Tag: elevator pitch

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Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for August, Part 2

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

The Importance of a Writer’s Pitch with Edwina Perkins

In this episode of Writers Chat, Edwina addresses the daunting task of crafting a writer’s pitch. She breaks down this important task into simple, actionable steps and shares how creating a memorable pitch can help a book go a long way in a crowded marketplace. To hear more on this topic, check out the replay.

Watch the August 15th Replay

Edwina Perkins is the co-director of Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She is the acquisitions editor for Harambee Press, an imprint of End Game Press. As an award-winning writer, experienced teacher, speaker, freelance editor, and sensitivity reader, she has been published in numerous publications. One of her passions is to address the need for diversity in the publishing industry.

Marketing for Gummies with Becky Antkowiak

You may not know the name, Hans Riegel, but you’ve likely enjoyed his creation: gummy bears. In a time when other companies tanked, the Haribo company’s gummy bears bounced (here and there and everywhere) to fame as a household name. In this episode, Becky uses gummy principles to make marketing stick and find creative ways to leave our world a little sweeter through writing.

Watch the August 22nd Replay

Becky Antkowiak (ant-KO-vee-ack) is a writer, speaker, editor, Compassion International advocate, enthusiastic Grammar Floozy, and the Chief Encouragement Officer of 540 Writers Community. A lifelong serial extrovert, Becky believes strangers are friends she hasn’t met. Fair warning: make eye contact only if you want a friend for life.

The Power of an Accountability Group with Kim Miller and Jennifer Jennings

Writers often work in isolation, yet creativity thrives within an encouraging community. Kim and Jenifer join us to share what they’ve discovered about building a welcoming community as well as accountability tools they’ve created to help each writer on her journey. Also, they will talk about how you can join Write at Home’s eight-week session that starts September 11.

Watch the August 29th Replay

Kim Miller is a writer, wife, mother, Granna, and follower of Jesus. She graduated with a degree in journalism in 1991. Kim’s award-winning writing ranges from articles to essays. Since retiring as a homeschool mom, she’s been studying fiction writing. Kim is currently editing her historical novel and writing a contemporary one.

Jenifer Jennings writes novels that immerse readers in ancient worlds filled with Biblical characters and faith-building stories. Jenifer has a degree in women’s ministry and graduated with a master’s in Biblical languages. When not writing, Jenifer can be found on a date with her hardworking husband or mothering their two children.

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET
on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133

Categories
Book Proposals

Test & Revise Your Elevator Pitch

Over the last few years, many writer’s conferences have been cancelled, postponed or gone to virtual meetings. The good news is live events are returning. I’ve done a number of one-on-one appointments on zoom, but I believe they are more effective in person.

Often writers’ conferences include back-to-back 10-to-15-minute sessions where writers pitch their book or book proposal to editors or literary agents. Writers who are successful in pitching their books have honed what is called an elevator pitch.

Imagine getting in an elevator and going to the 10th floor. You get on the elevator with me and as the door closes I ask you to tell me about your book. Go. Can you explain your book in a few gripping sentences before we reach the 10th floor? Every writer needs to develop this elevator pitch.

The creation of an effective elevator pitch involves several key elements. First, you must know your target audience (their likes and dislikes). For example, at Morgan James we have a 100,000 word limit for our fiction and our book buyers are telling us the readers prefer a certain size book and retail price. Second, you have to understand how your book is different from other books in your category. Finally you have to tell me why you are the best person to write this book and how you can reach your readers (with an email list or social media or what means). The combination of these facts is your concise elevator pitch. Write it down, rehearse it and make it captivating and memorable. It will take some practice but is an important part of pitching your book to agents and editors. 

I understand going to a writer’s conference is a big commitment of time and expense. If you can’t make it to an event because of any number of reasons, I encourage you to still work on your elevator pitch and turn that into a query letter which you submit to agents and editors. Take these action steps and put them into practice for your writing life.  You have to be pitching and submitting to find the right place for your work to be published. Submitting and pitching is a key part of the publishing business. I’m going to several events over the next few months and hope our paths will cross. You can follow this link to see my current schedule.  Or you can pitch to me directly using this link and my contact information on the bottom of the second page.

