Describing a Book

[plaid_slytherin]

I'm sure I'm not the only one writing sci-fi and/or fantasy here, and I thought this article was really interesting: Making Excuses for Science FictionIt's something I've never thought about before and while I'm just starting with my original stuff, I do know that as I was reading the article, I struggled to come up with a description of my stories

Comments

[mlsky]

What a great article. One of the marketing groups I belong to had an elevator pitch class. You know, how to sum up your work in the thirty seconds it takes to ride up to your floor (or down to the lobby. :D)

Here's the general formula our group came up with: TITLE is a GENRE about MAIN CHARACTER/S, an ADJECTIVE/DESCRIPTION, who wants to DEFAULT ACTION. But when CALL TO ACTION, he/she/they must STORY GOAL, which seems impossible because CENTRAL CONFLICT.

Substitute your story details for the all caps and BAM! you've got your elevator pitch. Very simplistic, but easily tweaked to fit whatever style is needed. I'm not a big fan of the 'seems impossible' so I usually change that part to something like: which won't be easy because...

If nothing else, the exercise got me to think in terms of what is the most important essence of my story, and how do I convey it in nothing bigger than a soundbite. :D (Although, honestly, I still struggle with an overpowering need to add MORE, MORE, MORE! LOL)

One final note...the whole genre thing? We had a number of authors who handwaved the need to even include the genre in a 'why limit potential readers' mindset. I sort of feel the linked article nicely underscores that concept. :D

Thanks for linking. I loved the article.

[kdbleu]

TITLE is a GENRE about MAIN CHARACTER/S, an ADJECTIVE/DESCRIPTION, who wants to DEFAULT ACTION. But when CALL TO ACTION, he/she/they must STORY GOAL, which seems impossible because CENTRAL CONFLICT.

I should really practice doing this because I suck at it. My version tends to be more along the lines of "I don't it's a story about people who do stuff - sometimes on another planet or in a distant future or something" hee.

[plaid_slytherin]

I like that pitch idea a lot! I've been thinking a lot about the objective of my characters and reading things like this is helping me realize that they might have one already.

I also like the idea of dumping genre, honestly, because I really do think that boxes you in.