Setting, Protagonist, Problem
This chapter was an interview between Katharine Sands & Donald Mass. Below you will find a few excerpts that stood out to me.
Address only the Manuscript–Not the following things:
- Author
- Author’s Ambitions
- Author’s Long-Term Plans
- How Many Years You’ve Been Writing
- How Excited You Are
- How Dedicated You Are
Identify Your Genre “What section of the bookstore would I find my book?”
“If you can’t figure that out, simply call it a novel. I can figure out its category for myself as I read it.” -Donald Maass
What Sets Your Work Apart?
Donald received a book about ordinary divorced people who attended a support group. That was set up in the first line of the pitch, the second line told how this book was different. The support group is for little people. Give the gist then give the twist.
1 in 100
“The number of short, businesslike query letters we get is maybe one in a hundred.” -Donald Maass
The Last 6 Words
“In the last line of your summary, use one of six words…If you can work in one…it helps close the presentation of the plot with a word that’s poetic and evocative.” -Donald Maass
love
heart
dream
journey
fortune
destiny
