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Gotta Read It! - Five Simple Steps to a Fiction Pitch That Sells
Blurbs, product descriptions, query letters… no matter what you call them, they’re a chore to write. And yet the success of any novel can depend on its pitch. What’s an author to do?
In this short, instructive ebook, Libbie Hawker takes the pain out of pitch-writing and shares the secrets of a perfect fiction pitch. Whether you’re an indie writer seeking to improve sales of your self-published novels or an author hoping to hook your dream agent with a can’t-resist query letter, GOTTA READ IT! Is the ebook for you.
Learn which features signify great story to the subconscious mind, how to sort through the details of your plot to find the core of your novel, and how to write pitches for books with one, two, or many primary characters… all in five simple steps!
In this short, instructive ebook, Libbie Hawker takes the pain out of pitch-writing and shares the secrets of a perfect fiction pitch. Whether you’re an indie writer seeking to improve sales of your self-published novels or an author hoping to hook your dream agent with a can’t-resist query letter, GOTTA READ IT! Is the ebook for you.
Learn which features signify great story to the subconscious mind, how to sort through the details of your plot to find the core of your novel, and how to write pitches for books with one, two, or many primary characters… all in five simple steps!
ebook
First published October 13, 2014
91 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Libbie Hawker
38 books492 followersLibbie was born in Rexburg, Idaho and divided her childhood between Eastern Idaho's rural environs and the greater Seattle area. She presently lives in Seattle, but has also been a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Bellingham, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington. She loves to write about character and place, and is inspired by the bleak natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region and by the fascinating history of the Puget Sound.
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
November 2, 2017
Very clear and concise instructions on how to write a good book description quickly. What would painfully take me at least a week took two days after reading this. Permanently part of my author resource library.
December 26, 2014
Anyone familiar with the book Techniques of The Selling Writer will recognize the strength in this author's approach. Libbie Hawker provides a straightforward, stripped down version of Swain's story structure. Here's the example he gives in his 1981 book:
Libbie Hawker applies a simplified framework to the daunting process of crafting an effective book description. After using it myself, the process seems to work.
Here's the original description for episode 1 - SWEPT AWAY - of my serial:
Fresh off a breakup, Sheila McKinley, the easygoing college professor, meets Jasira Said, the up and coming journalist and political pundit.
Sheila has no idea her friend Rima is acquainted with Jasira, so their arranged meeting is easily disguised as a simple dinner party. But this simple dinner party turns into a night full of surporses. Even after she agrees to show Jasira around town, Sheila really doesn't suspect her real intentions. But after an accident at a night club, things move quickly, until in the end everything is crystal clear.
Here's the description I wrote after going through the steps outlined in this book:
Sheila's decisions in love have never been as good as those in her career. Her last breakup left her devastated and feeling she will forever be a romantic failure. A late night sighting of Jasira Said on her ex's favorite TV show leaves Sheila content with infatuation. That, at least, is a relationship she cannot possibly screw up.
The last thing Seheila expects when she attends dinner at a friend's is to meet the georgeous political pundit. How will Sheila handle being so close to her fantasy? And what will she do when that fantasy turns its attention upon her?
This new description seems to satisfy the requirements I found when writing my blog post on Writing a Better Book Description - Chart.
Situation: Pursued by his boss's amoral wife, Linda,
Character: Steve Grannis
Objective: decides to seek a transfer, so that his home and career
won't be destroyed. But can he escape when
Opponent: Linda
Disaster: swears that she'll have him fired and ruined if he tries
to leave?
Libbie Hawker applies a simplified framework to the daunting process of crafting an effective book description. After using it myself, the process seems to work.
Here's the original description for episode 1 - SWEPT AWAY - of my serial:
Fresh off a breakup, Sheila McKinley, the easygoing college professor, meets Jasira Said, the up and coming journalist and political pundit.
Sheila has no idea her friend Rima is acquainted with Jasira, so their arranged meeting is easily disguised as a simple dinner party. But this simple dinner party turns into a night full of surporses. Even after she agrees to show Jasira around town, Sheila really doesn't suspect her real intentions. But after an accident at a night club, things move quickly, until in the end everything is crystal clear.
Here's the description I wrote after going through the steps outlined in this book:
Sheila's decisions in love have never been as good as those in her career. Her last breakup left her devastated and feeling she will forever be a romantic failure. A late night sighting of Jasira Said on her ex's favorite TV show leaves Sheila content with infatuation. That, at least, is a relationship she cannot possibly screw up.
The last thing Seheila expects when she attends dinner at a friend's is to meet the georgeous political pundit. How will Sheila handle being so close to her fantasy? And what will she do when that fantasy turns its attention upon her?
