December 11, 2024
In
Submissions
Voice Matters
How to Infuse Your Pitch with Your Story’s Unique Style
Your pitch is more than just a summary of your story—it’s a reflection of your narrative voice. Infusing your pitch with your story’s unique style is the key to making it stand out to agents and editors.
The Importance of Voice: Voice is the personality of your writing. It’s what makes your story unique and memorable. When crafting your pitch, try to capture the same tone and style that you use in your manuscript.
If you can’t get your manuscript past the gatekeepers, you have zero chance of getting published. So who are the gatekeepers? They are often editor and agent assistants. These assistants often take the first pass at the agent’s or editor’s inbox to eliminate manuscripts that don’t follow guidelines or don’t meet their boss’ tastes.
Shadra Strickland might be the most delightful writing workshop presenter on the planet. In this episode, the author/illustrator (and agent!) reveals how to get at the heart of your story by sharing some of her best writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing from your brain to the page.
A great picture book pitch isn’t just about conveying what your hero wants—it’s about what’s standing in their way. It’s about conveying the dramatic tension in your story, and what’s at stake for your hero.
Crafting a compelling pitch is an essential skill for any picture book author. It is the single most important part of your submissions package to agents and editors for publication consideration. A well-written pitch will spark an agent or editor’s interest, making them eager to read your manuscript.
Today’s episode features a practically perfect pair of presenters.
