 | << Hope Roberson recently wrote a "Best of the Best" post which focused on the art of writing pitches and loglines. In that post she talked about how whenever somebody asks her what her story's about, she gets all incoherent and "um, blah" (I paraphrased). Her point was that, surely since she wrote the story, she should be the one who knows it best, and should be able to easily summarise what it's about. But she has troubles with doing so. |
I think many of us can relate to that! For me, reading her post reminded me that I've always struggled with writing queries. Maybe her post wasn't really about queries, but still, for me it's a similar deal. I wrote a successful logline once, and it garnered some serious agent interest. But queries are a different matter altogether. Sometimes it's like you've got too much space in which to ramble on, and so you end up doing just that - rambling.
But one thing I realised back when I was attempting to write queries was that...I don't actually understand my own story as well as I thought I did. The example was DAPHNE, which is the first novel I ever started other than my epic fantasy of doom that shall not be named (except it's called RAGEWATER). As I was attempting to write queries for DAPHNE, and getting seriously in-depth critique at Absolute Write, I realised I don't even know the core of what my story's about! I'd really thought I did, but the more I tried to summarise the story, the more obvious it became that I didn't.
Suffice it to say, I've stopped attempting to write queries for the time being. My novels need to actually become what they're meant to be before I can try to write a summary of what they are.
Have you mastered the art of the pitch/logline/query?
No. And.... No.
ReplyDeleteI like to think that once that happens I'll be published.
Nope, definitely not yet. I am trying, but when I try to describe my book to someone else... things just get kinda jumbled!
ReplyDeleteI love the last bit..."My novels need to actually become what they're meant to be before I can try to write a summary of what they are." I totally agree. It seems like all my friends are in such a hurry, but in the grand scheme of things, they are just barely learning their craft.
ReplyDeleteWhat helped me was to have a series of books I've read and in a list go through one by one and take one-two seconds to write down a one sentence pitch of what the story was about. Then among the brilliant books I add mine and without thought...bam. Not sure if it works. The jury is still out on that one. =)
ReplyDeleteCool idea. Was it easier to capture your book when you did this?
DeleteNO! I wish I could pass the buck, phone a friend and ask them to write it the query/pitch for me. I think because we know the whole story it's hard to condense it down to what the agent/publisher would find interesting...
ReplyDeletehmmm.
Yep, for me the query is the hardest part. I have all the answers until I sit down to put it is about 250 words or less.
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on it.
........dhole
quick answer, no.
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I don't give advice on ;)
Nope. I haven't even begun. But I will have to start practicing soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteI haven't written my first query yet and I am terrified of that day! But like you - my novels need to become what they will become first :)
ReplyDeleteTrisha, thanks for sharing the link to Hope's blog.
ReplyDeleteI've practiced writing a query, and it went "okay," but since I'm not at that point yet, I'm not stressing. However, summing up my ms in an elevator pitch is a skill I've yet to develop. Just last night I had another opportunity to stumble over my words... *groan*
I got pretty good at writing queries, and now actually enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteEven though I have an agent, I still have to write a query-like letter for each of my projects so she has something to build off of when she puts my story on sub.
ALSO - this is SO SO SO SO helpful. WRITE YOUR QUERY BEFORE YOU FINISH YOUR BOOK!!
I often write a query after I have the original idea and get a few thousand words down. It helps me stay focused on what my story is about. If I wander form that, it's fine, as long as I'm aware.
This is good advice. I've noticed that writing a query or synopsis can sometimes zero in on problems in structure, plot or theme more easily because you're looking at the story from a big picture perspective. Makes it a good exercise to do between, say, first or second draft and the next round of revisions.
Delete@Jolene - that WOULD work, except I'm a pantser and often don't know what I'm going to write till I've written it. I guess that may have something to do with what my whole problem is, right? haha
ReplyDeleteI haven't mastered it, but I haven't really been trying it yet. I still need to finish something.
ReplyDeleteLee
Have you heard about the A to Z Video Challenge?
Blogging from A to Z
Oh man. I just read the word "query" and instantly my nerves get going, my stomach ties in a knot and I can barely remember my own name. Those things are so dang hard to write! And honestly, I don't think it ever gets "easier."
