Pitch Workshop! How To Summarize Your Novel

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A pitch, simply put, is a writer's description of their novel, which in very short form tells another person (usually an agent or an editor) what the novel is about.

But there's more to it than that. This description is what catches a reader's interest, and for it to work it needs to show what it is that's interesting about it -- without giving away too much.

Whether you're a person who gets asked what their novel is about on a daily basis, or you're putting together your submission package and working on getting traditionally published, or anything in between, coming up with a good pitch can be difficult. In this workshop, hosted by @Megrim and myself, we're going to tackle the questions of what makes a pitch and how to go about writing one, with concrete examples from both already existent works and our own works-in-progress.

The workshop will take place in two rounds, each covering the same content, for timezone convenience. See the times below, reading in your local time.

Round one: 12/17/2016 15:00 GMT
Round two: 12/18/2016 00:00 GMT

We're going to be working with our own novels, so come prepared -- have a story in mind (something you've finished, or something you're working on) that you want to write a pitch for. The workshop running time will be about 75, up to 90 minutes.

If you're joining us, please note so in this thread! Sign-ups aren't required and the number of participants isn't limited, but it's nice to know how many we're counting with before the workshop starts. Once we know who's interested, we'll PM you the link to a GDoc or a WFP where the workshop will take place.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in here too, or message either Megrim or me.
• previously ChildOfNowhere
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literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour




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I'm down for the second one! I actually have two different novels that need good pitches. >.<
We're all stories in the end.

I think of you as a fairy with a green dress and a flower crown and stuff.
-EternalRain

I think you, @Deanie and I are like the Three Book Nerd Musketeers of YWS.
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I'd love to join
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."


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I'll try my best to make round two!
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

she/her | team monkeys | #unclassified




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I might be able to make round 2 but it's a strong might. I'm super interested though and love you both for doing this. Would it be possible to get a copy of the doc after the workshop if I can't come?
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

Ask a Therapist!
I want to beta read your novel!


Ask me anything. Talk to me about anything. Seriously. My PM box is always open <3




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Thank you for doing this. Unfortunately I can't make it, but I would love to see the content you guys will go over. Summarizing has always been my downfall.
"A professional writer, is an amateur who didn't quit."
-Richard Bach




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I'm in! Quick question, for me it says that round two is before round one (round two says December 16th and 7pm and round one says December 17th at 10am?)
hello there




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Yeah, I'm up for Round 2, although that is a bit of a maybe, depending on how schoolwork is. Still, I'd like to try and develop a pitch for a novel of mine. :smt001
S'io credesse che mia risposta fosse
a persona che mai tornasse al mondo,
questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse.
Ma per ciò che giammai di questo fondo
non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero,
senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.

Inferno, Canto 27, l 61-66.




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@jumpingsheep We meant both of those to be on Sat, so that should be the 17th for round 2 as well.




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Oh, awesome! I can make that one, then. d:
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

she/her | team monkeys | #unclassified




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I'll probably be joining here.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief."

Ecclesiastes 1: 18




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Round 1 would be in 2 hours. Does anyone want to do that one or are all the takers coming to round 2?




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Argh, I think WFP crashed on us. Trying to reconnect.




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It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
— Walt Disney