Genre/Pitch Help

jenelcc · Mar 18, 2011

I have a YA fantasy novel that I'm trying to come up with a "quick pitch" for. In the novel I have people riding with swords in an alternate world and doing battle (on a small scale) in a classic good vs. evil scenario. Because of these elements, I've assumed, and been told, it automatically falls into the "high fantasy" genre. So that's how I've been talking about it with other writers/contacts etc.

However, I've now heard more than one YA agent talk/write about not wanting "high fantasy" (which one went on to clarify as Tolkien-esque) but going on to say they would like something along the lines of Robin McKinley or Kristin Cashore, which is exactly the vein my book is in. There are only humans in this book, and the magical content I would say falls in the low range compared to other books.

I have started saying its a "traditional fantasy novel" but that's a little blah. And of course "traditional" makes it sound like it isn't original, which I don't want. Still I've had people nod like that makes sense.

Maybe genre doesn't belong in the pitch at all, but a lot of times I've heard people say, "Well it's a mystery novel in which the (insert hook here)." I'd just like some advice as to how to write and talk about this thing.

Thanks.

Dgullen · Mar 18, 2011

For an elevator pitch you could try 'X meets Y', or 'X with Y'. An editor once described my (unpublished) novel as 'Red Dwarf meets Top Gear', Eoin Colfer famously pitched Artemis Fowl as 'Die Hard - with fairies'.

Dave

Miriel · Mar 18, 2011

Is there something wrong with just calling it a YA fantasy? Hopefully the rest of the pitch will get across what kind of fantasy novel it is -- or you could say "A YA fantasy in the vein of Robin McKinley and Kristin Cashore".

entropic island · Mar 18, 2011

Dgullen said:
'Die Hard - with fairies'.

I didn't think it was possible, but I respect Eoin Colfer even more now.

Also, I'd go for X meets Y, like Dgullen said. That's a simple, easy way of defining the target audience.

jenelcc · Mar 18, 2011

"A YA Fantasy in the vein of Robin McKinley and Kristin Cashore" is almost exactly what I wrote in my last query letter, so I agree that's a good course. Just in terms of the "elevator pitch" it's not a great hook, and I was hoping for a quicker genre label.

Also, the X meets Y is a great idea...but nothing pithy springs to mind. Plus, since it's serious in tone, I'm having a hard time coming up with one that doesn't sound like a comedy setup. (I love "Die Hard - with fairies", but precisely because it's funny.)

By the way it's about a girl from a mixed race group becoming a part of an all white group that's sort of ladies-in-waiting with swords. (My best attempt at a pitch sentence so far, and I know it's bad.)

Thanks for all the help thus far, and I'm happy for more input.

Anne Lyle · Mar 18, 2011

I have to confess I'm rubbish at the slick face-to-face pitch - the one I did successfully was more by way of a rambling late-night conversation in the bar :tongue

I've heard that whilst some agents like "X meets Y" pitches, others hate them, so they're maybe not the best way to go unless you have something really fun and high-concept like Colfer.

I like the "ladies-in-waiting with swords" image - maybe you could build on this? What's your heroine's background, apart from being from an "out-group"? Why has she joined the ladies-in-waiting, and who are they up against? Your sentence needs to bring out the conflict in order to make the book sound engaging.

HTH!

Dgullen · Mar 19, 2011

jenelcc said:
"By the way it's about a girl from a mixed race group becoming a part of an all white group that's sort of ladies-in-waiting with swords. (My best attempt at a pitch sentence so far, and I know it's bad.)

I don't think these pitches have to be absolutely accurate but they do have to give the gist. It's difficult, just like trying to squeeze the entire essence of your story into a query letter: hard to do but a skill worth developing, with the aim is to pique the agent/editor's interest.

BTW I think your premise is a good one, and Ladies in Waiting with swords is not a bad start. Maybe try focusing - which ladies in waiting? What particular swords? Chucking mad and wildly inaccurate ideas here - Gone With the Wind meets Excalibur, Pride & Prejudice vs Conan, The Colour Purple with Cavaliers. Yeah, it can feel like prostituting yourself so try and make it fun, brainstorm over tea and cake, or after a glass or two of wine.

Luck!

jenelcc · Mar 20, 2011

Love, love, love "Pride & Prejudice" vs. Conan, it's nothing like my book, but it makes me want to write one that is.

MisterFuzzles · Mar 21, 2011

Brilliant idea for a thread actually!

Genre/Pitch Help

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy

Dgullen

Ustom Ser Itle

Miriel

New kid, be gentle!

entropic island

.

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

Dgullen

Ustom Ser Itle

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy

MisterFuzzles

ah divvint nah liek