by Paula Yoo
Welcome to the final day of PiBoldMo! Congratulations! You made it! By now, hopefully you have come up with 29 fantastically fun and totally awesome ideas for future picture books. 🙂
So for Day 30, you need one more idea. Come on, you can do it!
But in case you are burned out, here’s one last idea sparker to help you make it through Day 30.
Have you ever heard of the “elevator pitch”? It’s a famous phrase used all the time in the writing industry, as well as in the business world. In a nutshell, the “elevator pitch” is how long it should take for you to tell someone what your book is about. By the time your elevator reaches your floor, you should have been able to “pitch” your book idea in that brief amount of time.
In other words, an elevator pitch should last about 30 seconds.
So look over your 29 ideas so far. Can you pitch each idea in 30 seconds?
Pretend you waiting for the elevator at the Society of Children Book Writers &Illustrators national conference. To your left stands a famous children’s book editor. The two of you engage in some small talk as you wait for the elevator. The editor learns you are a writer at the conference. Eager, he/she asks if you have written anything.
And then the elevator doors open.
Oh no! You probably have 30 seconds to pitch your amazing picture book to this editor before the elevator reaches his/her floor.
So how to craft your elevator pitch? Some tips to get you started:
1. Start with a cliffhanger “hook.”
This can be in the form of a question or a one-sentence “logline” that conveys your book’s main conflict. “What if a child loses her beloved stuffed toy animal at a laundromat and can’t tell her dad because she hasn’t learned to talk yet?” Or think of your hook in terms of theme or even a personal anecdote that relates to your book. For example: “I have the most stubborn cat who is convinced the full moon is a bowl of milk. She will do anything to reach that moon.” (Note:
Obviously I’m using “Knuffle Bunny” and “Kitten’s First Full Moon” as examples.)
2. Set up the main character and conflict.
Then launch into the heart of your story—who’s your main character? Why should we love him/her? What obstacle must they overcome in their quest? (“Trixie and Knuffle Bunny have never been separated… until now.”)
3. Leave ’em hanging. Don’t spoil the actual ending.
Conclude with an open ending—will Trixie learn how to speak before Knuffle Bunny is lost forever?
For Day 30, to get your brain ready for that final idea, why not take an hour or two to review your previous 29 ideas? See if you can “pitch” them to a friend. Sometimes I will take a friend out for coffee and pitch them some ideas I am working on to get their feedback on how clear and concise my ideas sound to them. I even have them “time” me with a stop watch!
When you are working on your elevator pitch, it will help you focus on what the heart of each book is truly about… you’ll learn quickly as to what the most important point of the book is.
Once you practice your elevator pitches for some of the 29 ideas you’ve already come up with, then try the same approach for your 30th idea. See if you can just brainstorm a fun 30th picture book idea in 30 seconds or under. You can even record yourself as you talk out loud. Or you can write them down. I’d say a written elevator pitch should be no more than one paragraph.
Make sure your elevator pitch is concise, uses clear language, and has a powerful visual image. Make sure there’s a clear hook that summarizes the main conflict and/or theme.
Good luck and congrats on reaching Day 30 of PiBoldMo!
P.S. And if you’re up for the challenge, please join me this May 1-7, 2011 for the 2nd annual NaPiboWriWee event sponsored by my website at http://paulayoo.com! NaPiBoWriWee is short for National Picture Book Writing Week where I challenge writers to write an entire picture book every day for a whole week—7 picture books in 7 days!
Paula Yoo is the author of the YA novel GOOD ENOUGH (HarperCollins ’08) and the children’s award-winning non-fiction picture book SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY (Lee & Low ’09) and IRA Notable SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY (Lee & Low ’08). She is also a TV writer, whose credits include THE WEST WING, TRU CALLING, and SIDE ORDER OF LIFE. She is currently a producer on The SyFy Channel’s series, EUREKA.
42 comments
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November 30, 2010 at 11:10 am
Bonnie Adamson
Hooray–what a nice way to end up the challenge, with a reminder that these ideas we’ve been working on can be ACTUAL STORIES TO PITCH!
