An Author’s Guide to Writing Your Elevator Pitch

The elevator pitch is a 90- to 120-second summary of what it is about your book, and about you, that means your book will sell. It’s what a literary agent might use to pitch it to a publisher, what an acquiring editor might use to pitch it internally, what a publicist might use to pitch it to reviewers, what a sales team might use to pitch it to retail buyers, and what might be used on a book blurb, the book jacket, or even a social media post.?The aim is to ultimately get them to get excited about the book and about you.?Having a strong elevator pitch quickly and efficiently shows people that you’re a player, not a dreamer.

What is your book about?

Now condense that into 1-2 sentences.

Examples: When a schoolteacher finds herself accused of murder, she must pin her hopes on a small-town lawyer – who just happens to be her ex-husband.

A weight loss guidebook that takes the guesswork out of dieting and teaches readers how incorporating more chocolate into their daily lives really will help them lose weight – and keep it off!

Why are you the right author for this book??What makes you special??What qualifications do you have?

Examples:

After working for 25 years as a high school guidance counselor…

After making $1 million by the time I was 12 years old…

After serving as CFO for three of the largest commercial airlines in the United States…

As the recipient of the Mystery Guild of America’s Edgar Award in 2015…

What successful books does your book resemble?

Examples:

The Hunger Games meets The Notebook in this dystopian romance…

This is The Girl on a Train with a twist – and then some.

Inspired by The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and You Are a Badass…

Who is going to read your book??Who is your target audience?

Examples:

Readers of Agatha Christie will love the intertwined cast of characters…

This is a personal finance book specifically targeted to millennials…

Toddlers especially will love the colorful illustrations…

Now bring it all together.?

Tell your pitch recipient what need to know about you and your book project – an overview of character arcs and storylines, a brief summary of the life-changing advice you’re sharing with readers, life lessons readers will walk away with after reading your memoir, etc.

Examples:

Adventure of a Lifetime chronicles an epic road trip with six college friends.?As they drive a remodeled VW bus from coast to coast, the friends navigate the tricky waters of love, jealousy, ambition, and pride.?It’s a little bit Elin Hildebrand and a little bit Jodi Picoult, but it’s all heart.?Seven years ago I took a road trip of similar importance, and that inspired me to change my career from English professor to author.

During my 20 years of teaching chemistry to high school students, I have found a complete lack of books that taught the basics in an engaging way.?I decided to start filming short, funny videos explaining each week’s lessons.?My YouTube channel now has more than 110,000 subscribers, and it has inspired my new science book for teenagers – Let’s Blow It Up: Chemistry the Fun Way.?This guidebook makes a great companion to any student’s textbook, and is chock full of great information and fun experiments to make the concepts come alive (or blow up!).?I’m feel so privileged to help inspire a new generation of scientists and science-lovers.

Have any questions about elevator pitches? Let me know in the comments section below.