Elizabeth Boyle's Blog, page 34

Have You Packed Your Pitch?

So for all the writers headed to NYC this weekend for the RWA (Romance Writers of America) National Conference one of the most important things to have packed and at the ready is your pitch. After all the clothes, shoes shopping, the time you spent getting your roots done, have you spent as much time perfecting that single line you are going to toss out that will peek the interest of an editor or agent? Is it enough to stop them in their tracks and train their antenna toward you? (Honestly, they do have antenna, they are just expert at hiding them.)

A good pitch will convey your enthusiasm for your project, reveal the mood of the story and create enough excitement and curiosity in the editor to entice them to request a proposal. What pitching doesn't need to be is a heart-stopping, frightening experience. No matter how you shake with unnecessary nerves or how badly you stutter through your pitch, chances are excellent that if your story fits the editor's line and is something she is looking for, she will ask to see a proposal.

So relax. A good pitch will do the work for you. Your only task when you enter an agent/editor appointment is to have done your homework. Here are your pre-appointment assignments:

1. Can you explain your story in High Concept? High Concept (HC) is a Hollywood term for presenting a story idea in one line, which gives the audience an overview of the story plot and theme. Yes, you read that correctly, one line. If you've seen the movie, "The Player" then you are familiar with this method. The first step in preparing your pitch is to find your HC, which is essentially utilizing familiar plots, stories and myths in comparison to your story. When I started working on my book, STEALING THE BRIDE, I used the HC line, "It Happened One Night meets the Regency." I once heard Susan Wiggs describe her book THE LIGHTHOUSE as "Beauty and the Beast in a lighthouse."

2. Why High Concept works. Any time you use a familiar theme/story/fairy tale, it comes ready made with emotion, memories, and images. By using fairy tales, myths, beloved movies and legends that everyone is familiar with, you compare and contrast your book setting an immediate mood. You don't need to spend a lot of time on back story or other elements of your plot, because the moment you use a HC pitch, the editor knows exactly what your manuscript is all about. If I were to say, "Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending," you immediately know this is a story of star-crossed lovers from feuding families who don't die at the end.

3. After the HC, what comes next? The body of the pitch tells the editor how you have spun a new take on a familiar story. A good pitch will create excitement about your story, reveal theme, entice readers with the conflict and convey the uniqueness of your story. In essence what I'm describing are the elements of a back copy blurb (BCB). Take four or five books that are similar to what you write and study the back copy, paying particular attention to the use of language and structure. One very important thing to remember: a BCB leaves you hanging as to story resolution, a good pitch won't!

4. The real work begins. To start, divide a sheet of paper into three sections, heading one with the name of your heroine, the other, your hero, and the third, write in your HC line. Under each section, brainstorm at least twenty words that describe each of these headings. Try to avoid physical descriptions, rather think of words which describe the person's essence. For the heroine of STEALING THE BRIDE, Lady Diana Fordham, I used words such as: spinster, daring, resolute, determined, inventive, crafty, sensual, risk taker, concealed, audacious, etc. These words reveal her personality, her conflict, her goals, her story. When you are finished, you have a project orientated thesaurus from which to draft your pitch.

5. Drafting your pitch. Take another sheet of blank paper and divide it again into three sections. In the first section, state your heroine's goal, in the second, your hero's, and head the last one as "Collision." In the first two paragraphs, outline the conflict and goals for your heroine and for your hero. Again, read the copy from the back of several books and you'll begin to see how these are crafted. As you work:

• Try to draw out the theme, mood or quality of the story by using words from your thesaurus. If the story is suspense, the audience should feel the drama in your story. If it is a warm and fuzzy romance, the audience should go away feeling the need for a cozy blanket and cup of cocoa.

• Next, make sure you have demonstrated that your heroine and hero's goals/conflict are opposing. Simply put, show how your story conflict is "two dogs, one bone," that the hero and heroine are in opposition. Show the editor that your story has depth and the hero and heroine are going to be battling from the first page to the resolution to have that bone.

• For what I call the collision paragraph, I try to demonstrate the romance of the story. Why these two people are so different or alike and why they will ultimately find love and romance. Again, this is a great place to draw your HC theme into the pitch, and look for language that will evoke the sexual tension/mood of your story.

• Finally, make sure your language includes your enthusiasm for your story. This is your 30 seconds of fame, make it the most memorable 30 seconds of your audience's life. Leave them breathless with need to read your story.

6. Practice your pitch. Find someone who has never heard the elements of your story before and practice your pitch on them. Listen carefully to their questions, because these may well be the same questions an editor will ask, and you can either rework your pitch to fix the holes or have a ready answer with which to fill in the questions. Anticipate as many questions as you can about conflict, motivation, plot devices and the resolution, and then think out or write out your answers.

7. During the appointment. With so much time being spent discussing how to craft a pitch, there is little advice on what to do when you get there. In group appointments, listen to the questions the editor asks other authors. This will give you a good idea as to what the editor is looking for and what they don't want to see. Refocus your pitch accordingly. Don't ever monopolize the conversation, comment on other pitches, or interrupt anyone else. Politely introduce yourself, offer your HC line, and then after taking another deep breath and therefore allowing your marvelous idea to set the mood, give your complete pitch and then close your mouth and smile. Answer questions from the editor with direct, concise answers. Thank her for her time and ask her if she would like to see the complete manuscript or sample chapters and a synopsis.

8. After the appointment. Make sure you send the editor what they requested promptly. Sadly, editors say that they hear wonderful ideas all the time and then never see the manuscripts. Have it out to door and headed for New York as soon as you get back. Write "Requested Materials" on the outside envelope and remind the editor in your cover letter that you met at the RWA conference and the enclosed materials are what she has requested.

Good luck and see you in New York.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Five Things About Toni Blake

This week's Five Things features Toni Blake, who has written all sorts of wonderful contemporary stories, is always a hoot to hang out with and was willing to subject herself to the ruthless screening process that makes up the Five Things review. So without further ado, Five Things About Toni Blake.

Favorite indulgence: TV, plain and simple. My name is Toni and I'm a TV-aholic. People come down on TV-watching like it's a horrible thing, but I disagree. So much of what's on TV is very well done – comedies make me laugh, dramas make me think and feel. As a lifelong TV watcher, I credit TV for being instrumental in teaching me how to structure a story and how to write dialogue. And yes, I do watch some reality TV, too, and I can't always justify that as much, but eh – in the words of Sheryl Crow: If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad ; )

First memory: I was desperately trying to get out of my baby bed because it was Saturday morning and I just knew I was missing Scooby Doo. Yes, I seriously remember being in my baby bed, as vividly as if it happened yesterday. That said, I'm not sure, at that age, how I could know if Scooby Doo was on, so this might be one of those memories that wasn't exactly the way I recall it. But I do remember being in the baby bed and being so frustrated that I couldn't get out.[image error]

Favorite dessert: A nice, chewy brownie. Why complicate things – I like to keep it simple.

Most played song on your iPod: Not sure if it's the most played, but it's the-song-I-love-that-is-probably-the-least-likely-song-people-who-know-me-would-EXPECT-me-to-love, and I do play it a lot: Fell in Love With The Girl by The White Stripes

Coolest celeb you've ever met (other than me): I once stood about seven feet from George Clooney – does that count? Plus he and I dropped out of the same college – so we clearly have a lot in common ; ) I'm pretty sure he'll be trying to whisk me away to the Italian villa any day now.

[image error]While Toni is waiting for George, you might like to try her latest book, Whisper Falls which would put you in good stead to read her upcoming book, Holly Lane. Check out her website for excerpts, all things Toni, and perhaps you will bump into Mr. Clooney there as well. Not promising anything, just saying . . .

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Tried and True Conference Advice

Over the years I've gone to a number of RWA conferences. I've pitched. I've gone to workshops. I've sat in my room and wondered what I was doing there. I've signed books. I've collected books. I've met agents, editors, publicists, professionals that I now call friends. I love conference. I loathe conference. All for the same reasons. So here are the quick links to the blogs I've written over the years with advice about going to conference:

1) My GLEE Inspired Conference Tips. Even if you have never watched Glee, there is advice here to that should be taken to heart. Believe me, conference can crush you like Vocal Adrenaline if you aren't careful.

