Selling, Not Telling: The Art of Pitching Novels

In this conversation, Lindsay shares valuable insights on how to pitch novels and ourselves as authors. She emphasizes the importance of selling, not telling, and provides a formula for crafting a compelling pitch. Lindsay also highlights the significance of pitching ourselves before pitching our projects and offers tips on introducing ourselves effectively. She encourages authors to find their people by being specific about the kind of books they write. Lindsay also discusses the spiciness level in books and the importance of being clear about it in pitches and book descriptions.

Takeaways

·      Pitching is about selling, not telling. It’s important to tell people just enough to make them interested and want to know more.

·      Before pitching our projects, we should pitch ourselves effectively. Introduce ourselves with confidence, make eye contact, and be specific about the kind of books we write.

·      Finding our people is crucial. Be specific about the genre, tropes, and time period of our books to attract the right audience.

·      Include the spiciness level of our books in pitches and book descriptions to ensure readers know what to expect.

·      Receiving a ‘no’ is not a failure. It’s an opportunity to find the right audience and focus on those who are genuinely interested in our stories.