This new description seems to satisfy the requirements I found when writing my blog post on Writing a Better Book Description - Chart.
March 9, 2020
This is a short and to the point book with information on how to write your book description/ blurb or pitch. I like the idea of using those 5 simple steps as a framework for your pitch and I can definitely see how it's a good place to start when writing your book description. I also liked the few tips on adjusting this model to books with two or more main characters. The few examples of the author's own blurb that used this 5 step system also helped illustrate on how to put this system in action.
I did feel like it was a bit on the short side. I don't know it almost seemed too simple or easy for what many authors see as a difficult task. At times it felt like it was lacking something, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. And I think the author really aimed to make this a short and to the point book and she definitely succeeded there. I've seen similar tips for writing blurbs around a few times, but I still think this is worth the read and a good starting point for writing your own blurb.
I did feel like it was a bit on the short side. I don't know it almost seemed too simple or easy for what many authors see as a difficult task. At times it felt like it was lacking something, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. And I think the author really aimed to make this a short and to the point book and she definitely succeeded there. I've seen similar tips for writing blurbs around a few times, but I still think this is worth the read and a good starting point for writing your own blurb.
December 14, 2020
Helpful Book!
I learned a lot from this book. It took a complex subject and broke it down to a simple blueprint to build off of.
I learned a lot from this book. It took a complex subject and broke it down to a simple blueprint to build off of.
January 22, 2023
This 52 page booklet is well worth .99 cents. It dissects and analyzes blurbs or descriptions of books. How to write a good description, what to put in, what to leave out. How to make the reader think they gotta read your book. The importance of a good book description can’t be emphasized enough. It’s the ad for your book. I like that this is short and concise. It gets to the point without a lot of filler.
August 14, 2015
A brief, focused guide to pitch formula
Writing sales copy for my novels always felt pretty daunting because I've never had confidence in my marketing skills. That's why I really love Libbie's approach; she reminds us that story sells and the most compelling pitch tells a story. It transforms copywriting into creative writing which is much more fun then mere marketing.
Writing sales copy for my novels always felt pretty daunting because I've never had confidence in my marketing skills. That's why I really love Libbie's approach; she reminds us that story sells and the most compelling pitch tells a story. It transforms copywriting into creative writing which is much more fun then mere marketing.
December 3, 2015
Libbie dispenses a lot of good information that new authors need, and does it in a fun style. It was probably a little heavy on references to her own books as examples, and wordy here and there, but for a buck it's a good primer on blurb writing, something that a lot of authors (new and old) struggle with. It's a quick read but it will get you what you need.
April 1, 2016
Don't let the short page count fool you--this book is FULL of useful information packed into 50 pages. Libbe Hawker did a great job laying out her method to write up pitches in a clear and concise fashion. I will definitely read this again in the future.
March 8, 2016
In this short book, Libbie Hawker gets to the heart of how to write the book description, but moreover she explains how to use the book description to write your novel. This is a great read for any aspiring writer.
June 19, 2016
Great for new authors
Quick, to the point instructions that outline the simplest way to construct an effective book description. This will definitely be a work I come back to every time I create or update a book description.
Quick, to the point instructions that outline the simplest way to construct an effective book description. This will definitely be a work I come back to every time I create or update a book description.
September 16, 2021
This was brilliant. Totally changed how I thought about blurbs - one of my most detested jobs. I actually quite look forward to writing them. Concise, logical and to the point, all writers should have a copy of this book.
December 30, 2020
Hawker uses a number of different pitches to explain the dos and don’ts of how to draft a pitch that connects with readers. This is a short book that cuts to the chase to shed light on an area that’s arguably as important - if not more important - than a great book cover design.
March 19, 2016
Simple and Understandable
This book is easy to understand and offers a large amount of laser focused advice on pitching fiction. Highly recommended.
This book is easy to understand and offers a large amount of laser focused advice on pitching fiction. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2020
Instagram Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCLPI62AOvq/
Gotta Read It is a simple little book of only about fifty pages, so you could read through it quickly, but you might want to slow down for this one. Hawker covers quite a bit of valuable material here, including various aspects of what makes for a marketable book. The payload for this text however, and where she spends her most time, is on the pitch formula, which she bases on these five story questions:
This list of question may look familiar; they did to me too. But Hawkers treatment of this structure is thorough and fresh and you will find it useful, as I did, in drawing out the marketable face of your novel.
Sometimes writers take a simple formula and write about it for fifty pages because they have something useful to say and sometimes they do it because they want to leverage its inherent value. In this case, Hawker has actually done both; she brings tremendous insight to what would otherwise be a familiar formula.
All my best to you, fellow writers!
