Skip to main content

Pitch Workshop: Part 3

Hey everyone! So, today's the last day of instruction, and I'll post an example from my own writing to show you how I put it all together to make a Twitter pitch on tomorrow.  And give you an opportunity to post your pitch and get feedback. Also, on Friday, I'll be giving away a free bookmark graphic for all participates. After your feedback tomorrow, I'll invite Jessica from The Write Shadow here on Friday to give you a last chance feedback opportunity on your polished pitches.

Thank you ALL for participating!

Now, the last questions to answer!

We're talking about stakes today. I want you to think about stakes, both good and bad.

First, what happens if your MC fails? If she doesn't achieve her goal, what consequences befall her?

Second, what happens if she DOES succeed? Will she have to sacrifice something in order to win? What does winning cost her?


Comments

  1. Shari SchwarzApril 16, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    I hope you're feeling better, Talynn.

    Good questions!

    If my mc fails, his brother may die. Also, his deepest fear is to be completely alone. If his brother dies, he really will be all alone. He also knows he will be an even bigger disappointment to his parents.

    He doesn't know how to rescue his brother but If he tries, he might lose his life also because of the circumstances. He doesn't know what the outcome will be--maybe his brother won't even make it or if he does, will he be ok?

    Succeeding costs him...finding out a painful secret that changes his life (eventually for the better).

    Thank you,
    Shari

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jessica HarveyApril 17, 2014 at 6:44 AM

      I LOVE that the stakes are tied to your MC's greatest fears. The payoff from that when it's decision time for your MC will be amazing, both for your MC and for the reader.

      Delete
  2. Ink in the BookApril 16, 2014 at 1:41 PM

    I seriously can't wait to work on your feedback tomorrow! You've got such an amazing sounding pitch already! It's going to be fun putting it all together!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shari SchwarzApril 16, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    Thanks, Talynn! I really appreciate your comments and interest in my story. I'm really excited about your feedback, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JEN GarrettApril 16, 2014 at 2:05 PM

    Oooh, fun homework:

    First the easy question:

    if Honey fails to control her powers, more people will get hurt and maybe even someone will die. Pretty high stakes. But the twist is that she needs to learn to control her powers because she is the cure, not the problem. (Oh, I've given away the ending... do you still want to read it?)

    Now the harder question (because I didn't think about this, and I should have): If she succeeds in accepting her powers as a new part of herself, that means leaving her old life at Hill Haven, including her BFF Kelly, behind. It means that a part of her might actually be evil, something she doesn't want to face, but now has to. He means that she can no longer assume everything will always be the way it always was. She will have to accept one inevitability: change. It means that she will have to grow up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ink in the BookApril 16, 2014 at 2:50 PM

      Awesome stakes! On both sides. This will be so fun to work on with all your great answers in the workshop. Your pitch will be fabulous:)

      Delete
    2. JEN GarrettApril 16, 2014 at 3:13 PM

      Thanks! Looking forward to tomorrow. There's a small typo in my homework ("He" is supposed to be "It") so people don't get confused. :)

      Delete
    3. Jessica HarveyApril 17, 2014 at 6:46 AM

      Facing change is a scary thing, so your stakes are super awesome. Even though you say you gave away the ending, you still have me intrigued!

      Delete
  5. Jessica HarveyApril 16, 2014 at 10:32 PM

    First, what happens if your MC fails? If she doesn't achieve her goal, what consequences befall her?

    If Jenna fails, she won't achieve her dream. She won't join NASA's program. She won't get the guy. And that's probably her worst fear-- being directionless with no place to call home.


    Second, what happens if she DOES succeed? Will she have to sacrifice something in order to win? What does winning cost her?

    Getting into NASA's program quickly becomes only half the battle. As she falls for the love interest, succeeding means leaving him behind for good. The LURE Program is a one-way ticket off of planet Earth. She'll achieve her dream, but lose the love of her life.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 16, 2014 at 10:37 PM

    Just thought I'd pop up and confirm that I would see you all on Friday. (www.JessicaSchmeidler.com)

    I'll post my own quick pitch tips on my blog Thursday, and you guys can pop over there on Friday for the final day of the workshop.

    Thank you, so much, Talynn, for taking part in #JustPitchIt.

    Your friend,
    Jessica

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Operation Agent Ink

UPDATE: PLEASE FILL OUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AFTER YOU SIGN UP. Have you ever wondered what agents were dying to find in their inbox/slush pile? There have been many times I entered a contest and not even received a comment, not even from one of the agents. Or maybe the agent was kind enough to leave a comment that simply said, "Sorry, this just isn't what I'm looking for, but I love the premise and your voice." I always walk away feeling unsatisfied. If I had known exactly what the agent wanted beyond, "YA" or "Fantasy" I might not have even entered a contest I knew I wouldn't win! Even more, I wasted a very busy agents time! Well, your time of guessing is up! OPERATION AGENT INK to the rescue! That's right! This workshop will help aspiring authors get on the list of an agent's WISH LIST! When the workshop is over, your manuscript will be ready to view by a group of AMAZING agents who are dying to see what you've wri...
111 comments
Read more

Writer In Motion CP feedback

Hey beautiful guys and dolls! Here it is! My CP feedback edited story. Had a hard time with this, but I hope it makes sense. I've got a post I'm working on I plan to put up after Thanksgiving. Here ya go. Enjoy... Every morning I wake to carnival day.  Today, though, I have my key. If I don’t use it before midnight, my way of escape will gone. It’s a silver key with a twisted metal handle, a sapphire stone half moon and engraved stars. There’s a tiny inscription on the moon, but it’s so small, I’ve never been able to read it.I’ve always kept mine in my jewelry box, but today, I string it on a ribbon and tie it around my neck. My two best friends will be wearing theirs, too, and I wonder how they will escape this carnival of dreams. “What’s it for?” Cress asks as we stand in line for the swings. I run my fingertips over the entire silver surface. “I don’t know. It belonged to my grandmother,” I say. “Whatever.” She shrugs her shoulder in a dismissive way. “Have ...
3 comments
Read more

Workshop 10

Today, let's get readers hooked from the very first sentence. If you do, you are off to a great start and hopefully a great first chapter. We are going to focus on the first and second sentence and how you can draw readers in while introducing two major items about your book: 1. Your MC 2. The main conflict. How? Is it really possible to do this in only TWO sentences? YES! Example: My name is Snow, like the white powder that falls during winter, though I don't know what my mom was thinking because it was ninety degrees the day I was born. I turned twelve the year I married a man I hated and thirteen when my first baby was born. This sentence tells us a lot. It shows us a little about Snow's personality, it hints toward a shortened childhood and could possibly point to a different time era. I also can definitely see the conflict. Can you? You only have a few minutes to make a good, first impression. Make sure you wow your reader enough they'll actually t...
115 comments
Read more