HOW TO DEVELOP THE PERFECT PITCH or QUERY LETTER
What is the perfect pitch? Or Query letter? It's the ability to sum up the KEY, ESSENTIAL, PARTS of your story in as few sentences as possible. Whether it be in the form of a letter, or face to face pitch, this is your very first business communication or meeting in the publisning industry. Make it the best that it can be!
Why is it important? In most pitch session, you only have 8 minutes to talk about your book. In a Query letter, you only have one page. Think about it. The idea is to generate interest to get the editor or agent to ask to see material. In this case, less is more. Look at advertising. Commercials are how long? 30 seconds? Not a lot of time, yet thousands of dollars are spent on them. Catchy phrases. Sexy images. And what is the purpose? Well, it's not to sell the product, but to produce name recognition and well, generate interest. That's the idea of the perfect pitch. Generate enough interest to get a request.
I use my 20 years in the Marketing and Advertising field to help writers develop a great query letter that is based hook and the key elements in their book. This then transforms into your pitch!
HOW TO WRITE A WINNING SYNOPSIS USING STORY STRUCTURE
Many writers agonize over writing a synopsis. I know I used to. I lost sleep over writing them. I would put them off until the last minute. How long should it be? What do include? What do I leave out? Using my unique background in business and my creativity as a writer and coreographer I have come to the conclusion that they key writing a synopsis is to only include the KEY, ESSENTIAL, PARTS of the story as it relates to the protragonist, the antagonist, and the main conflict. By focusing only on those elements, and following basic story structure, every author can write a winning synopsis.
WHERE IS THE MOJO?
How to write when you don't feel the creative juices flowing. Having been a dance choreographer and dance instructor for 20 years, I know how hard it is to be creative when I'm simply not in the mood. However, the key to being a productive writer/artist, is to make creativity out of routine. Yes, routine. We are creatures of habit and it only takes 2 weeks to make something a habit. Instead of waiting for the mood to strike, it's time to strike the mood. I will show you techniques in developing our creativity even when we think we have none. I've had to pull together a dance number many times when I felt like I had nothing in me. Some of my best work came from those moments. Same goes for writing. It's when I put the glue on my butt, sit down and write, no matter what, that the mojo is simply just there.
BOOK DONE YET?
Every writings loves the feeling when they get to write THE END. The only problem is that feeling generally doesn't last long. Revisions, rewriting, editing and line editing have yet been done. No matter how good a planner/plotter you are revisions are a necessary part of writing and it's more than making sure every word is spelled and grammar rules were followed. Story editing can be daunting for a writer. The idea of cutting scenes, deleting a POV character, writing new scenes and finding areas where characters need to be changed can make an author break out in a cold sweat. This workshop is designed to give writers the tools they need to revise and make their story shine.ITS NOT JUST SEX
A sex scene isn't about the sex, but about the emotion the characters are experiencing. It's an action scene and should have purpose. It should move the story and the characters forward. Many writers wonder about how far theyshould go in a sex scene. Should it be a closed-door scene? What kind of language should you use? What should you show? Do you even need a sex scene? How can you create sexual tension without sex?
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CONFLICT
Participants should bring a one- or two-page synopsis or general outline of their story. Nothing has to be written in the story, just the basic idea. Conflict is the fuel to your story. Without conflict, your story will collapse. Students will Learn to create a conflict grid for their main story insuring the conflict lock. From there you will map out the three major turning points of your story. The dark moment as well as the resolution making sure your story is as tight as it can be.
CREATING KICK ASS CHARACTERS
Characters are what readers remember. Having strong characters are key to helping create the necessary tension and conflict to keep your readers turning the page. Students develop character sheets for both their major characters, making sure goals and motivation are in direct opposition. You will also develop character arcs to help guide the writerthrough each change a character will go through to reach (or fail) with their ultimate goals. You will learn techniques and strategies to help the writer stay on task with their characters so they stay true to who they are in the book.
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NOVEL IN A YEAR (Given only at Writers and Books -- full year course)
Are you writing a novel, or thinking of starting one? Maybe you’ve started one before but the task seemed to daunting. This class will cover everything from brainstorming, outlining, basic novel structure, ensuring conflict, plot and sub-plot development, character development and arc, creating realistic dialogue, using setting, revision and editing and giving your manuscript the color it needs to stand out. Plus, this class, the peer energy and helpful atmosphere will keep your project on track and prevent you from hanging it up when the going gets tough.For information regarding the above workshops please feel free to contact me at info@jenniholbrook.com