Story Plan Checklist: Elevator Pitch

[ladyseishou]

Think of it as a tweet for Twitter.

- Christine Duncan, Elevator Pitch





The "elevator pitch", logline, high-concept blurb, one-sentence description... whatever it's called, it's really all about knowing what your story's about and summarizing the key elements in a sentence or two - tweet size - or something that you could theoretically pitch to an agent or publisher during a shared elevator ride.

If you're following Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method, this is the first step: "Take an hour and write a one-sentence summary of your novel."

In concept, this is something very simple to do:

Character who desperately needs something but conflict/antagonist/the opposing force stands in his or her way.

In practice... well, that's a whole other story. I know a lot of you are saying that it can't be done, that it's impossible to accurately summarize the complexity of the ideas, relationships and themes for your novel in a sentence.

So why do it?

Well, for one, I've found that the exercise is a great way to check to see how well I know what my story's really about. And when I write it out on an index card and prop it up near my keyboard, it keeps me focused and from getting lost while I'm writing. Of course, sometimes wonderful things are discovered when you wander a bit but for me, I like to keep a light on in the window so I can eventually find my way home.

For Nano Writers who want to try their hand at this, here are a couple of sites that might help with the process:

The 50-word elevator pitch - from Camy Tang's Story Sensei writing blog.

The Importance of an Elevator Pitch - Sean Platt


Here's my novel's "working" elevator pitch:

In a world where criminals are reborn as beasts, a mage struggles to prove his innocence before he becomes “ensouled.”

Because I'm planning to write a fantasy novel, I've included a brief setup that describes an unusual aspect of my world that alludes to potential conflict. Then I add in my main character naming him only by his occupation (the theory being that my character's given name will not particularly mean anything to my readers right now) and the key thing that he really needs, in this case, to prove he's innocent of some punishable crime. Then I wrap it up with a kind of twist that refers both to my novel's title and the setup at the beginning. 20 words in all and I have my light in the window.

So what's "the skinny" (pun intended) on your novel, Nano Writer?

See you tomorrow, Nano Writer! Until then, keep writing!

Comments

[bee]

Laurence Grenadine has all the makings of a respectable Master Vampire, and there is plenty of Territory across the Atlantic for him to choose as his own; there's only one problem: he doesn't think he can do it.

Slightly long, but there it is.

[ladyseishou]

A novel about a vampire with confidence issues - your premise raises so many questions: what happens if Master Grenadine chooses not to emigrate? Is this something that he really wants to do? Why? Why want?

An very intriguing summary!

[bee]

It's more that he's being gently pushed out of the nest by his Master, so he doesn't have much of a choice. It should be interesting, though--I'm really sick of the recent vampire stuff, about them either not needing to hunt or the sparkly or them all being mary sues. I want my classic vampires back. Okay so I'm makin' them prettyful--but they're predators and don't fall in love with humans or angst about their immortal existence and they have flaws other than being machiavellian or depraved or cold.

...Wow, that kinda turned into a rant. Sorry. XD

[ladyseishou]

No! No apologies! But take those powerful feelings and let them guide you in your writing! Writers should/must feel strongly about their work (or at least some aspect) so that it glows!

[angryoldhag]

That is actually... I would so totally read that and I'm not even that big a fan of vampire novels.

[bee]

\o/

This is exactly the kind of thing I want to hear.

[nightbird]

Lady Macbeth embarks on a mission to retrieve her husband's head from the Weird Sisters.

[ladyseishou]

Oh man, that's twisted and very cool!

[nightbird]

Thanks so much! I'm hoping NaNo will make me finally push past the beginning, which has endured a few failed forays before now. :)

[pulsebeat]

Awesome. I would totally read this.

[nightbird]

This is so encouraging to hear, thanks!

[angryoldhag]

Elizabeth was never good at reading maps so it's no wonder that she got lost; it is a wonder, though, that she actually managed to wander into a world where ninja lemmings are a common occurrence.

[ladyseishou]

A solid premise that hints at a lot of fun!

[the_wanlorn]

1. As his city decays around him, a disgraced superhero has to win hi sway back into the people's graces while protecting them some enemies... and an old one.

2. When a red hot dame walks into a PI's office, the two of them and the PI's mercenary best friend are drawn into a web of lies and mystery that they may never escape from.

3. When people start dying under mysterious and outlandish circumstances in a small New England city, a stinky superhero and his gadget girl sidekick race against time to find out who's killing people before everyone is dead.

...I am really bad at these.

[aingeal]

On a cross-country trip to California, Mary Kate O'Donnell is left to wonder why she is among a handful of survivors when their bus is struck by an 18 wheeler. Up to that point, her life had meant so little to so few, mired in the shallow depths of muddied waters.

[twistingthetale]

Here's mine, also on the long side and probably better split into two:

Kate Sinclair lost her memory as a result of a traffic accident, and following her release from hospital she's hunted by a shadowy group intent on taking away more than her memory; when the hunters become the hunted she finds herself caught up in a centuries old power struggle and learns that between good and evil there are many shades of grey.

Edit: Now split up and added as my novel's synopsis - http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/262079

[boredsilly]

Mariana always expected love and honesty from her lovers; it's too bad that she just moved into a soap opera.