Agent Kristin Nelson has a couple posts up about how to build and evaluate a novel’s pitch paragraph. You know, that summary thing you tend to see on the back cover that gives you a glimpse of the plot. And once you are able to do this, you can understand what makes such a paragraph the most effective, and so can create your own with these elements in mind so, if you query an agent or do a pitch session at a conference, you’ll be likelier to snag their attention.
She’s put an example up and broken it down into three parts that you can then apply to your own work.
Step One: Find the plot Catalyst
Step Two: Identify what method is being used to build the paragraphs in the cover copy?
- Back story?
- Other plot elements?
- Character?
- Combo?
Step Three: Analyze the copy as a whole.
How many sentences is it? What elements make up each individual paragraph? What seemed effective and why?
Try analyzing a few books from your shelves and see if you can get familiar with what makes them effective (or not) copy. Then see if you can build your own paragraph. How can you stick these steps to your own work? Does it help narrow your focus enough?
I see that smile.