Thanks for the tips–look forward to seeing you at NaPiBoWriWee in May!
November 30, 2010 at 11:10 am
Catherine Denton
Thank you for these great tips! 30 second pitch? Wow.
November 30, 2010 at 11:11 am
Bonnie Adamson
Hooray! What a nice way to end the challenge, with a reminder that these ideas we’ve been working on can be ACTUAL STORIES TO PITCH!
Thanks for the tips–look forward tos eeing you at NaPiBoWriWee in May!
November 30, 2010 at 11:13 am
Kimberly Lynn
Excellent tips, Paula! It’s funny that you shared this post because I’ve been working on elevator pitches for my picture book ideas. I only did my top five favorites, though. It might be good practice to work on some more. Thanks for sharing!
November 30, 2010 at 11:17 am
Catherine Johnson
Great idea to see which are worth pursuing too, thanks.
November 30, 2010 at 11:27 am
Priscilla Mizell
NaPiBoWriWee sounds amazing–I’ll mark my calendar now.
November 30, 2010 at 11:44 am
Jim Hill
Great advice, Paula, thanks. I plan on reviewing my 31 ideas for my favorites, and finding these pitch points.
See you for NaPiBoWriWee!
November 30, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Dana Carey
Hi Paula! So nice to see you here.
This is such valuable advice. A great way to put our ideas to the test and to hone our thinking process. I better get busy–I’m going to our SCBWI France Regional Conference this weekend–it’s called “From Idea to Book”. Quelle coincidence! 🙂
November 30, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Loni Edwards
Hi Paula! I loved the post. Great tips, thank you! Happy Holidays!
November 30, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Diana Murray
Thank you, Paula! That’s exactly the push I needed for my last idea!
(P.S. My husband and I are HUGE fans of Eureka. 🙂 )
November 30, 2010 at 1:10 pm
tammi sauer
You genius, Yoo. 🙂
November 30, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Ishta Mercurio
I am absolutely up for NaPiBoWriWee. And thanks for the great post! Hmm, a 30-second sprint to see what I can come up with in terms of new ideas… I like the sound of that challenge. As well as the push to actually turn my ideas into stories that I’ll need to pitch!
November 30, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Beth MacKinney
Thanks for your tips, Paula! : ) The pitch is where the rubber meets the road.
November 30, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Paula Yoo
Hi! Wow, thanks everyone for your kind comments. I am so proud of everyone for doing so well at this year’s PiBoIdMo! Congrats again to Tara for creating such a fun event and thanks for inviting me to blog! Happy Writing, everyone! xo Paula
November 30, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Melissa Liban
I’ve never heard of the elevator pitch before, thanks for posting about it. Now I’m going to practice. Your May challenege sounds fun, I think I might just try it!
November 30, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Rachel
Thanks for the tips, Paula. This is something I really need to practice! I’m embarrassed to say I’ve been tongue-tied more than once in the presence of an editor or agent.
November 30, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Ty's Adventures
This is SO helpful…Mom practiced in the mirror and nailed it! This is such a confidence-booster!
November 30, 2010 at 2:21 pm
amber
Oh score! Love this.
November 30, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Julie
Great tips Paula! I’m looking forward to another NaPiBoWriWee. Right now I’m working earnestly on one I drafted for this year’s.
November 30, 2010 at 2:42 pm
ccgevry
Thanks for that last minute spark of inspiration. I just posted my final idea and am doing the happy dance. Now to see if they all meet the elevator pitch requirement.
I’m putting your May event on my calendar. Sounds like another great way to meet my writing goals.
Wishing you the best,
Cheryl
November 30, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Kristin Gray
See you the first of May!
November 30, 2010 at 3:19 pm
whatieatiam
One of my favorite bloggers!! Hi Paula.
Thanks for simplifing the elevator pitch.
See you in May 🙂
November 30, 2010 at 3:22 pm
whatieatiam
(I forgot I was logged in under my blog name. )
And thanks for using 2 famous books as examples of how they would be pitched..
