What is your book about?

This is a question everyone who writes a book should be prepared to answer quickly, concisely, and most importantly, in a way that will spark interest.

I’m new to all of this, but I’ve learned so far that in the publishing industry the “hook” or “pitch” is a crucial tool to market and sell a book.

It has been so hard to convey the idea of what One Hit Wonder is about in one sentence, it makes me want to rob a bank so I’d have the money to pay an editor to write it for me. Mostly, because writing my book has been a labor of love. That said, I love every part of it and it’s damn hard to talk about it in one sentence. Or 60 seconds. Or the duration of elevator ride, unless the building has 100 floors and a very old elevator.

Because I know it’s necessary, I’ve delved into the web looking for help. There are lots of tips on how to write an effective pitch. Be specific, be appropriate, be bold, be punchy, be original. Ultimately, it’s about really knowing what your work is about and which audience you’re trying to reach. Probably, it won’t appeal to everyone but it should get the people who enjoy the same kind of books interested in seeing (or reading) what all the fuss is about.

Personally, I’ve found inspiring to read the little blurbs of movies on Netflix. I’ve never noticed them until today.



Wow, this movie got four and a half stars? I must watch it. And the blurb is okay.



Okay, I don't really like The Terminator hook. I've just landed on planet earth from a galaxy far far away, and all I'm thinking is Who the hell is Sarah Connor and why should I care?



I haven't seen this movie, but by the cover I assume it's a romance. Where is the romance in this hook? And what's wrong with Chris Klein's face? Actually, this whole picture seems very creepy to me.

My hook will be up soon if you have any ideas or suggestions send them my way; I REALLY NEED IT.

Books on writing

This book is my early Christmas gift to myself I've read "How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them" by Mr. Stein and just loved it.

So, I'm hoping this one is going to be an even better, more detailed discussion on writing a book.

It's funny how I've always wanted to write, but not until I've started I learned that writing a story is not just sitting in front of your computer and typing.

The first thirty thousand words poured out of me like summer rain, but after that I had no idea how to proceed. That's when I've decided to look for help, and when I say help I don't mean the grammar aberrations that's all over my draft, but the real meaty stuff that makes books so tasty—dialogue, tension, conflict, coherence (for goodness sake.)

You can find lists of books on writing everywhere, even books geared toward specific genre. In a google search I've found this one, there are many more out there. I was actually surprised Stein on writing wasn't listed, not sure why. Perhaps, because it's older (my edition is from 1995) and the publishing industry has changed so much since then, but I don't believe good writing has.