Gotta Read It is a simple little book of only about fifty pages, so you could read through it quickly, but you might want to slow down for this one. Hawker covers quite a bit of valuable material here, including various aspects of what makes for a marketable book. The payload for this text however, and where she spends her most time, is on the pitch formula, which she bases on these five story questions:
1. Who is your main character?
2. What do they want?
3. What or who stands in their way?
4. What will they do, or what must they do, in order to get what they want?
5. What is at stake if she fails? loc. 340/835
This list of question may look familiar; they did to me too. But Hawkers treatment of this structure is thorough and fresh and you will find it useful, as I did, in drawing out the marketable face of your novel.
Sometimes writers take a simple formula and write about it for fifty pages because they have something useful to say and sometimes they do it because they want to leverage its inherent value. In this case, Hawker has actually done both; she brings tremendous insight to what would otherwise be a familiar formula.
All my best to you, fellow writers!
January 23, 2021
This little book was quite helpful in deciphering what to include for the description on my novel WHO TOOK HANNAH by CJ Knapp on Amazon.
I paid a Blurb writer. I wasn't satisfied with what they wrote for my book's back cover then I wrote it myself.
Now my novel is on Amazon and my formatter entered the Blurb writer's copy for the description. It isn't producing. I know that isn't necessarily the problem. But I have to try something else.
I took a lot of notes from "Gotta Read it" and have a better understanding of what's needed. It's written simply, without lots of fluff. I'm hoping for more clicks to turn into sales on my Amazon ads.
Using this new understanding, I'll get my new description up soon and watch for clicks. smile.
I do recommend this book by Libbie Hawker..
Carole Knapp Johnson
I paid a Blurb writer. I wasn't satisfied with what they wrote for my book's back cover then I wrote it myself.
Now my novel is on Amazon and my formatter entered the Blurb writer's copy for the description. It isn't producing. I know that isn't necessarily the problem. But I have to try something else.
I took a lot of notes from "Gotta Read it" and have a better understanding of what's needed. It's written simply, without lots of fluff. I'm hoping for more clicks to turn into sales on my Amazon ads.
Using this new understanding, I'll get my new description up soon and watch for clicks. smile.
I do recommend this book by Libbie Hawker..
Carole Knapp Johnson
March 31, 2022
This short book is about pitches. The story kind, not the baseball kind. I got it as part of a book bundle and I love short books, so I dove in.
And it's fine. Hawker provides plenty of her own pitches as examples and while it may seem ego-driven at a glance, it's nice in that there is an authenticity to the pitches. She's not "writing to the crowd", she's providing examples of work she has relied on directly to help sell her novels.
The writing style is light and the book can be finished in an afternoon, all the better to apply the lessons therein. I don't foresee myself making use of it much with my own writing, but for those who may need to work on and use pitches, this is a concise and worthy resource.
And it's fine. Hawker provides plenty of her own pitches as examples and while it may seem ego-driven at a glance, it's nice in that there is an authenticity to the pitches. She's not "writing to the crowd", she's providing examples of work she has relied on directly to help sell her novels.
The writing style is light and the book can be finished in an afternoon, all the better to apply the lessons therein. I don't foresee myself making use of it much with my own writing, but for those who may need to work on and use pitches, this is a concise and worthy resource.
October 4, 2017
Gotta Read It! by Libbie Hawker is an excellent book that explains how to write a concise, interesting pitch, and does so in a way that is easy to understand. Whether you’re writing a back cover for a self-published book or preparing a query letter, this short read is very informative. The only thing I would have liked to see better explained was how to select the details that add to your pitch when you’re trying to expand the basic concept.
Overall, though, I would highly recommend Gotta Read It! to any author who is trying to formulate a concept for a novel or write a pitch.
Overall, though, I would highly recommend Gotta Read It! to any author who is trying to formulate a concept for a novel or write a pitch.
September 9, 2019
Seriously well laid out non-fiction read. No fluff, just straight to the point.
Great information on writing those pesky book pitches. Can't wait to put this into practice and see the results. Any genre will benefit from reading this short book, the sections are all laid out in a manner that is easy for referring back, and her reasons and examples are all clear and precise.
It's rare to find a book on writing that isn't drowning in fluff, or someone regurgitating someone elses advice. This little book was a refreshing read.
Great information on writing those pesky book pitches. Can't wait to put this into practice and see the results. Any genre will benefit from reading this short book, the sections are all laid out in a manner that is easy for referring back, and her reasons and examples are all clear and precise.
It's rare to find a book on writing that isn't drowning in fluff, or someone regurgitating someone elses advice. This little book was a refreshing read.