2) The Sure Thing. If you going to pitch anything at Nationals, please, do yourself a favor and read this.

3) How to Pack. This is crucial. Packing properly for RWA can save you a lot of heartache.

4) Most Important Advice Ever. Actually it should be first. I answer the most important question of all: Why go to conference. My answer will surprise you. Or hopefully it won't.[image error]

5. What to Wear. Two words: Business Casual–as long as you feel comfortable in that. And by the way, the best dress I ever wore for the RITAs, which got nothing but compliments and "where did you get it?", I got at the Goodwill for $9.95. The requisite dry cleaning was more expensive.

There's my advice. If I left anything out and you have more conference questions, please post them in the comments and I will be happy to answer them.

Monday contest:

Win a Writer's Package with some of my favorite writing tools and books.

Two ways to enter:

1) Leave a comment below with either a question about attending a writing conference or just writing in general.

If you are reading this on Facebook, you can only enter at my actual blog. http://elizabethboyle.com/blog/?p=1164. Facebook does not allow contests via their site.

and/or

2) Tweet the following: @ElizBoyle has some great conference advice on her blog and a contest for writers. http://elizabethboyle.com/blog/?p=1164 #RWA11

I'll give you all until midnight, PT, Thursday, June 24th to get your entry in.

Make sure to check back here Friday June 24th to find out if you won.

Last week's winner:

Karen R, who made comment #8 in my Monday, June 13, blog. Karen, please email me via my Contact page before Friday, June 24th to claim your prize.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Lord Andrew

Every once in a while, I come to a place in a book where I need an unexpected character. Someone I wasn't planning on. Usually I have all my characters mapped into the outline, names picked and they wait in the wings until their curtain comes up.

Then a story will take a little bit of a twist and I find myself making a quick casting call.

In the case of Lord Langley is Back in Town, that character was Lord Andrew Stowe. Suddenly, I needed a young agent from the Foreign Office willing to help Langley. Basically, I needed a younger version of Langley–a young gentleman, rash and impetuous, with a keen mind. The sort who had easily seen too much, but couldn't be easily gotten rid of because of his connections to Society. He leaped onto the page, "Ta-Da," but then came the tough part.

What to call him. As I sorted through my usual naming sources, I found myself delving deeply into creating his character–where he'd come from, that he was a second son, that he was brilliantly wise–an old soul, but a name! What to call this character who was stepping onto the page in a moment of plotting need and now demanding a full and engaging place in the story. This doesn't happen all that often, but as a writer I know his name is going to be important.

But at the moment, I just couldn't come up with one that fit.

So I did what I always do when a character needs a name, I can't find one, and I must get back to the writing: I borrowed one.

Yes, borrowed one. I call these "placeholder names." I use someone's name (usually a friend or family member's name) to hold the place until I have time to come back and find the right name. I do this, so I don't forget to remove it. Because when I use a familiar name, then it just blares at me every time I see it to "find me a REAL name." Only sometimes, the placeholder name becomes the final name.

This happened in This Rake of Mine. I needed my heroine, Miranda Mabberly to have an assumed name. So I plucked out of the hat, Jane Porter, the women's fiction writer who is a good friend of mine. Yet I never got around to changing it because by the end of the book, Jane Porter fit so perfectly.

And so it was with Lord Andrew. I plucked a name from my family at large, and then it stuck. It became the perfect name for the character–a young man of conviction and dedication, like my nephew Andrew. So Andrew, thank you for letting me borrow your name and being such a good sport about it. And thank you to the fictional Andrew for being such a wonderful character. And yes, eventually, you will get your own book.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Five Things About Jenny Brown

As is with my Thursdays, I've dug up Five Things about fellow Avon Author, Jenny Brown. Here they are:

1. The last book you read: Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray.



2. Favorite place to shop online: The Book Depository.com. Free shipping on English books not for sale in the U.S.



3. If you could go on a date with one of your heroes, which one and why? Captain Trevelyan from my next book, Star Crossed Seduction. It might end up being only a one night stand, but I'd remember that night for the rest of my life.

4. Coolest celeb you've ever met: Singer/Songwriter Tim Buckley. So handsome and he had the most beautiful voice I've ever heard.

