August 2, 2010

You meet an editor or agent in an elevator or the banquet line. They turn to you and ask, “What’s your book about? Why are you the person to write it?”

Which One Is You?

Do you give a confident 30-second talk summarizing your book’s main points and why you’re the only one who could do the project justice?

OR

Do you say, “You know, that’s a good question. I’m a lousy writer! Who do I think I am anyway, masquerading as a writer? It’s a dumb book idea.”

Of course you don’t spout that second example!

And yet, many writers do that very thing to themselves every day. That evil little voice in your head or over your shoulder whispers, “That’s a stupid idea” or “That’s been done before–and a lot better” or “You’re never going to finish that story.” And like agreeable little twits, we nod and tell ourselves, “This is a dumb idea. I’m never going to finish this. This concept was done last year–and a whole lot better!”

Then, discouraged for another day, we head for the ice cream.

Pitch It to Yourself!

The name “elevator pitch” means a short speech you have ready for that opportune moment when you can market yourself or your book idea to someone that might buy it. Every day–even many times a day–you need to pitch your writing project and yourself TO YOURSELF.

How are you going to sell your story idea to yourself? What elevator pitch can you give to yourself when you’re surprised, not by an agent or editor in the elevator, but by your own nagging questions?

• When “voice in the head” says, “This is just too hard!”
• You say, “I have done many hard things in my life. I can do one more difficult thing.”
•  
• When “voice in the head” says, “There’s too much going on in your life for you to write now”
• You say, “Writing is at the top of my To-Do list because it’s important!”
•  
• When “voice in the head” says, “Editors and agents scare me!”
• You say, “Even when I feel anxious, I can act like a professional.”
•  
• When “voice in the head” says, “I can’t write because I can’t tolerate rejections”
• You say, “NOT writing is the only rejection that matters. It’s a rejection of my dreams. I can write a little each day.”

Write Your Own Now

Take a few moments today and write at least three elevator pitches of your own, counter-acting the voice in your head. Write the pitches on cards and tape them to your computer. When the “voice” badgers you the next time, read one of your cards OUT LOUD. Several times.

And if you’re feeling very brave, add an elevator pitch in the comments section (up to three pitches) that you can begin pitching to yourself today!

6 Comments »

1. 

   Kristi- I’m quoting what you said about not writing being the only rejection that matters because it is rejecting your dreams. What a great, encouraging thought to keep me going! Thanks!

   Comment by Emily — August 2, 2010 @ 4:31 pm

2. 

   Emily, I’m glad it helped! I’m convinced that if we substitute all the negative thoughts that float through our minds with short positive TRUE statements like those above that we’ll change the way we work. We’ll also increase our enjoyment factor about 1000%!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 2, 2010 @ 4:57 pm

3. 

   That works in life too. We have a lot of thoughts we aren’t really aware of, but they dictate our actions, our responses to actions, and sometimes even their outcomes. Basically, if you think you’ll screw up, even if it’s subconsciously while you are in the midst of consciously working towards your goal…you won’t meet your goal. That subconscious gets you every time.

   Comment by Yvette — August 3, 2010 @ 9:40 pm

4. 

   Yvette, I find that to be true too. What you’ve got hidden in the back recesses of your mind will come out, sooner or later, in your actions. We need to think about what we’re thinking about–and change it if necessary!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 5, 2010 @ 1:22 pm

5. 

   You know, I’ve always hated that question: so why are you the best person to write this? Well, my theory is, “I THOUGHT of it! I have the VISION! No one else could do it justice because it’s in MY heart!”

   Could you say that to an editor? I mean, fiction? Come on! I didn’t live with the dinosaurs. I’m not a paleontologist. But I do have a son and I love music. Isn’t that enough?

   I can always pitch the book and show high levels of enthusiasm for each of my projects, and maybe even get others excited about the idea, too. But why should “I” be the one to write it? I don’t know, you tell me…

   Seriously, what do you think? Any advice here?

   Comment by Christie Wild — August 6, 2010 @ 11:26 pm

6. 

   Christie, I LOVE that response! In fact, I think I’ll adopt it as my own. It’s what I’ve always secretly thought. (“I thought of it! I have the passion in MY heart for it!”) And editors readily agree that a writer’s passion for a subject–fiction or nonfic–comes through in the writing and gives it that extra “edge.” I think that’s a great response. Even if part of your answer is “I have a master’s degree in this subject,” I think the “passion factor” should be mentioned too.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 9, 2010 @ 6:48 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website