Postcard Pitch

Postcard Pitch

One of the hardest things for me about being a writer is trying to describe my stories to other people. Luckily, there are a lot of online resources to help writers create a short summary, or pitch, out of the myriad details of a novel.

For this swap, we will distill our NaNoWriMo project down to a one sentence summary, put it on a postcard, and send it to our partners. If you really need an extra sentence or two, go ahead, but do try to make it as short as you can.

A one sentence summary is not about the theme of your book but about what actually happens. It should include things like a character or two, the goal, and the conflict. Here are some details I found on a blog by Rachelle Gardner:

Everything between the lines is from the Rachelle Gardner blog. I can't get blockquotes to format correctly. Sigh. -NServiam

What it does: A one-sentence summary takes your complex book with multiple characters and plotlines and boils it down into a simple statement that can be quickly conveyed and understood, and generates interest in the book.

What it should include:
→ A character or two
→ Their choice, conflict, or goal
→ What’s at stake (may be implied)
→ Action that will get them to the goal
→ Setting (if important)

Tips:
→ Keep it simple. One plotline, 1 or 2 characters.
→ Use the strongest nouns, verbs and adjectives.
→ Make the conflict clear but you don’t have to hint at the solution.

In your one-sentence summary, try not to pitch a theme. Pitch what happens.

Examples of themes (what not to do):
This book explores forgiveness.
This book looks at the thin line between right and wrong.
This book explores the meaning of independence, and asks if it’s really possible.

Here is Nathan Bransford’s simplified formula for a one-sentence pitch: “When [opening conflict] happens to [character(s)], they must [overcome conflict] to [complete their quest].”

An example:
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
A boy wizard begins training and must battle for his life with the Dark Lord who murdered his parents. (Thanks Randy Ingermanson for this one.)

Here are a few online sources for more information:

http://blog.karenwoodward.org/2013/01/the-starburst-method-summarizing-your.html https://susanleighnoble.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/testing-your-plot-with-a-one-sentence-summary/
http://www.rachellegardner.com/writing-a-one-sentence-summary/

And one just for fun summarizing popular movies and books:
http://1sent.tumblr.com/

Summary:
Create a one sentence summary or pitch of your writing project, put it on a postcard, and send it to two partners.