Donna Reeve
November 30, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Juliet Clare Bell
Thanks, Paula -and thanks so much to Tara for a spectacular job! I’ve got two picture books coming out soon, a sequel to write and I had about 15 viable books I was fleshing out before November 1st, so I wasn’t quite sure whether it was wise to do this this year. I’m SO glad I did! I’ve got 37 ideas of which about 20 look like they might actually work. I’ve deliberately not looked back until now and had completely forgotten about 80% of them, including the ones I like the most. It’s been really exciting to look over them. Thanks again! And Paula, I hope to join you next May (I was at an Arvon writing course last time and couldn’t do it). Clare.
November 30, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Marcy Pusey
Excellent! For a newbie like me, getting a handle on the writers “lingo” is so important! Thank you sincerely! See you in May! 🙂 And maybe in January (will you be at the NY SCBWI conference?)
November 30, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Heather Kephart
Hi Paula, thanks for the great “pitch” tips. I think it might be a good exercise to come up with an exciting hook or pitch BEFORE writing the picture book, not just an idea or notion. Sometimes books are good, but wouldn’t sound so exciting in the form of a pitch. Excited about NaPiBoWriWee!
November 30, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Lynda Shoup
Hi Paula! Your post was a great wake up call that I not only have to write the book, but be able to be articulate about it. Well, I guess that is what December is for.
Looking forward to NaPiBoWriWee again in 2011.
Thanks, Tara, for a great month. I finished and have a few over 30 ideas. Now I need to polish them and learn to talk about them.
November 30, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Lynne Marie
Great pitch! We’ll be sure to hit one out of the park with it. Thanks so much, Paula!
November 30, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Pam Zollman
That was a great post! Excellent tips for making the “elevator pitch” work. Thank you!
I did your NaPiBoWriWee a few years ago…I think it was your first one…and it was fantastic. Loved doing it! And I’m so glad you’re doing it again. So I’ll have to sign up for it again. Gotta get these picture books written, right?
Pam Zollman
http://www.pamzollman.com
http://www.anauthorworl.com
http://www.hurtthebunnies.blogspot.com
November 30, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Mindy
Thanks so much for the great post, Paula. I can’t wait to work on my seven favorite picture book ideas for NaPiBoWriWee!
December 1, 2010 at 12:06 am
Stephanie Shaw
Thank you, Paula. Seven stories in seven days? Oh, golly! But then I wasn’t sure I could write 30 ideas in 30 days…I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!
December 1, 2010 at 2:03 am
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
This is a great challenge! I’ve actually been eager for this month to end so I can go back an hone some of my ideas/phrases/characters into real book ideas. The “elevator pitch” is a perfect way to start tackling the next assignment.
P.S. I love your books! I’ve checked them out of the library and can’t wait to add them to my multicultural book collection.
December 1, 2010 at 3:14 am
Linda Lodding
Thank you, Paula! And thank you Tara for inspiring a month of creativity. And congratulations to all my fellow picture book writers. This writing journey is so much more fun to do when we support one another. Good luck, everyone, in polishing up those picture book ideas into real story gems.
December 1, 2010 at 8:57 am
LadyJai
Oh my goodness! I thought your name sounded familiar!!! I so LOVED the Wharehouse 13 and Eureka crossover! You rock! And then, to find out you write children’s Lit too! You double rock! Thank you for sharing this bit with us.
November 29, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Priya
Going to practice my elevator pitch for some of my ideas. Thank you. BTW, which episodes of the West Wing did you write? I’m rewatching this TV series and love it more than before.
January 31, 2019 at 10:07 am
Ashley Congdon
Do these tips still apply today?
February 2, 2019 at 2:37 pm
kathydoherty1
Thank you! I’m off to try this out!
February 2, 2019 at 5:48 pm
ingridboydston
Thank you!
February 2, 2019 at 7:36 pm
Linda KulpTrout
Excellent tips! Thank you!
February 2, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Jenifer McNamara
Enjoyed your post about pitching.
February 2, 2019 at 10:49 pm
Janie Reinart
Great refresher for writing pitches. Thank you.
February 3, 2019 at 3:29 am
Katja Bertazzo
Thank-you. Great post on pitching.