{"id":93168,"date":"2024-04-05T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/townhouse\/?p=93168"},"modified":"2024-04-05T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T09:00:00","slug":"the-luck-of-the-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/the-luck-of-the-draw\/","title":{"rendered":"The luck of the draw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Because I\u2019m charging around in Wales with the kids \u2013 I\u2019m going to keep it short this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thought and one thought only:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a heck of a lot of luck in writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way we talk \u2013 the way I talk \u2013 often suggests that if you\u2019re just good enough at your art and craft, you can force your way to success. And that\u2019s just not true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For sure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strong elevator pitch is the single most muscular thing you can do to maximise your chances. And I don\u2019t mean that you write your book, then come up with the best single sentence with which to pitch it. I mean roughly the opposite of that. I mean you come up with a brilliant idea, then you write the book of the idea, then your pitch can be any old phrase that gestures at your brilliant idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But yes, the pitch matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then too, you have to be able to write. You can\u2019t achieve any kind of success without basic competence \u2026 but there are plenty of commercially successful writers who don\u2019t have huge literary talents. Their sentences work, but never sing. That\u2019s OK. That can definitely be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then on top of that, if you can actually write well, it really boosts your chances, not least because agents and editors do recognise good writing when they see it and they want to be close to it. They want to help it along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s still a game of luck. If three big supermarket chains take your book \u2013 based off little more than a title and a book cover \u2013 and if they sell that book at a nice little discount \u2013 then your book will be a bestseller. It\u2019s not about whether the book deserves it or not. Just that number of feet walking past a well-displayed and sweetly discounted title WILL produce sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t produce that outcome by force of will. A publisher can\u2019t either. They all play the same game and all want the same outcome. They\u2019re all professional. They all make nice book covers. They can all put together decent catalogues. They all know how to pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-publishing is less chancy to be honest, but even big-selling authors don\u2019t really know whether Series X is going to succeed as well as their big hit Series Y. They can put the same craft and market intelligence behind both, but in the end, they don\u2019t know until they get the book out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So don\u2019t judge yourself by sales. Aim for sales, yes \u2013 I always do. But it will be the Lady Luck herself, in her green-hemmed gown, who will determine whether you win or lose or just muddle through to some kind of draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light a candle, eat a shamrock \u2013 and write another book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feedback Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, another elevator pitch discussion kicked off (here<\/a><\/strong>; you need to be a logged into Townhouse to view that link.) The discussion is all good and the topic really, really matters. Take an owl \u2018n\u2019 imp refresher\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then just give me your pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s shake this up and you can give me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong>: 2-4 ingredients only. So your pitch looks like \u201cteen romance + vampires\u201d. Very short, and not even a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short, messy<\/strong>: A short pitch (<15 words) that is for you only. It\u2019s not going to go on a book or a movir poster, so keep it scruffy please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short, elegant<\/strong>: this is the line you want on the movie poster of your book. Or the back-of-book headline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longer version<\/strong>: Up to 50 words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to do ALL those pitches. Just offer what appeals. If you\u2019ve done this before, then repeat the exercise but with a different book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s it from me. Post yours\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0Very normal service resumes next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Til soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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