Monday, September 10, 2012

Twitter Pitches: Hell or Helpful?

Image Credit: NASA/SDO, AIA
Describe your 400-page manuscript in less than 140 characters.

I’ll give you a hint. It’s the same answer to ‘What is your novel about?’

Twitter pitches - or loglines - are both approximately the same length, under 30 words. To summarize your novel in so few words and make it interesting is the mark of a good writer. How to keep them legible, informative, and grammatically correct is the bug in the pudding.

Every logline needs the following:
  • Genre
  • Main Character
  • Conflict
  • Consequence.

Piece of cake, right? Eh, not so much.
This week is part Fun and part Submission.
  1. In the Comments section, write a logline/twitter pitch for a famous book or movie without revealing the name. 
  2. Submit your WIP’s logline to beccoff(at)nwmo(dot)com and I’ll post them for review.

To start the creative juices flowing, here is a twitter pitch for a famous book:

In the 1950’s, summer ends with six-year-old Jean’s introduction to racism when her lawyer father defends a black man in the Deep South.
What is the name of the book?

Remember; send the logline for YOUR wip to the above address for posting.
Use comment section on this post for a famous book or movie.
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24 comments:

  1. mshatchSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:40 AM

    TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - I assume Jean is Scout's real name :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:01 AM

      Her nickname makes it too easy. Everyone would guess it.
      Oh, wait...hm.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    I've tried this and its hard. So I've been using short quotes from people who leave reviews for my books. This seems to work a bit better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:09 AM

      I find it incredible that I can't summarize in 30 words a story I've lived with for months.

      Part of the reason is akin to having my nose pressed against the mirror. No way can I see the whole image.

      Like you said, using quotes from other people is a great way to go. They have a truer perspective than ours.

      Delete
  3. PatchiSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:57 AM

    Thanks for attacking loglines this week!

    Here is a favorite of mine:
    True love is tested by the perils of betrothal, pirates, kidnapping, sword fights and some kissing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:02 AM

      HA! One of my favorites.

      Pirates. Dead Man's Chest.

      Delete
    2. PatchiSeptember 10, 2012 at 10:11 AM

      I guess I was too vague... That's not the movie I was thinking about. I think I need to add "chocolate-coated miracles" to that list.

      Delete
    3. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 11:38 AM

      *scratching head*
      Ya got me beat.

      Followers??

      Delete
    4. Alicia Willette-CookSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:55 PM

      Princess Bride?

      Delete
    5. PatchiSeptember 11, 2012 at 9:40 AM

      Yes!

      Delete
  4. Ellie GarrattSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    I need to do this for my WIP. Thanks for the advice!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ink in the BookSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    and i thought queries were hard....*sticks tongue out at said logline*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM

      If I didn't know how to cuss already, composing loglines and queries would begin the process.

      Delete
  6. Alicia Willette-CookSeptember 10, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    You want Elves? We got Elves! Hobbits? Yup! Epic journeys to throw a ring into a burning pit of hell saving the world from unimaginable evil? Oh yes. And Dragons...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mshatchSeptember 10, 2012 at 5:57 PM

      Wait, I know this one...

      Delete
    2. HuntressSeptember 10, 2012 at 7:43 PM

      tip of my tongue. um, um...

      Delete
    3. Alicia Willette-CookSeptember 10, 2012 at 9:52 PM

      Winnie the Pooh! eheheheheheheh

      Delete
    4. Nana PrahSeptember 11, 2012 at 2:23 AM

      I think it's very well described and interesting.I got it right away.

      Delete
    5. Brooke R. BusseSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:33 PM

      Someone explain to me how it is Winnie the Pooh? 0-0 Or is this a joke I'm not getting because I was totally thinking Lord of the Rings. But maybe that's the point... -hides head in shame-

      Delete
    6. HuntressSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:38 PM

      FOTFLMAO

      How to Train Your Dragon! *oh crap. No pirates*

      Star Wars! *grrr. No dragons. darn, I thought I had it*

      Delete
  7. Liz A.September 10, 2012 at 7:35 PM

    When's the deadline for submitting pitches? I can't get to that today, but I should try it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2012 at 3:18 AM

    Great tips I like the idea of this.

    To Kill A Mocking Bird?

    ReplyDelete

Your turn.

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