There are times when you just need a short, concise way of describing something that you created. This is called an elevator pitch. I think the name came about in Hollywood when someone would try to pitch their idea for a movie script to some hot-shot producer who was in a rush to get to some important meeting, and they had mere moments to wow this important personage with an idea so brilliant it would stop them in their tracks… or at least make them accept your business card and perhaps have their people call your people.
My daughter, Jessica, keeps telling me I need to have ‘elevator pitches’ for all my books, so I can describe them quickly to people who might want to buy them, and in case I ever do actually run into a publicist or a good agent… in an elevator. These pitches can also be very useful when sending letters to agents and publishers trying to get them to look at your work. And now that I have my new business cards and my fancy ‘ask me about my books’ t-shirt that I showed you in earlier posts, I really need some pitches… you know… in case people actually do ‘ask me about my books’ like the shirt tells them to.
The thing is… well, we all knew this post would have ‘thing’, didn’t we?… the stuff I write does not lend itself towards quick descriptions. If you are among the single-digit horde of people who have read my first or second action/adventure/humor science fiction stories, go ahead and try to sum them up in one short paragraph. (In fact, you can practice this by going to the website where you bought them and writing a review for me… hint… hint)…
For that matter, just as an experiment, try to describe what I do on this blog in one paragraph… go on… we will all wait for you.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble on about this. The crack squirrels that live in my head are great at coming up with ideas, but when it comes to real work, real writing that must have a laser focus and strike straight to the heart of the matter, the get all fidgety and crack squirrely and start dancing around like little possessed demons… on crack…
Pouring My Art Out 
You have to come up with a “blurb” for all your books – for instance “The Everywhere Chronicles” – Art, a repairman, has a number of adventures with really unusual aliens, all while trying to save his station.
I am working on it,,, harder than it seems
That’s why the publicist and the ‘good agent’ carry pepper spray.
well… then I guess I better carry them also…
Good idea. Pitch your whatever writing project idea and then spray them with pepper spray.
They will undoubtedly appreciate such a novel approach…
“Hello. My name is Art and I like monkeys. I also like to beg for attention. Fortunately, the crack squirrels and lots of intelligent people think I deserve attention. Can I offer you a book?”
I like all of it but the end sort of trails off a little… makes it sound like I am giving books away.
Aren’t you?
not for free
Why not? You’re a generous guy.
But then I will need to get a job… and have no time for writing… or blogging
“Science fiction and childrens books, written by a family-friendly horde of Dick Cheney-hating crack squirrels”.
And for the remainder of the 30 seconds you just whistle and pretend to wait for the door to open.
Short… sweet… weird… it just works on so many levels.
On however many levels you pass during a 30 second elevator ride.
well played…
I agree, your stuff is not easily assimilated to short-handed. Makes coming up with the pitch that much more challenging, no?
It would seem so
But that is such a good thing. In fact, a great thing.
sure it is
I have my pitch and a card they can take with our website and a “catch” of free stuff if they email me from the email on that card.
I like that idea
It works, I’ve sold a lot of new memberships and rentals that way.
I will bear that in mind
For my job, I have to have an elevator pitch ready just in case I happen to share an elevator with a senior executive at some company we’re trying to get to do business with us. Make three points in 30 seconds, we’re told, and whet the appetite of the executive so that he or she wants to hear more. Then give the executive your card and tell him or her that you’ll call in a few days as follow-up.
So here’s your elevator pitch should you find yourself in an elevator with a publisher or agent:
“Hi. My name is Arthur Browne. I am an author, an artist, and a blogger. I have published two books in the action/adventure/humor science fiction genre, as well as a children’s book, I Like Monkeys, that I both wrote and illustrated. My blog, Pouring My Art Out, is a wildly popular humor blog on WordPress. Let me give you my card. It has my blog’s address and you can also link to my books from there. It was very nice to meet you and I appreciate your letting me bend your ear for 30 seconds.”
Dude… that is awesome… can I copy that and use it???
Feel free. It’s my Christmas gift to you, Art.
yay, thanks…
Very nice!! Way to help Arturo!! 🙂
indeed