Definition
An elevator pitch is a short sales pitch (60 seconds) to sell your wonderful book idea to agents, publishers, or readers while riding the elevator with them.
Steps in the Pitch
- What your book is about in up to 50 words, the bare bones. Be able to say it in one breath.
- Fiction or memoir – capture the plot, what happens, and what the story is.
- Nonfiction (business, self-help, inspiration, how-to) – capture what the reader will learn from your main point.
- What is the context of the book.
- Fiction or memoir – what is the world of the story (time period, location).
- Nonfiction – cultural and philosophical content of the issue or problem you are helping the reader with.
- Why the reader should care about the book.
- Fiction or memoir – what the reader might feel about your book or the impact it might have on them.
- Nonfiction – explain what they will learn from your book.
- Make it snappy in your unique voice.
- Fiction or memoir – give a sense of your style.
- Nonfiction – show your style and a real sense for what you are offering.
Tips in Writing the Pitch
- Cut out unnecessary phrases, keep everything tight.
- Only include the most interesting part of your book – primary themes, character, and conflict.
- Have a compelling hook, what makes the reader want to read your story.
- Indicate stakes and sources of tension.
- Clearly know your target audience or market.
- Make it reducible to a single sentence.
Questions to Discover the Core of Your Pitch
- What makes your book different from other similar books?
- Know why buyers have historically purchased books like yours.
- Explain how your book is different from the others.
- What makes your book special?
- Communicate how your whatever genre book is different from others.
- What makes you, the author, weird, unique, or appealing?
- Knowing your uniqueness will help with your branding.
- Who is your book for?
- The pitch should change to accommodate different audiences, different age groups.
- What is the most interesting thing about your book?
- Choose the single most interesting point to focus on.
- Fiction – focus on the protagonist with one interesting challenge.
- Choose the single most interesting point to focus on.
- Is your pitch easy to understand and easy to repeat?
SOURCES:
5 Steps to Writing a Killer Elevator Pitch for Your Book – https://insights.bookbub.com/steps-to-writing-a-killer-elevator-pitch-for-your-book/
How to create an elevator pitch: Novel pitches that sell – https://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-create-a-novel-elevator-pitch/
How to Craft a Compelling Elevator Pitch for Your Book – https://www.authormedia.com/how-to-craft-a-compelling-elevator-pitch-for-your-book/