Can you sum up the book you've written in ten words or fewer? If not, it’s really worth having a go. Because, these days, you need to approach the promotion of your book with the same attitude as those who work hard on their ‘elevator pitch’ that is common in the film industry. They know they’ll only get one shot at it, so they need to get it right first time.
It may seem reductionist, but this is what agents, publishers and booksellers are after. Whether they like a book or not – even whether they think it is any good or not – is nowhere near as relevant as whether they think they can sell it. And to be able to sell it they want the sales pitch drilled down to just those ten words (or fewer).
Everyone’s in a hurry it would seem, and sadly the world of book publishing is no different. From headline grabbers, online reviews or summaries, to the restrictions of social media and texting character limits, short is definitely sweet.
But rather than despair, authors can use this to their advantage. You’re a writer, so you’re good with words for a start! And as any good editor will tell you, less is definitely more.
Approach the task as if you were compiling revision notes – reduce the key points down, then reduce down further, and then again, until only the core remains. Distil the essence of your novel – what is it about, or what is its unique selling proposition (USP) if you like? How would you categorise your book? Or if it’s not easy to put into a certain genre, what are the key themes of the novel? What do you want readers to take away from the book above all?
It’s worth testing out your elevator pitch on a few willing ‘victims’ – both those who have read your book and those who haven’t (does it make them want to read it now?). Use their feedback to hone your pitch so it’s as good as it can be.
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Frustrated authors who have a whole file of rejection letters may well cite the literary agents and publishers who turn down work on a regular basis as the blockage.
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