If you were asked to log on to Twitter and describe your book in 140 characters or less, could you do it?
It’s time that authors come up with quick descriptions for their book that can be used on social networks and in general conversation — think of it as your “elevator speech”.
The good thing about a well-crafted “elevator speech” is that you can easily hook your audience into wanting to know more about your book.
For example, budding author Cooper Gallegos uses the following to describe his book: “Road kill, arson, murder and abandonment. Welcome to Goat’s Corner where Velma, the waterhauler holds everyone hostage in a landscape of suspicion and resentment.” The words alone are strong enough to draw in potential readers.
According to the Indiana University Teaching Handbook, the average attention span of adults is 15 – 20 minutes. This refers to both forced attention and voluntary attention. If you are trying to capture an adult that has no reason to listen to you, you have much less time to keep them interested. Thus, the shorter time you spend describing your book, the greater the likelihood of reaching them.
Have you come up with your “elevator speech”? If not, keep your eyes peeled to our Facebook and Twitter pages to participate in our Weekly Writing Challenges. These can help you step out of your comfort zone and write brief useful descriptions for your book, main characters, etc.
Self Publishing Advisor 