5. Strangest thing you've learned from the man in your life: It's possible to make a very nice living selling custom-made bottle openers. (From EB: She isn't kidding! Her husband custom makes these amazing tools. His site is here.)

Jenny's next book, Star Crossed Seduction, comes out in August and can pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

If you didn't know it already, Jenny's books have a hint of astrology to them, so please do as this stubborn and determined Capricorn advises, give them a try.

To find out more about Jenny Brown, you can also visit her website: http://jennybrown.net

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Shout Out Monday

Recently, a clerk in the store was truly helpful and just wonderfully nice–this doesn't always happen when you shop and have a child with autism, so I made a point of finding the manager and telling them what a fine job the clerk had done. To which the manager said:

Really? I never hear anything nice–I thought you were here to complain.

That sort of set me back. No kidding? No one ever takes the time to say something nice, but they will go out of their way to complain. Her confession really bothered me.

When I mentioned this to a writer friend, she made that inelegant old lady snort that I love to write about and then went to slap me on top the head and asked, "Don't you ever read the reviews on Amazon?".

Oh, yeah. Forgot about those.

I wonder about a Society where we will go out of way to complain, vent our raw opinions publicly, or consider snark as witty and not see or weigh the meanness behind what is labeled humor if only to mask what it really is. Apparently being nice or gracious in our Society, is like the scene in the movie Hancock where the public relations guru is trying to teach Hancock manners and poor Hancock can barely get out "Good job!"

Shouldn't we be taking the same amount of time (and I would argue more time) to say Thank You? Or rather, Good Job.

So here is my EB Blog Monday Contest: Shout Out Monday

How to enter:

1) Leave a comment below with a short review of a book you've loved lately or a shout out to someone or a business that has gone the extra mile. Or if you have given a happy review lately, share the link in a comment below.

If you are reading this on Facebook, you can only enter at my actual blog. http://elizabethboyle.com/blog/2011/0.... Facebook does not allow contests via their site.

2) Tweet your shout out with the "#SOM" (Shout Out Monday)

3) RT one of my tweets about this contest.

I'll give you all until midnight, PT, Sunday, June 19th to come up with your Shout Out and get your entry in. Oh, and I think this is worthy of multiple entries, so enter as many times as you like!

PRIZE: A bookbag with some wonderful autographed books and some other signing goodies. Make sure to check back here next Monday to find out if you won.

Last week's winner of the Dream Booksigning Contest is: Melissa Cahill, who left comment #17 on the blog. Please contact me with your address before 6/20 and I will send along your prize.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Five Things about Debra Mullins

Want to know a little more about one of my fellow Avon authors? Here are five things you might not know about Debra Mullins:

1) First memory: Putting salt in the sugar bowl. I was about two or three, and my dad took his tea with a LOT of sugar… You can guess the rest.

2) If you could go on a date with one of your heroes, which one and why? Lucien DuFeron from Three Nights… He's a self-made man in a time when that was looked down upon, having to fight the taint of illegitimacy while at the same time enjoying the backhanded social perks to be had because his father acknowledged him. He's super smart–a genius at the stock market–and I just can't resist a brainy guy. Plus he's half French and well versed in the ways of amour.

3) Favorite dessert: Chocolate covered strawberries or cannoli. It's a tie.

4) Most played song on your iPod: Rick Springfield, either "Souls," "Affair of the Heart" or "Jessie's Girl." I'm a child of the 80′s.



5) Secret passion Geneology. Just last year I started tracing my family tree, and I'm fascinated by the stories.

Make sure you don't miss Debra's new release, Too Wicked to Love, which is out now. To read an excerpt or learn more about Debra, visit her website, DebraMullins.com

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Found!

For all of you who were worried about the quality of my house elves, worry no more. The little imps produced my lost shoe! I was about to order another pair from Zappos when the missing foot dropped. So to say.



Hurrah! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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A Full Weekend

This weekend was such a whirl. Trip to Portland, a booksigning, come home and then over Puget Sound to Silverdale for the last signing. I can't believe how fast the time went. But I thought you might like to see some pictures from all these adventures.

