If I can’t pitch a story
in one short sentence,
I don’t write it.
Why?
Because I know
I won’t be able to sell it
to publishers, editors, readers.
Reducing a 400 page novel
to 7 or 8 words
is challenging
but it brings clarity to the project.
Diane von Furstenberg,
fashion designer,
shares
“I think the most important thing
is to believe in what you do.
And identifying a goal,
to have clarity,
is very important.
You cannot fake clarity.
When you don’t have clarity,
you don’t.”
Can you sell your product
in one sentence?
Would you mind presenting a few of your summaries? How much variety is there in 7-word book summaries?
Sure.
Here are some…
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers. <– clearly a cyborg romance
Can XXX make one night with her rebel billionaire last a lifetime? <–one night denotes a forbidden romance
Billionaire XXX doesn’t mix business with pleasure. Until Now. <– again this denotes ‘forbidden’ which is a common trope in romance
This job and this man are mine. <– fun and games at a job interview, workplace is another hot trope
These are taglines or loglines.
Think of how movies are sold with one great line on posters.
My taglines appear on my covers.
Often when writers advertise, the cover is ALL that is advertised so it has to really work.
Fantastic, thank you!