Back of the Net: How to Successfully Pitch Your Novel (part 2)
In part two of our Novel Slam winner Q&A, we ask joint-winner Jane Croft to share her experience of the event and her tips for success in 2024’s contest.
Can you summarise the novel you pitched and tell us at what stage it’s at?
Pineapple on a Blue Plate is my eighth novel to date and my first attempt at writing a ‘proper’ book. I have only written the first draft of the first four chapters; however, I have a clear plan and lots of notes, so I’m ready to dive in. I aim to finish the complete first draft in November for National Novel Writing Month: https://nanowrimo.org/national-novel-writing-month
The novel is set in the Cambridgeshire Fenlands of the late 1970s, where an eight-year-old boy is living on a smallholding. His parents, Chrissie and Len, have fled the London rat race, seeking the dream of a simple life of self-sufficiency and rejection of the capitalist system. However, they have brought Chrissie’s identical twin sister, Layla, with them. Chrissie is shy, thoughtful, and poetic. Layla is wild, spirited – and dangerous. The family experiments with goat herding, DIY and shared child-rearing, but they also experiment with free love. And it's not long before the outside world, and reality, come crashing in.
Why did you decide to enter Novel Slam and what were the challenges?
I decided to enter the 2023 Novel Slam as I had taken part for the first time last year and found it to be a challenging yet inspiring experience. Writing is often a solitary undertaking, and being around others who write, and are willing to hear what you have to say, is a pleasure!
Writing a one-minute pitch was not too difficult. YouTube has lots of resources, many based around the premise of ‘So, you’re in an elevator with the Literary Agent/Movie Director of your dreams, and you have one chance to pitch your novel ...’ Just remember, it is a pitch, not a synopsis; you are selling the idea, atmosphere, emotionality, and commercial promise of your book. You are a writer; you can do this!
Presenting to a large group of people will always have its challenges. I did think I might throw up while waiting my turn. My advice would be to take your time. You are going to be okay. You are allowed to check that everyone can hear you and that you are comfortable with the height and position of the microphone. And then slow down! Unfortunately, there is an element of performance to the competition, so I will repeat: slow down. It is better to give a clear and considered one-minute pitch than a frenzied sixty-second verbal sprint that no one can hear. So, it pays to practice, practice, practice. Your family and friends will understand – and eventually forgive you.
What feedback did you receive from the judges and audience members on the night?
The feedback from the judges was, once again, invaluable. I received advice regarding the use of point of view and similes. I found this particularly useful, as writing from a child's point of view is very easy to do very wrong (apparently), and you can shoehorn too much poetry into a narrative. However, I also received some praise, which is always music to the ears of an aspiring writer.
One of the joys of the Novel Slam is the people who wander up to you for a chat after the event. You meet fellow writers at all stages of the literary journey, which is a true bonus of the evening.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of entering next year?
To anyone thinking of entering next year, I would say do it! You genuinely are admired for the courage it takes to offer up your work and, by extension, part of yourself to others. It is an act of intimacy that can leave you feeling vulnerable; however, those watching and listening truly are there to support and cheer you on. You may well regret more never doing it ...