Tonight: Batter Up for ACFW at MBT PitchFest Online Chat

photo by justino307/stock.xchange.com


I leave for the 2010 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference in--gasp!--four days! I've got to pack. But first I have to figure out what I'm going to wear. And I've got to make sure everything's settled on the home-front before I slip away from motherhood for a few days and focus on being a writer.

And while I'm packing and preparing, I've got to practice my pitch for my novel!

Actually, I'm not stressing about my pitch, thanks to the MBT (My Book Therapy) Polish and Promotion conference I attended last May. The insights from bestselling author Susan May Warren and literary agent Chip MacGregor helped me craft a strong pitch for my contemporary romance.

What about you? How are you feeling about your pitch for ACFW--or any other conferences you plan to attend?

If you're looking for a chance to polish your pitch, join us at the Batter Up for ACFW PitchFest at the online MBT Chat tonight at 8 p.m. ET ( 7 p.m. CT). Spend two hours--or however much time you have available--interacting with other writers as you polish your pitch to perfection! Learn how to zero in on your hook--that first sentence that grabs an editor, agent or publisher. And then discover how to write a premise that feeds their interest, while focusing on the most important elements of your story.

For some warm-ups, read the following blog posts:
Pitch Practice by Susan May Warren
Pitch Fest: The Why and Why Not by Beth K. Vogt
Pitch Fest: The Hook: How Ironic! by Teri Dawn Smith
Pitch Fest: Premise Practice ... and a Promise: It's Really Not So Hard!

Pitch Fest: Why? Why Not?

Learning about verbal pitches from Susan May Warren and agent Chip MacGregor at the 2010 MBT Pitch and Promotion Conference

As bestselling author Susan May Warren mentioned in yesterday's MBT Pitch Practice post, at the heart of every good pitch is your passion for your story.

Thanks to Susie, there is a marvelous method for harnessing your passion and crafting an a-ma-zing pitch. That's what this Blog Fest is all about!


The Why: the plot element driving your character through the story
To focus your pitch, you must return once again to your main character(s). No groaning and thinking, "I am so over trying to get inside my character's head! I want a book contract!" Crafting a compelling verbal pitch helps you present yourself confidently, which brings you one step closer to your dream.

1. Ask you character, "Who are you? What is your identity and why?" Then delve into their answers--yeah, that whole conversation with imaginary characters we fiction writers do--and look for their core values. Things like freedom, loyalty, family or honesty. Their core values move them through the story.
Example: Your heroine values safety/security--and she's got her planned/canned happily ever after with her "Safety Patrol Boy" fiancé .

2. Ask your character, "What are you good at? Why?" Look for unique skills, abilities, personalities, physical attributes, legacies or knowledge. Competence = uniqueness.
Example: Your heroine, a graphic designer, is a bit of a control freak who makes sure she doesn't color outside the lines in her personal life.

The Why Not: what prevents your character from accomplishing his/her goal
One of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Why Not is equal in menace and strength to the character's Why.

The Why and Why Not war against each other. To discover the Why Not look at your character's goal--security? to protect someone?--and turn it inside -outside-upside-down into the opposite goal.
Example: Your heroine buried her love for her adventuresome, daring father--ever since he abandoned her. Being with him was her happiest time--but all she wants now is security. (Funny, how her fiancé's appealing brother reminds her of her father.) Does she really want security--or does she want a man she can trust enough to risk with?

So you have your Why and Why Not, the building blocks of your pitch. How do you weave this into your pitch? Why + Why Not = essential elements of your plot. Use these to discover the dramatic irony in your story. To learn about irony, go to MBT Ponderer Teri Dawn Smith's post: Pitch Fest: The Hook: How Ironic!

After you read Teri's post, find out why MBT Ponderer Melissa Tagg promises writing a premise isn't that hard--even though it initially freaked her out! Then join Susie and the MBT Ponderers on Monday night, September 13 at 7 p.m. (Central) for a Pitch Practice Chat!