Posted 2009-04-18 05:30:34 by writeingredients
Last edited 2009-04-18 06:15:09 by writeingredients
If you didn't make to the workshop last Monday here are some of my notes:
A. Don’t confuse short summary or synopsis with a pitch:
The American Heritage Dictionary lists two very telling definitions for the term “pitch.” The first one: “To attempt to promote or sell, often in a high pressure manner.” The second one is “To stumble around; lurch.” Both, I think, apply to the marketing writer.
For our workshop, we'll use "pitch" to mean "tell briefly." That's right, this is one time you can tell not show.
B. If you've never pitched before, your first step is to practice by pitching a movie or book you love:
Michael Colleary who teaches at UCLA: "One of the exercises that I have my students do, one way to overcome the terror, is to learn to pitch your favorite movie. You will find when you pich your favorite movie that you don’t bog down in a lot of detail because you know it so well. Pitch Tootsie or Star Wars in 3 minutes and you’ll get the hang of what details are important and what details arent’. The trick to that is that you have to know your story as well as a completed movie.”
Larry Gelbart advices “ Remember it’s not life or death. Have fun with it.”
Once you’ve got the gest of it, practice it (never memorize), saying it over and over again to someone neutral... the dog, cat, goldfish, kids, a picture of your mom, the wall, the shower, etc. That will get the kinks out and keep you from stumbling.
C. Use a beat sheet (list of plot points)– crayons and colors and pictures are okay.
Since you shouldn't memorize (you have to be a good actor to make memory work sound okay) it's optional but acceptable to have a cheat sheet with you as a support.
D. Set Up the Story Right Away –
Tell where the story takes place, when the story takes place—so your listener is very clear about that-- as well as the genre. Then give your 3 sentence pitch. Always save time and be prepared to answer questions.
There’s a theory of pitching where you’re "telling a friend of a friend’s story. It has to become something that’s real. You forget about the movie, the novel, that’s going to be a script or play. Tell an anecdotal version. You’re telling a story about people who actually exist in your head. Sort of like gossip.”
As for your ending…"pitch endings not so much as a series of events as a series of events related to the thematic growth and resolution of the main character."
E. Make a list of all your stories ideas off the top of your head:
Jot down an inventory of all your unpublished ideas -- add a brief notation about each. Bring this to the next workshop, and we'll come up with a pitch for each of them. It will help focus your work.
See ya Monday. K
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