Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!

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Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
Pitch Perfect
                with Chris Mandeville!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What’s a Pitch?

    A description of your project in broad, enticing strokes.!
    !
    A pitch is NOT a summary of your story or project.!
    !

Typically“pitching” refers to “selling” your idea to an editor, agent, producer—!
someone who can help you get it out into the world.!
!
A pitch can be in person or in writing. !
If in writing, it’s a query letter.!
This workshop will focus on in-person pitching!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
Writers talking about their books:
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
Outline

 What is a Pitch?!
 What’s it going to be like?!
 What to say!
 Dos & Don’ts!
 Reducing Anxiety!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What’s a Pitch?

  A description of your project in broad, enticing strokes.!
  !
  A pitch is NOT a summary of your story or project.!
   !

This is the definition, but understanding what a pitch is can be easier if we
look at it in terms of its FUNCTION
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What’s a Pitch Do?

    Your pitch should:!
    q "hook" the listener!
    q give the flavor of the book!
    q be clear (not mysterious)!
    q be positive (without overselling)!
    q be memorable (in a good way)!

        The goal of a pitch is to get a “SEND IT”!
!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What a Pitch Looks Like
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
Focus: The Appointment!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What are the Dangers?

      ¤ Boring the listener!
      ¤ Confusing the listener!
      ¤ Overwhelming the listener!

USUALLY THESE HAPPEN WHEN YOU GIVE TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What Do You Say?

¤ Your name!
¤ Book title!
¤ Genre!
¤ Logline!
¤ Other stuff about the book!
¤ Other stuff about you!
¤ Q&A!
Talking Points Worksheet

                    Talking Points worksheet
                   available for download at
                   www.ChrisMandeville.com
Why is Genre Important When Pitching?

¤ Industry standard!

¤ Place holder!

¤ Shortcut to a mental picture!

¤ Special requirements of the genre!

¤ Editors/agents need it to sell!
What Do You Say?

¤ Your name!
¤ Book title!
¤ Genre!
¤ Logline!
¤ Other stuff about the book!
¤ Other stuff about you!
¤ Q&A!
LOGLINE:
“What is the story about?”

 ¤ in one sentence!
 ¤ that’s succinct and natural!
 ¤ that mentions the main character & conflict!
 ¤ and provides a “hook”!

A logline should be about 25-40 words and not “thesaurusized”
Why Start with a Logline?

¤ Avoids dangers!   ¤ Muscle memory!
                     ¤ Industry standard!
                     ¤ Elevators!
Standard Logline Elements (Fiction)

¤ Character: Who is your story about?!
      !     ! Dominant impression = adjective plus noun !
      !     ! (timid writer, neurotic dog, murdering dentist)!

¤ Goal:    ! What does your character want? !
               The character's overarching goal in the book.!

¤ Conflict: ! What's keeping them from getting it? !
               Can be internal and/or external.!

¤ Plus:    ! Often your hook or what sets you apart; !
               It should make them want to know more!
Know Your Genre Expectations

¤ a memoir or creative nonfiction logline can be
   similar to the standard fiction logline!
¤ a romance logline should include both the
   hero and heroine!
¤ a speculative fiction (SF/F/H) logline should
   include something about the special world
   (often setting)!
LOGLINE EXAMPLE

A girl on a reality TV show has to
make difficult ethical choices in
order to win.!
In the future, amidst the ruins of North
America lies the nation of Panem where a
16-year-old girl who is a loner and sole-
supporter of her family, Katniss Everdeen,
takes her younger, weaker sister Prim’s
place in the nationally televised Hunger
Games where she’s a longshot to survive
the fight to the death against other
teenagers from every District—a fight to
the death on live TV.!
A desperate 16-year-old girl fights to be the
sole survivor of the Hunger Games, but at
what cost to her humanity?!

   A desperate 16-year-old girl
          (CHARACTER)!
                 !
  fights to be the sole survivor!
      of The Hunger Games, !
 (EXTERNAL CONFLICT, GOAL)!
                 !
but at what cost to her humanity? !
      (INTERNAL CONFLICT)!
In what used to be North America, a
    desperate 16-year-old girl girl fights to be
    the sole survivor of the nationally televised
    "Hunger Games" where teens fight to the
    death, but at what cost to her humanity?!

        In what used to be North America (PLUS)!
        a desperate 16-year-old girl (CHARACTER)!
fights to be the sole survivor (EXTERNAL CONFLICT, GOAL)!
       of the nationally televised “Hunger Games” !
          where teens fight to the death, (PLUS)!
 but at what cost to her humanity? (INTERNAL CONFLICT)!
Logline worksheet
available for download at
www.ChrisMandeville.com
Tagline
A tagline is is a unique premise that can be conveyed in a sentence or phrase,
Is sometimes ref’d to as The “Hollywood Pitch” or “High Concept” logline.
It’s optional, and should not replace a standard logline.

EXAMPLES:
     ¤ MOONRAKER: "Outerspace now belongs to 007”!
     ¤ THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME: "Double-O Behave”!
     ¤ STAR WARS: "A ragtag band of rebels are the only hope of saving
         the universe.”!
     ¤ AGENT CODY BANKS: "Save the world, get the girl, pass math.”!
     ¤ THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: "For three men the Civil
         War wasn't hell, it was practice.”!
     ¤ HOOK: "What if Peter Pan grew up?”!
Talking Points Worksheet

Having a list of KEY WORDS from your story available during your pitch
can be great to help stimulate natural conversation about your book
AND can help jumpstart your memory if you get stuck
Key Words
 Note that it’s not necessary to divide your key words
 into “placement” and “concept” but doing so can help
 you to refine your ideas

 PLACEMENT!                         CONCEPT!

 ¤ International intrigue!         ¤ British spy!

 ¤ fast-paced!                     ¤ suave ladies man!

 ¤ suspenseful!                    ¤ elite intelligence agent!

 ¤ high-stakes action!             ¤ cool cars!

 ¤ powerful villains!              ¤ high-tech gadgets!

              This example is for a James Bond story
Talking Points Worksheet

 Be sure you know all of the above information before your pitch
What ELSE Do You Say in a Pitch?

                     This is the back of the
                    Talking Points worksheet
                   available for download at
                   www.ChrisMandeville.com

                    A bio worksheet is also
                   available for download at
                   www.ChrisMandeville.com
Dos & Don’ts

       Common Sense & Etiquette!
When & Where to Pitch
When & Where NOT to Pitch
Dos & Don’ts: During Your Appointment
Do’s and Don’ts

 Do shake hands !

 Don’t offer a card unless asked!

 Do ask questions!

 Don’t lie!

 !

 !

        !      !       !      !     !Do take notes!

        !      !       !      !     !Do reference your notes!
Do’s and Don’ts

 Don’t bring or read from your ms!

 !

 !

 !

 Don't say Mom loved it!

 Don’t argue!

 Do offer credentials if applicable/impressive!

 Do leave when time is up!
Anxious? Nervous? Terrified? Shaky?

     Reducing Anxiety!
What are Your Symptoms of Anxiety?

   Break down your anxiety into smaller problems you can solve – !
   treat, prevent, and mitigate your symptoms and you’ll feel less stressed!
Remedies:
Visualize
Positive images!
Low-anxiety situations!
You being calm, confident, and successful!
Familiarize

Practice
IN SUMMARY

   BE CLEAR!
   BE ENTICING!
   BE PROFESSIONAL!
   BE CALM!
   BE BRIEF!
   !

   YOUR GOAL: A SEND IT!
Thank You
   and
Good Luck!
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