by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt

There comes a time in every writer’s life when we need to put together a pitch sheet.

Usually that time is when we’re preparing for a conference. Sometimes we’re so focused on finishing our manuscript, we leave the pitch sheet to the last minute. 

Putting together a pitch sheet, also called a one sheet, requires both clarity and creativity. I’ve distilled the process down to what I call the “5 Easy Pieces” of a pitch sheet. 

Here’s a graphic of the pitch sheet I used when I pitched the first book in my Thatcher Sisters Series – the title changed to Things I Never Told You:

The 5 Easy Pieces needed for any pitch sheet are your: 

1. contact information
2. author bio 
3. professional photo 
4. one paragraph synopsis of your book
5. artistic element 

1. Your Contact Information – We’re starting off with the easiest part of your pitch sheet. If you don’t know your contact information, then you’re in trouble. To use up the least amount of space, run your email, phone number, and website (if you have one), across the bottom of your page.
2. Your Author Bio – We can stress about writing an author bio. Pre-published authors struggle with “what do I even say about myself?” Multi-published authors struggle with streamlining their author bios. Remember that you’re working with one sheet of paper and your bio is only one portion of the information included on it. Your bio should reflect your writing expertise, as well as why you’re the best one to write this novel. (History professor writing historical fiction, maybe?) A bit of personality never hurts, but an author bio is more about street cred than about being cutesy. 
3. Your Professional Photo – We all need to invest money and time in a professional photo. Don’t select your favorite photo off your Instagram feed. A headshot is best, one that is recent – within the past three years to four years.
4. One Paragraph Synopsis – We need a concise synopsis of our novel – and this is where it’s helpful to brainstorm with another writer-friend. If you’ve already worked on this as you’ve prepared your verbal pitch, a.k.a. “elevator pitch,” reuse it here. Start with a hook. Use strong verbs. Stay focused – no wandering into in-depth story details.
5. An Artistic Element – We want to catch an editor’s or agent’s eye with our pitch sheet, so don’t forget the visual component of a pitch sheet. You can add a vibrant color border and a smaller visual element to your pitch sheet. Or you can superimpose your words over a photo that you’ve faded out that works with the theme of your novel. 

These five segments are the key parts that build a solid pitch sheet. You can also add your agent information, awards, as well as if the manuscript is part of a series – although listing the entire series isn’t necessary. Don’t overcrowd your pitch sheet.

One last tip: Don’t leave your pitch sheet until the last moment. Start assembling your 5 Easy Pieces sooner rather than later. And don’t hesitate to pay for a graphic designer to polish your design for you. The investment pays off!

 

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The Thatcher Sisters Series

The award-winning Thatcher Sister Series by Beth K. Vogt, published by Tyndale House, is described as a “Little Women gone wrong” collection of novels highlighting complicated sister relationships in the style of This is Us. NYT bestselling author Lisa Wingate said, “With tenderness and skill, Beth Vogt examines the price of secrets, the weight of tragic loss, and the soul-deep poison of things left unsaid.” The series includes Things I Never Told You, Moments We Forget, and The Best We’ve Been. Unpacking Christmas: A Thatchers Sisters Novella, was released in November 2022 by Never Door Press.

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She started out in fiction writing award-winning contemporary romances, including Somebody Like You, which was selected as one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. Beth transitioned to women’s fiction with her Thatcher Sister Series, which she calls “a Little Women gone wrong” collection of books highlighting complicated sister relationships. Published by Tyndale House, the series includes Things I Never Told You, which won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, Moments We Forget, and The Best We’ve Been. Beth is also a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation, and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to living with imaginary characters and is also one of Beth’s most trusted brainstormers for her novels. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.