tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post3647942153995373910..comments2023-11-03T04:57:11.073-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Perfect Your PitchesLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-65449634993335598552007-07-07T08:39:00.000-04:002007-07-07T08:39:00.000-04:00Christine and Keira,You're quite welcome! I love ...Christine and Keira,<BR/>You're quite welcome! I love talking about this stuff--in fact that answer I gave about voice is the subject of a month long workshop I give.<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for having me back and best of luck for everyone who will be pitching!!<BR/><BR/>CJCJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-79128869640085299172007-07-07T00:10:00.000-04:002007-07-07T00:10:00.000-04:00CJ and KJ: Thank you for an excellent primer on pi...CJ and KJ: Thank you for an excellent primer on pitches!!Keira Soleorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14440213826734580889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-3318846391190584372007-07-06T19:46:00.000-04:002007-07-06T19:46:00.000-04:00Thanks, CJ, and good luck to everyone pitching at ...Thanks, CJ, and good luck to everyone pitching at National! I'm sure if you pay attention to CJ's tips you'll knock their socks off:)Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31967293808649399282007-07-06T18:51:00.000-04:002007-07-06T18:51:00.000-04:00Christine, that's an excellent tagline for that ti...Christine, that's an excellent tagline for that title!! Bravo, Donna!<BR/><BR/>Leading into a pitch can be awkward if the pitchee (the agent or editor) is too tired/bored/irritated/jet lagged to toss you a question to get you started.<BR/><BR/>Usually they start with some mild chit-chat and say something like, "so what do you write" or "what are you working on"?<BR/><BR/>In that case, you answer with: I've just completed a single title called The Education of Mrs. Brimley. In it I explore the idea that 'A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing...'<BR/><BR/>She'll start asking questions or you can launch into your description.<BR/><BR/>If you read my first post here on pitching, you'll know that I'm a firm believer in talking about your books as LITTLE as possible. Keep the conversation flowing so the editor remembers YOU, not just your book.<BR/><BR/>I recommend printing your tagline and maybe a 15 word blurb on the back of your biz card (Avery clear labels work excellently). This way while you're chatting about everything <I>except</I> your book, you can turn this card over and set it in front of the editor.<BR/><BR/>They'll glance at it, smile at your cleverness, say "tell me more about your book", you give them a 20 second description, she says "that sounds great, send me it" and you go back to your one on one personal conversation....mission accomplished!CJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-54664477858540024242007-07-06T18:36:00.000-04:002007-07-06T18:36:00.000-04:00Hi CJ, I've never seen the pitch broken down and e...Hi CJ, I've never seen the pitch broken down and explained so well. Thank you for visiting Romance Bandits today!<BR/><BR/>I love taglines, and I think our Donna MacMeans has a fantastic one for The Education of Mrs. Brimley--'A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing...'<BR/><BR/>I just wonder how you work a tagline like that into a face to face pitch session. Do you just say it, or do you say, My tagline is ... Sometimes I find it hard to lead into these types of discussions.Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-5691750821082280722007-07-06T15:28:00.000-04:002007-07-06T15:28:00.000-04:00Best of luck, Beth!! Have fun with it!CJBest of luck, Beth!! Have fun with it!<BR/>CJCJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-37525846117180838312007-07-06T15:21:00.000-04:002007-07-06T15:21:00.000-04:00Thanks for coming back, CJ, and for sharing more g...Thanks for coming back, CJ, and for sharing more great tips on pitching. I'm definitely going to use your advice to help me with my pitches in Dallas *g*Beth Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204356784898045866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-23253639649938449032007-07-06T15:05:00.000-04:002007-07-06T15:05:00.000-04:00Caren's question Part 2:You also asked about how t...Caren's question Part 2:<BR/>You also asked about how to market your voice.<BR/><BR/>Your voice shouldn't be the unique hook you try to use for a pitch--instead focus on what's unique about an individual book.<BR/><BR/>This hook and pitch is what will attract a reader TO your work...your voice is what will keep them hooked and turning pages and wanting to come back for more once they've finished.CJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-56678271412485378852007-07-06T15:02:00.000-04:002007-07-06T15:02:00.000-04:00Wow, Caren, you ask the tough ones!!First to voice...Wow, Caren, you ask the tough ones!!<BR/><BR/>First to voice. To me that IS an essential part of my brand--whether I'm writing more action packed thrillers or more psychological, twisting medical suspense. <BR/><BR/>My rhythm and pacing may change, word choice, language, etc, but my underlying voice is still the same.<BR/><BR/>So what do I see as my voice? <BR/><BR/>That in every CJ Lyons book you pick up you'll be guaranteed two things: No one is immune to danger (my tag line) and that Heroes are born everyday (what I would have used for my tag line if I hadn't come up with #1, lol)<BR/><BR/>When did I figure this out? Before I was published when I was trying to figure out why I was getting all these wonderful, personalized rejection letters from folks who said they loved my writing but it wasn't "right" for them!<BR/><BR/>At that time I was submitting to agents and editors who specialized in mystery. A published friend told me: your work isn't about the crime, it's about the people and the relationships, plus you write a helluva sex scene--maybe you should try RWA?<BR/><BR/>I looked at my work and asked myself some tough questions, namely: Where was my passion, Why was I writing these books, and What was I <I>really</I> writing about.<BR/><BR/>After that I had the basic building blocks I needed to put the rest together into a cohesive brand.<BR/><BR/>Each and every book is very, very different (ask Kim, she's read a few of them!) but the voice remains the same sending the same message: CJ Lyons is a pediatric ER doctor who has created a world where No One is Immune to Danger....translation: if you want realistic, edgy, character-driven suspense/thrillers CJ is the author for you!<BR/><BR/>Hope that helped!<BR/>CJCJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-10443518546630584132007-07-06T14:39:00.000-04:002007-07-06T14:39:00.000-04:00Wow, thanks, CJ. I will persevere and look for the...Wow, thanks, CJ. I will persevere and look for the unique elements. When it is something nebulous, like voice, it can be a challenge. After all, how is an editor going to know you have a great narrative voice if she never reads your stuff?*g* <BR/><BR/>And how can the Marketing department design a cover around that and make it pop off the shelves? Yes, much more thought must be given to this.<BR/><BR/>So, next question. How long did it take (as an unpubbed author) to figure out what your high concept was or your author brand? Did you figure that out as an unpubbed author or did it come after you sold?Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-4229780029916702562007-07-06T09:40:00.000-04:002007-07-06T09:40:00.000-04:00Caren,Try focusing on what makes your "quiet" stor...Caren,<BR/>Try focusing on what makes your "quiet" story unique. Where was your own passion in writing it? What "hook" in the story compelled you to spend months writing it or gave you that perfect plot twist you needed? What makes your characters spring to life and stand apart from the crowd?<BR/><BR/>Again, we're all so used to looking at the forest because we have this entire universe living in our heads (don't know about you, but it gets kind of crowded in mine!). Sometimes we need to stand back and look a the individual trees that stand out.<BR/><BR/>A fresh reader, someone who knows nothing about the story might help. Ask them what stood out the most in their mind, what captivated them....<BR/><BR/>Best of luck!<BR/>CJCJ Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263382194031609952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-1033416998259970712007-07-06T08:55:00.000-04:002007-07-06T08:55:00.000-04:00I fully agree with the very, very hard comment! An...I fully agree with the very, very hard comment! And it's reassuring to hear someone say that not every story lends itself to the "high concept", er, concept. <BR/><BR/>Quieter stories tend to get overlooked these days. Unless things are blowing up, bodies are stacking up, or characters are behaving outrageously, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Any advice on where to focus your pitch if you are lacking in high concept elements?Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.com