With the RWA National conference
staring us in the face, I volunteered to act as an editor/agent so chapter
members could practice their pitches. Having been the pitcher so many times
I’ve lost count, I’m always glad to help others overcome their nervousness. I
know I still get butterflies when I lose my mind and pitch to an editor I don’t
know. And I’ve yet to brave the mysterious world of agents. I’d likely faint
or—like I did when I acted in my very first play—lose my voice on my only line.
Anyway, one thing I stressed to
the pitchers was a tight log line (no more than twenty-five words—shorter even
better).
Why?
- It tells the pitchee you know your story. In my mind a polished log line equals a polished story. Not that my stories don’t need editing—just saying a good log line may gain you a reading you might not get if you ramble.
- No good log line goes to waste. You can use it in your query letters and on your website and promotion materials. There’s even a blog site dedicated to these polished kernels that, hopefully, will intrigue readers to take a look at your book and buy it.
So while you’re writing,
manuscript or query letter or promo stuff, keep working toward that perfected
log line. You’ll be glad you made the effort.
Here’s mine for the book with the
hot cover:
Sometimes a woman has to take
a flying leap of faith—even if it’s into the arms of a man hell-bent on her
destruction.
Available now at Ellora's Cave, Amazon and ARe
Oops. Guess I need to get this
jewel posted.