Whether we meet in person or through email, I hope you are testing and working on the elevator pitch for your book.

Terry Whalin

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s recent book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief at Midwest Book Review wrote, “If you only have time to read one ‘how to’ guide to getting published, whether it be traditional publishing or self-publishing, “Book Proposals That Sell” is that one DIY instructional book.” At the book website, get a free book proposal checklist. Get his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Book Proposals That Sell
Categories
Screenwriting

Elevator Pitch

If you think the Coronapocalypse has the US economy down, imagine the effect it is having on Hollywood. Most of the major literary agencies have had major layoffs or reductions in salaries for the agents.  Studios have shut down production on some movies and delayed the release of others. For example:

The last time Hollywood shutdown for non-strike related reasons was 100 years ago due to the Great Depression. Since then Hollywood has operated at warp speed with everyone and their uncle trying to get their pitch to the right people.

The Coronavirus has seriously impeded the process of getting new scripts pitched to studios. And yet, recently I was messaging back and forth with one of my screenwriting mentors and briefly shared with him the concept of my WIP. He requested a copy of the completed draft, all because I quickly pitched my story concept and theme briefly.

The Elevator Pitch?

Although elevator pitch isn’t exclusively used in Hollywood, its function is imperative to the film-making process. If you’re not familiar with the term, an elevator pitch is a short informative sales pitch for whatever product, service, or idea trying to be sold or produced. The key factor is getting the basics in the quickest amount of time.

In show business, it provides a screenwriter with an explosive burst of creative information about the story which can be understood in a short amount of time, idealistically in a brief elevator ride with a studio executive or producer.

You never know when the stars may align and allow you to share your story. For screenwriters is a great time to include your log line for your script. There are many urban legends about how the term elevator pitch came about.

The most accepted one is from the golden days of Hollywood, where dreams came true. Every writer, both good and bad flocked to Hollywood to share their stories with directors and producers to make their writing dreams come true. If you were screenwriter in Hollywood and saw a producer or director getting into an elevator, you could follow them and try to explain your story before arriving at the next floor.

              Obviously, the pitch had to be spot on, entertaining and informative, concise. How else would a producer remember it from countless other ideas he had heard already? But, if you do it right, you’re one step closer to your dreams coming true. The concept of the elevator pitch is so popular that it has shown up in several movies and TV shows, below are just a few:

  1. Iron Man
  2. The Pursuit of Happiness
  3. The Dilemma
  4. Mad Men

Screenwriters need to know their stories well enough to pitch them like a pro at a moment’s notice. This could be a chance to make your dreams come true. Be sure to keep it brief but interesting. Script Magazine has a few more suggestions:

  1. Never tell your whole story.
  2. Focus on revealing the essential elements of your story.
  3. Begin by revealing how you came up with the idea.
  4. Leave the buyer in suspense.
  5. Finished your description with the title and your log line.
  6. Follow the log line with a question.
  7. Answer the buyer’s questions succinctly.[i]

Remember the main goal is to always keep whoever you’re pitching to and your audience interested in your story.

Interested?

Everything in the entertainment industry hinges around interest: is the story interesting enough to be written? Is there enough interest to invest millions of dollars into telling it? Is it interesting enough to make people want to spend their hard-earned money to go see it at the theaters?

There is no quick or simple equation to check off each answer. But there are a few high points we should aspire to infuse into our stories; I call it the R.A.R.E formula:

  • Relevant: What makes the story need to be told now and why?
  • Anticipation: Is there a desire to go on a journey with the character or characters?
  • Relatable: Will an audience relate to their characters or their journey?
  • Excitement: is there enough excitement to keep the eventual audience interested for 90 minutes to two hours?

If you check these high points off, you’ll be able to hook the right people with your elevator pitch.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[i] https://scriptmag.com/career/7-keys-to-a-great-pitch