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High Concept and YOU!

Hi, y’all! Leanna Ellis here today discussing high concept. A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Mt. Hermon Writers Conference set in the beautiful red woods of California. Standing among those giant-sized trees were some pretty amazing editors and marketing folks. Let me tell you, the thing I heard over and over was that stories need a hook that marketing can use to grab hold of media opportunities and readers.

One angle you may not have realized that should be in your proposal is

What we can learn from Hallmark.

Happy Valentine's, y'all! Leanna Ellis here! It's that time again and we're talking high concept. I thought since it's cold outside and warm in our hearts with anticipation of the coming Valentine's Day that we would discuss a powerful lesson from Hallmark. Yep, Hallmark practically owns the corner on Valentine's Day cards. There have been times that I had my kids make their own cards, but who doesn't send a card (at least one) on Valentine's? It's because love is important. What does love have to do with high concept? Well, love sells. Maybe I should say romance sells.

Romance fiction novels generated 1.37 billion in sales in 2008. That same year, romance was the top performing category in New York Times, USA Today and Publisher's Weekly.

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!

 Hi, y'all! Happy New Year! Leanna Ellis here and we've been discussing high concept. We've been tweaking our stories to make them as high concept as possible. Last time, we discussed what about your story makes it interesting and unique and how you can capitalize on that aspect when approaching an editor, agent or even a prospective reader. This month, we're going to discuss setting.

Tips from the Pros: Leanna Ellis

Tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, we'll have the second full moon in one month - sometimes called a "blue moon." How appropriate that I get to interview multi-published author Leanna Ellis, whose next book, Once in a Blue Moon, will release in March 2010.

Leanna's books are known for quirky humor and lively writing. You'll get a taste of this in her interview - and be sure to check out her website. It's a blast!

Leanna, how did you get into writing? How many books do you have published?

I started writing way back in 1991. At the time I was a teacher trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. My sister suggested writing because I was always scribbling in my journal. So I did. I quit teaching and started writing. I don't necessarily recommend that, but it eventually worked for me. I submerged myself in learning all about writing and the publishing industry, only subsititute teaching when I had to earn a few dollars. After three years, I sold my first book to Silhouette Romance. Twelve books, one husband, and three kids later, I wanted to spread my wings a little. God took me on a different path of writing which eventually led to the inspirational market. Today I write women's fiction for B&H Publishing.

I guess there's an exception to every rule, even "Don't Quit Your Day Job."

 

Think Outside the Box--High Concept

Hi, y'all! Leanna Ellis here and we're discussing high concept. Often in publishing authors get boxed into what is selling. Romance sells. Okay, boy meets girl, falls in love, loses girl, wins girl. But to make your story stand out and to get past that marketing department at the pub board, you need to think outside the box.

Let's say you're looking at your blurb and you're thinking there isn't anything high concept about it. So what do you do?

Blurb, blurb, blurp!

 Hi, y'all! Leanna Ellis here and we're talking high concept and how to word that short little blurb that is so important to gaining the attention of editors, agents and readers.

Another trick that can help your blurb is to carry

Blurbing your Book

Hi, y'all! Leanna Ellis here and we're talking about high concept! Last month, we discussed writing a short, succinct sentence or blurb describing your story idea. For a quick reminder, we're looking at my blurb for my book, Lookin' Back, Texas--A devoted wife and mother must return to her Texas hometown of Luckenbach, Texas to help her mother plan her father's funeral. Trouble is--he isn't dead! And neither are the secrets she buried there years ago.

This week we're going to talk about the secret that makes this blurb work so well. Drum roll please...

Blurb about your Idea

Hi , y'all! Leanna Ellis here talking about high concept today! Last month, I gave you three questions to ask yourself about your story idea to see if it's high concept or not.

1. Can your idea be expressed in a concise sentence?

2. Can you immediately see the idea as a movie or with marketing potential?

3. Does your idea appeal to a wide audience?

Let's take a look at that first question. This short sentence is what I call the blurb. It takes a lot of work to massage an idea into a nice succinct sentence but it will be very useful in not only selling your story to an agent, editor or marketing team but also to readers. I use my blurbs in query letters, in elevator pitches and eventually when I'm sitting at a book signing and somebody wanders by and says, "What's your book about?"

Let me give you an example from my book, Lookin' Back, Texas -- A devoted wife and mother must return to her Texas hometown of Luckenbach, Texas to help her mother plan her father's funeral. Trouble is -- he isn't dead! And neither are the secrets she buried there years ago.

Now, let's unpack those sentences or blurb.

High Concept!

Hi, y'all! I'm excited to be blogging on CAN! And especially excited about the subject. I'll be talking about high concept on the second Tuesday of every month. I hope you'll join me.

You may be asking yourself: what is high concept? Or maybe you're asking: why do I need high concept? High concept is simply the selling point of your novel. It's what grabs folks' attention, makes them want to buy your book and makes other writers say, "Wow, great idea! I wish I'd thought of that!" It can also get the attention of Hollywood.