things, it has to be a malleable document--a living document. That endless revising is both scary and fearless. It isn't static, but you know it's going to take work. The people who NEED your book and your work will connect with it, so you're doing good if you're trying. <3 THAT is my two cents. Also, aboutness is so relative! My dad and I can read the exact same book, one I love and one he's like ... but I just don't "get it?" So, whatever you love about your book--that's the aboutness. That's the story you should choose to tell in the pitch!
But why does it seem so hard to answer the question, “What is your book about?” Or to come up with the pitch? Are we (am I) afraid to get it wrong? For people to be sorry they asked?
I think of pitches as the ultimate form of try, try again. Sometimes I don't get it quite right the first time (a lot! mostly!) and since so many audiences want so many different things, it has to be a malleable document--a living document. That endless revising is both scary and fearless. It isn't static, but you know it's going to take work. The people who NEED your book and your work will connect with it, so you're doing good if you're trying. <3 THAT is my two cents. Also, aboutness is so relative! My dad and I can read the exact same book, one I love and one he's like ... but I just don't "get it?" So, whatever you love about your book--that's the aboutness. That's the story you should choose to tell in the pitch!
Thanks, Cassie!
Cassie! I read this to procrastinate--and it turned out to be so helpful! (of course!)
I'm so glad, Nancy! I read all the newsletters to procrastinate HA. I'm like UHHHH saving this for later when I don't want to work.