Powells

Julia Quinn and I were there for a duel event–the booksigning and the Romance Live event–which when they post it, I'll share a link, just in case you missed it. Let me say, it was way too much fun. Great questions from the audience and via the online folks. I hope Avon plans to do more events like that because it allows so many people to "attend."

And it was a great place to go. Powells is one my favorite bookstores–I love both the downtown and the Beaverton stores–great book selections and knowledgeable staffs. They put together such good events–great posters:

Loads of books:

And wonderful readers who turned out in droves and patiently waited to meet us. (Shout out to Missy! We were still laughing about Missy/Missing Missy the next day).

Powells asked us to sign all the extra copies and they are there waiting for good homes. You can order a signed copy of Lord Langley is Back in Town or a signed copy of Julia Quinn's Just Like Heaven from Powells. Order quickly though, as these will go fast–and put a note in the order that you are looking for one of the signed copies. No guarantees, but if you hurry, the copy will be signed.

As for the pictures from the Silverdale signing, I've uploaded them to my Facebook page, where you can find the album here.

Contest Winner

Of course Portland is also a great place for shopping and I found a wonderful chocolate shop where I picked up treats and at my favorite yarn shop, KnitPurl, they had drinking chocolate–supposedly for drinking while knitting, but I think it would work pretty well for drinking while reading. So this bag of bookspooting treats is now the happy property of Mindy S./@romancebooknerd. Mindy, email me before 6/12/11 and let me know what your address is and I will send along your prize packet.

New Contest

With all these booksignings this weekend it got me thinking: Where you would like to have your dream booksigning?

To enter, name the bookstore and the authors! Two ways to enter:

1). Via Twitter. Tweet your answer along with "#LordLangley http://bit.ly/jZPyI8″

2) Make a comment down below. If you are reading this on Facebook, you can only enter at my actual blog. http://elizabethboyle.com/blog/2011/0.... Facebook does not allow contests via their site.

Either way, I'll give you all until midnight, PT, Sunday, June 12th to come up with your dream booksigning and get your entry in.

PRIZE: A bookbag with some wonderful autographed books that I picked up this weekend along with some other signing goodies. Make sure to check back here next Monday to find out if you won.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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House Elves, Good & Evil

I've been thinking a lot about house elves of late. Mostly because my new shoes, the ones that were so much trouble to find and order and that I love so much keep disappearing. I can find one shoe, but not the other. And then the next day, the other one magically appears so I can wear them both, until the next day, when this is what I will find:

One shoe. Go figure. The other has once again wandered off. I suspect evil House Elves.

On another the front, the good House Elves have been laboring over my website of late, adding new features, sprucing up the corners (or in this case, the footers)

and giving ElizabethBoyle.com all kinds of new functionality. At least that is what the elves call it.

I just call it some fun new ways to 'splore around and discover new books, news, or things you might not have known about yours truly. Scroll down to the bottom of most pages, and you'll find one of these fancy footers offering you all kinds of places to go. Sort of like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, pointing his finger in every direction imaginable.

The other fun feature is the Extras page. Here you will find, well, Extras.

Apparently House Elves LOVE Extras, so they've stocked them all in one convenient place where you can find bookmarks, links, videos, Family Trees, and how to get other goodies directly from me.

Say if you have a Reader's Group and want to surprise them with bookmarks or are hosting a library event or other reader function–the house elves have all the Extras and Freebies in one spot. Those smart little elves wanted to make sure you knew that I would be there to help any way I can! However, I have discovered that their union doesn't allow them to actually pack the boxes and mail them, but lucky for you, I am more than happy to do that.

You'll also find lots of new sidebars that link to my Blog, (The House Elves have linked them to the posts that are relevant to those pages), to Facebook and to my Twitter feed. Like I said, these are the good House Elves, and they truly are genius.

The other thing they uncovered and loved and brought to the forefront, are the Footnotes I've written about some of my older books. These are behind the scenes looks into these stories and how they were inspired and written. You'll find I have some catching up to do, but that gives me something to pull together over the next year and something for the House Elves to look forward to posting.

Happy Surfing! I suggest starting Here. And if you find my other shoe, please let me know.

©2011 Elizabeth Boyle Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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