Extract of Book, 1 tbsp.

[rj_anderson]

Some recent discussions in superversive's journal, plus an essay by alg about how to successfully pitch a novel to an agent or editor, got me thinking about a problem I've been struggling with for some time. To wit, what is the proper answer to give when relatives, casual friends, and just-met acquaintances ask you, "So what is your book about

Comments

[rj_anderson]

So how did you manage it? Any tips?

[kizmet_42]

Go take a look at http://www.misssnark.blogspot.com and search for the Crapometer entries. There are 100 of them from just this month, so you'll find them quickly.

I learned a lot from her snarkilious comments.

[kerravonsen]

I agree that "It's about fairies who've lost their magic" is a good start -- because (a) it is one of the central dilemmas of the plot and (b) it tells people that these aren't Tinkerbell-type fairies.

[pbristow]

Oh yeah, I hate summarising things I'm close to. There's always the brute-force advertising-speak solution. If it helps, you can practice the following technique a couple of times on some of your favourite TV shows before trying it on "Knife".

"However, explaining that these fairies are in fact unimaginative, grimly pragmatic folk who have lost their magic and live in constant dread of the outside world, and that in a cage match with my crow-killing heroine a bit of fluff like Tink wouldn't last two minutes, is likely to tax my listener's patience, not to mention making me sound defensive.So it's about xenophobic fairies

[lizbee]

"A pragmatic, xenophobic tribe of fairies have lost their magic, but the youngest, a warrior, seeks the secrets that humans can teach her. Wackiness ensues."

That last bit is optional.

[rj_anderson]

Aw, that was my favorite part!