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for realizing that you needed to know your story better. I am dreading the next time I need to write that query... but I am still a little ways off ;)
I had a go at this in 2010, but haven't tried it recently. I'm going to tackle it when the time comes. I guess it helps to brainstorm with someone else what they think your book's message is about because what you intend when you write it and what people get from it aren't always the same i beleive. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI know EXACTLY how this feels! I think it's why "they" say that it's a good idea to write out an entire synopsis BEFORE you write the novel - otherwise you may never really know what your point is... As someone who writes mainly by "pantsing" though, I find that really tough. Can't the point of our stories just be to entertain other people?!
ReplyDeleteNope. I tried writing a pitch once, but never attempted it again. :P
ReplyDeleteI much prefer pitching in person (probably a consequence of my corporate days) so my challenge for this year will be writing a pitch that works by itself :)
ReplyDeleteThat's my trouble too! I can't write a thing when it comes to summarising my story in a few lines. The best line from my query comes from a friend on the Compuserve Writers' Forum - she saw right through to the heart of the romance, as it were :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's my alltime most feared/despised question ever. Ugh. Puts me on pins and needles. Too bad I can't type up something along the lines of "My story is words on a page, and you should definitely read it and love it. Sincerely, Jessica." Somehow I don't think that would ever work. Even short stories, which should technically be easy to summarize/explain...bleh!
ReplyDeleteI have a summary of what I am working on in a document waiting to be sent out. Except that every time I look it over, I feel like I could/should say more but then can't decide what to add without making it go on and on and on... I know what you mean! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me the different techniques that people have here, how we all do things so differently. Like you, I could never possibly write a synopsis before I have written the book, simply because my books write themselves, as it were, one or two random words leading to the next, one sentence making light bulbs switch on as I soar, and before I know it a new world is created and conflict and resolution hitching a ride along the way - I personally call it ad lib writing, I then go back in and edit, make sure the formula is all there, which takes way longer.
ReplyDeleteI think it is normal though, for many a writer to become jumbled in trying to explain their book in person, for some verbal eloquence can be awkward, articulation coming through their fingers more so, no pressure.
Having finished editing my amateur self from six years ago, a massive project where there are actually about ten main characters with individual story lines and that was always difficult for me to summarise, it has been amazing for my editing skills, and as such that has translated into me being able to reduce all of what I tried to say before - sometimes in two pages even, into one sentence only - at least to get the point across; I can go more in-depth thereafter if necessary. eg;
Talking flowers, an invisible castle, new breeds of aliens and an array of finely nuanced characters living in an otherwise normal world travel between three time periods, each with their personal life agenda as they get caught up in the time travelling, inter-dimensional adventure of one family's ancient curse.
I feel this gets across the essence without getting into the storyline. This is also kind of easy to memorise when you are asked that question, what's your book about? I have used this, and another short synopsis for another of my novels: eg
A teenage boy encounters whom he thinks to be his older self in a Scottish country mansion. Overnight and with his hormones in overdrive, he must decipher an ancient Mayan game and a mysterious globe if he wants to survive the weekend.
So I memorise how I market them, and in doing so, when answering that question, the person that asked seems impressed that you delivered it with confidence and knowledge, any questions thereafter simple to answer; you've been put at ease and can talk like a normal person. If you stumble you can see in people's faces that they have lost interest and are not taking you seriously.
So I would say, encapsulate the essence of your story briefly and memorise it, immediately answering the next time someone asks that question. It works.
You've clearly hit on a topic that resonates for so many of us. At my weekly critique group today, one of our members brought her query and synopsis. I've read the whole book and the third member of our group doesn't know the story at all because she's newer to the group. It was fascinating to have both of these perspectives as we looked at our friend's query/synopsis. The one writer was able to comment on what intrigued her and made her want to read more, while I was able to pinpoint what was missing and should be there versus what had been included and wasn't as important.
ReplyDeleteOh my, oh my, oh my! How did I miss this? THANK YOU a million bazillion times:) I've never been on someone's blog before like this, oh I could cry, you're too kind :) Aaaah, you just made my day, my week, probably my month, who knows, THANK YOU and I wish I saw this when you posted it so I could have thanked you right away!
ReplyDeleteHaha, you're welcome Hope. Sorry, I don't think I let you know I had posted a post inspired by you, did I?? Next time I will try to remember to :)
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