January 24, 2022
I like lists, paint-by-numbers, a-b-c, bullet points, pretty much anything that breaks down tasks. That is exactly why I love Libbie Hawker's books on writing. She cracked open the world of outlining (go read TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS if you haven't!) and now she does it again with pitch/blurb writing. She takes readers through step by step and provides examples of what it should look like, making the concepts easy to grasp and emulate. Seriously, I wish Hawker had a book on every aspect of the fiction writing and publishing process!
November 17, 2017
Read in the Kobo edition.
I have another book about blurb-writing that made me regret buying it: the blurbs for that writer's works didn't make me want to read them at all.
No problem here: Hawker writes great pitches and breaks down the process so most other writers can probably do the same. (Though I wish she'd address how to end a pitch on a solid note.)
Short, to the point, and well worth getting.
I have another book about blurb-writing that made me regret buying it: the blurbs for that writer's works didn't make me want to read them at all.
No problem here: Hawker writes great pitches and breaks down the process so most other writers can probably do the same. (Though I wish she'd address how to end a pitch on a solid note.)
Short, to the point, and well worth getting.
July 7, 2017
Very Helpful!
I know how to write a compelling novel. Writing compelling pitches, though, can be confusing. This book shows that I'd you understand the basics of story structure you can write a pitch that grabs a reader's attention. I found this shir, easy to digest book extremely helpful.
I know how to write a compelling novel. Writing compelling pitches, though, can be confusing. This book shows that I'd you understand the basics of story structure you can write a pitch that grabs a reader's attention. I found this shir, easy to digest book extremely helpful.
November 22, 2019
Funny and fine
3.5 stars rounded up.
I think if you're a baby!writer just starting out, this book will give you a good explanation of how to compose your blurb/pitch. Personally, I didn't find anything in this I'd heard before but the writing was very entertaining so I enjoyed it.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I think if you're a baby!writer just starting out, this book will give you a good explanation of how to compose your blurb/pitch. Personally, I didn't find anything in this I'd heard before but the writing was very entertaining so I enjoyed it.
March 29, 2021
With clear and direct instructions, this book is a very helpful guide for those who struggle writing book descriptions. The author also covers how to write them for one or more characters, depending on your genre. Highly recommended, this short book is a valuable resource to any writer's library, and one I'll be keeping for future reference.
April 5, 2022
I've tried about three of these 'write a great blurb' books and they're all so damn complicated.
This is simply brilliant.
Straightforward, insightful with simple instructions and most of all clear examples on how to proceed through each step to get to a blurb that accurately reflects your book. Thanks, Libbie - I don't know you from Adam but my goodness I'd like to give you a huge hug!
This is simply brilliant.
Straightforward, insightful with simple instructions and most of all clear examples on how to proceed through each step to get to a blurb that accurately reflects your book. Thanks, Libbie - I don't know you from Adam but my goodness I'd like to give you a huge hug!
May 10, 2017
Loved It
Everything fits into place. It's not only an instruction book on sales pitches but an analysis of the very art of storytelling. The only one of the writers on writing who actually interests me as a novelist. Fully recommend.
Everything fits into place. It's not only an instruction book on sales pitches but an analysis of the very art of storytelling. The only one of the writers on writing who actually interests me as a novelist. Fully recommend.
June 28, 2017
Very Helpful for Writing a Pitch
Writing a pitch to get an agent is no easy task. How do you take a whole book and condense it down to a paragraph that needs to hook the reader? Thus little book is like striking gold for this arduous task.
Writing a pitch to get an agent is no easy task. How do you take a whole book and condense it down to a paragraph that needs to hook the reader? Thus little book is like striking gold for this arduous task.
August 6, 2017
I had a good grasp on how to write a decent blurb before reading this book, but got a couple of ideas on how to tweak things and make them better.
Easy to work with advice. Nice addition to the toolbox.
Easy to work with advice. Nice addition to the toolbox.
October 9, 2017
Excellent book on how to write a book description. Ms. Hawker outlines the five steps needed to start a blurb and how to flesh them out into a great blurb. She covers how to write a blurb for one or multiple characters. A must read for all writers.
November 20, 2017
Short and sweet
This book is right to the point and offers a lot of good tips for book descriptions. I think the current way is to have shorter paragraphs but to each his own. Well worth the price of admission!
This book is right to the point and offers a lot of good tips for book descriptions. I think the current way is to have shorter paragraphs but to each his own. Well worth the price of admission!
November 1, 2020
Excellent advice
It's so hard to condense a 400 page novel with a complex plot into a short pitch for the back of a book. Gotta Read It helps distill the important points into a compelling description.
It's so hard to condense a 400 page novel with a complex plot into a short pitch for the back of a book. Gotta Read It helps distill the important points into a compelling description.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews