7 Top Tips for Pitching

With the return of Meet Your Match coming up, we wanted to share the advice of our Meet Your Match 2024 winner, Alessandra Ranelli, to get her top tips for polishing your pitch until it shines. This advice originally appeared in our newsletter in April 2024.

Alessandra’s debut novel Murder at the Hotel Orient will be published in the UK on the 30th April 2026 (pre-order here) and in the US on the 19th May 2026 (pre-order here).

Four Things Your Pitch (Probably) Needs

1. A Hook

I know, you’re sick of reading this advice. If you already know your hook, great. If you need help, I recommend a technique I call Finding your Glimmer, which is part of my pitching ritual. Meditate, and recall the initial idea, moment, or question that inspired you. Chances are, that initial spark is closely related to the hook that will make readers buy your book.

2. Be the Same but Different

I can feel you rolling your eyes. Here is a trick: use the comp title plus a clarification.

In my query letter, I quote from one agent who described my book as a “Naughty version of THE MAID.”

• [adjective] + Comp: Dystopian Peter Pan (Lord of the Flies)
• Comp but [Adjective]: Twilight but kinky (50 Shades of Grey)
• Comp with [Noun]: Pride & Prejudice with Spice (Bridgerton Novels)
• Comp for [Target Audience]: Harry Potter for Gen Z (Fourth Wing)
• Comp in [Unique Location]: Scooby Doo in a Retirement Home (Thursday Murder Club)

3. Clear Stakes

To ensure the stakes and motivation are clear, review your pitch with the unstoppable curiosity of a toddler. Why? Why? Why?

Example: Susan Smith has one mission: destroy James Weatherby, and this boat cruise is her perfect chance…

This is going to leave readers asking why? in a bad way.Is Susan an assassin? A vengeful ex? While we’re at it, who even is Susan? Is she a teen or an adult? Be intriguing, not vague.

4. Genre

This can be explicit (In this YA romantasy…) or implied by description.

–Investigate indicates mystery or crime

–Love triangle points to romance

–High School Freshman implies YA.

Your comps may also indicate your genre, without wasting word count.

Things Your Pitch Probably Doesn’t Need

1. Your character’s name.

What’s in a name? Well, unless they’re a historical figure, not much. Consider using their job title, age, relationship status, nationality, or something that provides more information. If they’re a historical figure, their last name often suffices. Sometimes you do need a character’s name, but it’s rare you need their full name.

2. The whole story.

Focus on the inciting incident, save the twist for the synopsis. Think of this like a seduction. Leave them wanting more.

3. Modal verbs, or passive verbs. Aim to use active verbs and eliminate modal verbs. She must battle can be She battles.

4. To Follow Traditional Grammar Rules

This advice is just for social media pitches, where character count, well, counts.

– Don’t spell out numbers under 10, use digits.

– Replace and with &. Use emojis, with caution.

– Go ahead: use conjunctions or adverbs. I know, I know, Stephen King taught you never to use adverbs. He’s usually right. But Stephen King probably isn’t reading your tweet. I, on the other hand, look forward to seeing your pitches, and hope to see some of these tips employed there. Good luck and happy pitching, everyone.

Mysteriously,

Alessandra Ranelli

PS: If you want more advice, or to learn my secret ritual for developing pitches, there’s a post on my website with examples….