“How to Write an Effective Selling Pitch for a Romance Novel” by Joan Y. Edwards

To write an effective selling pitch for a Romance Novel, choose the character in the romance situation that moves the story forward as your main character. Inara Scott says to be sure to tell the circumstances that throw the hero and heroine together and what keeps them apart. Regina Jeffers suggests that you show how the antagonist or the circumstances come close to defeating the heroine and hero before they finally come together.

Bob Mayer says a pitch is one sentence, the original idea in 25 words or less that causes an emotional reaction, an emotional response from a reader. He says the emotional hook is probably the idea that pushed you to write the book in the first place and convince you to sit down and write 50,000 words about it.

There’s more than one correct pitch for your book. Diane Holmes of Pitch University believes there are 100 right pitches and 1000 wrong pitches for your story.

Hilari Bell says to introduce a factor that makes your book different from all the other books similar to it. Give a fact that sounds interesting, that zings you.

Regina Jeffers suggests that you show how the antagonist or the circumstances come close to defeating the heroine and hero in a Romance novel before they finally come together.

Inara Scott says to tell the circumstances that throw the hero and heroine together and what keeps them apart.

Michael Ferris says in a one sentence pitch you highlight the love story and the historic and tragic setting.  You bait the readers with the mystery – what happens? How does it happen? Ferris says Never TELL the story. SELL the story.

1. Your Name. Title of book is a Romance Novel with (number of) words.
2. What makes this love story and these characters different from all the rest? What’s the zing? the shiver? the oh no?
3. What happens? How does it happen? What makes it bad? What circumstances or situation throws the hero and heroine together?
4. What antagonist, circumstances, or situation keeps them apart and puts them at the biting edge of defeat?
5. What does the heroine want and why? Why can’t she have it? What’s at stake if she loses?
6. What does the hero want and why? What can’t he have it? What’s at stake if he loses?
7. What is the heroine’s internal/emotional conflict and how does she solve it?
8. How is the hero’s internal/emotional conflict and how does he solve it?
9. How do the heroine and hero change? How changes enable them to stay together as a couple?
10. What universal lesson do they learn? What universal lesson does their story teach?

With all this information, you will be able to write an effective selling pitch for your romance novel. You can condense it into one sentence of 25 words. If you’re saying, “No way.” Try getting the number of words to 50 and two sentences. After your name, the title, genre, and number of words, you can have five sentences at the most. Kathleen Antrim says that the most effective pitches are 17 words. Go from 50 words, to 40 words, to 30 words, to 25 words, to 17 words. Do the best you can do.

Then share your pitch with your critique group. They will be able to make sure the “oomph,” they’ve read in your story is in your pitch.

When you are telling your pitch, you can begin with:

“What if…”

“One day…”

“This is a story about…”

I hope this helps you write a better selling pitch for your story. Let me know your favorite Romance novels.

Awesome References

1. Hilari Bell. “Scoring in the Elevator: All I know about writing a good two sentence pitch:” http://www.sfwa.org/members/bell/writingtips/spring09.html Be specific.
2. John Saul. http://www.johnsaul.com
3. Kate Kyle. “How to Pitch Romance Novel:” http://scribocin.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-pitch-romance-novel.html
4. Kathleen Antrim and Bob Mayer.Writer’s Digest.  “Learn How to Pitch Your Book:” http://www.writersdigestshop.com/learn-how-to-pitch-your-book
5. Michael Ferris. Final Draft. “Loglines and How to Get Your Script Ready by Strangers in the Industry.” http://www.scriptmag.com/features/loglines-and-you-how-to-get-your-script-read-by-strangers-in-the-industry
6. Regina Jeffers. “How to Pitch Your Romance Novel:” http://reginajeffers.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/how-to-pitch-your-romance-novel/

Thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate you very much.

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2012 Joan Y. Edwards