Writing a Knockout Pitch Letter

A pitch letter accompanies a press kit; it introduces you and briefly states

why you’re sending the press kit and what it contains. In other words, pitch

your story in a way that perfectly addresses an audience interest as it relates

to you and your book.

Personalize the pitch letter to a specific person. As you write the letter, make

sure that it addresses the needs of the person you’re sending it to and that

the information you’re sending is normally covered. For example, if your

book is about sports, don’t send your press kit and letter to the lifestyle

editor or even the managing editor of a newspaper. Address your packet

directly to the sports editor. See “Starting a target press list,” later in this

chapter, for more.

Write your pitch letter in a traditional business letter style and keep the

length under one page. Here’s what the format should include:

-

 First paragraph: Introduce your book.

-

 Second paragraph: Talk about why you’re an expert in your field.

-

 Third paragraph: Showcase exactly why the recipient’s audience is

interested in your book and what you have to say. If you’re pitching

yourself as a guest on a radio talk show, describe some of the reasons

why you’d make an entertaining and informative guest.

-

 Final paragraph: Invite the reporter, journalist, editor, or producer to

review the enclosed press kit, request a review copy of your book, and

contact you if they’re interested in booking an interview or receiving

more information. If you’re e-mailing your initial pitch letter, you may

also want to add a sentence inviting the pitch letter’s recipient to visit

your Web site to obtain more information.Developing sound bites

Most television and radio interviews last only three to five minutes. You need

to convey a lot of information, without speaking too quickly. The best way to

do this is to speak in what the media industry calls sound bites. For every

question, provide a comprehensive answer that lasts between 5 and 15 sec-

onds (that’s fewer than 50 words).

By anticipating what questions you may be asked (see the previous section)

and knowing your subject matter well, you can write answers out ahead of

time that communicate the necessary information but that are very concise.

Answering a question in a sound bite means using as few words as possible.

In other words, don’t babble or ramble on. Answer the question, get your key

point across, and wait for the next question. Don’t go off on tangents.

Discovering how to speak in sound bites ensures that you can answer the

maximum number of interview questions in the time allotted, giving you

greater opportunity to promote yourself and your book. Also, when you’re

participating in pre-taped interviews, speaking in sound bites makes editing

an interview easier, and you don’t have to cut your answers short or worry

about your information being taken out of I

Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

 Your outfit Feeling stumped about what to wear? Try the following tips: -  Choose a stylish outfit, keeping in mind the image you’re trying to convey. For example, dress more formally for a business or news-oriented show and casually for an upbeat morning show. Overall, try to dress along the same lines as the host(s). -  Make sure that everything fits you perfectly and is wrinkle-free and looks good on you — not just the mannequin in the store. -  Pay attention to colors and patterns. Never wear busy patterns or solid white on television. Your objective is to look good, not to make a fashion statement like those celebrities waltzing down the red carpet at an awards show. If necessary, think about what Joan Rivers would say about your outfit if she were to see you on TV and rate your outfit like she does with celebrities. Would you make her best or worst dressed list? If you’re having trouble deciding on an outfit, read a few current issues of fashion magazines and ...
Lire la suite
 Developing sound bites Most television and radio interviews last only three to five minutes. You need to convey a lot of information, without speaking too quickly. The best way to do this is to speak in what the media industry calls sound bites. For every question, provide a comprehensive answer that lasts between 5 and 15 sec- onds (that’s fewer than 50 words). By anticipating what questions you may be asked (see the previous section) and knowing your subject matter well, you can write answers out ahead of time that communicate the necessary information but that are very concise. Answering a question in a sound bite means using as few words as possible. In other words, don’t babble or ramble on. Answer the question, get your key point across, and wait for the next question. Don’t go off on tangents. Discovering how to speak in sound bites ensures that you can answer the maximum number of interview questions in the time allotted, giving you greater opportunity to promote yourself ...
Lire la suite
 Examining different publishing deals Just as there are thousands of publishers, as well as imprints and subsidiaries within those publishers, there are many types of publishing deals that can be structured. If you’re working with a literary agent, he can help you evaluate and negotiate the best deal possible. The four most common scenarios are -  The publisher pays a one-time, flat fee for the manuscript and becomes the sole copyright owner of the material. You provide the manuscript on a work-for-hire basis. -  The publisher pays a licensing fee to print copies of your self-published book. -  The publisher pays an advance, plus royalties on all copies of the book sold. This means you’d receive money upfront and ongoing royalty payments based on sales of your book. The advance is usually fully recoupable from future sales. (When you receive an advance, that money is deducted from your initial book sales. Think of your advance as a loan against your future income. I...
Lire la suite