PITCH, PREMISE, AND HOOK:

What you need to know to write an unforgettable novel

Did you know there’s one key element that your premise, hook, and pitch have in common? It’s this: They work to help you uncover (and then explain) the HEART of your story. 

When you begin querying literary agents or when you're marketing your self-published novel, you're #1 goal is convince readers that they WANT to read your story. You'll say, "Here's my book. It's about XYZ." And they'll think, "So what?" Your pitch, premise and hook should work together to answer that question.

Your job is to pitch your novel with an incredible story premise that immediately hooks agents (and readers) and makes sure they're eager to read more. So, step one? Understanding the difference between them.

Let’s break it down…

Premise: The story’s driving force. Your premise tells us what’s happening. It’s the idea that the entire book hinges on.

Hook: What stands out about your narrative to make it unique. The hook gives us a reason to be deeply interested.

Pitch: The 1-3 sentence proposal that immediately conveys what your story is about and why someone would want to read it. (In other words, it’s how you tell people your premise and hook in a way that’s concise and catchy.)

Sometimes, the story we end up with isn’t the one we set out to write, but ultimately, the goal of editing is to dig into an idea until we reveal what’s most unique and compelling about it, which we can then flesh out at every level, from the prose to the pitch.

Understanding Premise

Your story’s premise is the idea that drives the entire narrative—it’s the foundation upon which you build out the book’s plot. It encompasses the main character(s), the central conflict, and what stakes are involved. It answers the question, “What’s this story about?”

I posted about this a while back on Instagram, but let’s break it down here…

Why It's Important:

1. Guides the Narrative: A clear premise helps maintain focus and direction throughout the writing process.

2. Attracts Readers and Literary Agents: A compelling premise is the basis of a successful pitch, which you need whether you’re querying or trying to reach your audience directly with promotion.

3. Uncovers the HEART: Your story’s premise is what helps you to understand and articulate the core of your story, and having it clear in your mind as you revise allows you to evaluate each scene to ensure that all elements contribute to the central theme and conflict.

5 Steps to Uncovering Your Strongest Premise

The five steps to your strongest story premise

1. Ask some key questions about the story:

   • What’s the plot’s driving force (the main conflict) and who are the central players (your protagonists/antagonists)?

   • What about these characters and their journey is unique and important?

   • Why should we care about these particular characters?

   
   

2. Create a simple sentence:

   Begin by summarizing your story in one sentence. Identify the protagonist, what they want, and the main obstacles they face.

   • Who is the main character, and why should readers care about them?

   • What does the protagonist want to achieve?

   • What stands in the way of the protagonist’s goal?

   • What happens if the protagonist fails?

3. Refine and Test Your Premise:

   • Is your premise clear and easy to understand? (Can you explain it without getting tongue-tied or going off on tangents?)

   • Does your premise stand out and offer a fresh perspective/new take?

   • Is the conflict intense enough and are the stakes are high enough to sustain reader interest?

   
   

4. Seek Feedback:

   • Share your premise with critique partners, writing groups, or a professional editor to gauge its effectiveness and appeal.

     • A 1:1 coaching call is a great way to get professional feedback on different story premises!

     • Be open to constructive criticism and be willing to refine your premise based on feedback.

     
     

5. Align with Themes:

   • Identify the underlying themes of your story and ensure your premise reflects them. This adds depth and resonance to your narrative.

By homing in on a strong, clear premise, you lay a solid foundation for your story, guiding your writing process and making your book more appealing to readers and industry professionals.

Understanding Your Story’s Hook:

Your hook is what grabs attention. It’s the detail (or combination of details) that sets your story apart from others in your genre. If your premise tells us what the story is about, the hook tells us why we should care—and why this version of the story is the one we want to read.

Why It’s Important:

1. Captures Immediate Interest: A good hook sparks curiosity and makes people want more.

2. Differentiates Your Story: It helps your novel stand out in a saturated market by highlighting what’s original or compelling.

3. Supports a Strong Pitch: Without a hook, your pitch risks sounding generic—even if your execution is strong.

Your hook is not just about a clever idea; it’s about intrigue, tension, emotional pull, and uniqueness. What about your story makes people lean in? What makes them feel like they need to know what happens next?

4 Ways to Strengthen Your Hook:

1. Pinpoint the “What if?”

   • Think about what would make someone pause mid-scroll or mid-conversation.

   • Is there a twist on a familiar trope? An unusual character dynamic? A provocative concept?

2. Raise the Stakes or the Tension:

   • Readers want to know what’s at risk. High stakes—emotional, physical, psychological—immediately create interest.

3. Lean Into Genre Expectations (or Subvert Them):

   • If you’re writing speculative fiction, readers expect a “big idea.” If you’re writing literary fiction, they’ll look for emotional resonance. Either way, the hook should signal what kind of experience the reader is in for.

4. Make It Specific:

   • A vague hook won’t land. Instead of “a woman with a secret past,” try “a grieving mother who believes her child’s death was orchestrated by her own sister.” Details matter

The Power of the Elevator Pitch

What's the quick pitch you'd give a literary agent if you had only a quick elevator ride to sell them on your novel?

Right from the outset, the crucial piece you need to think about is your elevator pitch, which will not only help to position the novel in the marketplace and make it easier to sell, but will also give you a clearer focus as you’re writing.

Why It’s Important:

1. Opens Doors: You need a strong pitch to query agents, apply for mentorships, or promote your self-published book.

2. Clarifies Vision: Crafting a pitch forces you to distill your story to its most essential elements—helpful for revising or troubleshooting plot problems.

3. Increases Marketability: A well-written pitch shows that you understand your audience and where your book fits in the market.

A good pitch blends your premise and hook into something succinct, strategic, and emotionally engaging. Whether you're querying agents, crafting back cover copy, or promoting your book online, your pitch is what makes people decide whether your story is worth their time.

How to Write a Strong Pitch:

1. Combine Premise and Hook:

   • Your pitch needs to tell us what happens and why it’s compelling.

2. Include Key Elements:

   • Protagonist

   • Their goal or problem

   • What’s at stake

   • What makes this story unique

3. Keep It Clear and Punchy:

   • Aim for clarity, not cleverness. Avoid unnecessary details, subplots, or vague language.

   • If you can’t read your pitch aloud without tripping over your words, revise.

4. Use Proven Formats:

   • Example structure: When [inciting incident happens], [main character] must [take action], or else [stakes].

   • Or: [Protagonist] wants [goal], but when [obstacle], they must [decision/action], or risk [consequence].

5. Test and Tweak:

   • Try writing 3–5 different versions.

   • Share them with critique partners or test them in a 1:1 consultation with a professional.

   • Use the one that gets the strongest reaction—confusion means you’re not there yet; interest means it’s working.

Bringing It All Together

Whether you're still drafting or deep into revisions, getting clear on your premise, hook, and pitch will strengthen every aspect of your novel. These elements aren't just tools for marketing—they're part of the creative process, helping you shape a story that resonates on a deeper level.

If you're struggling to articulate what your book is really about, or if you're not sure your current version is landing, that’s a signal to dig deeper. Clarifying these pieces now will save you time later and make your story more impactful from page one. And if you want guidance as you develop or refine them, that’s exactly where professional support can make a difference.

Book a 1:1 Call for immediate, personalized support with drafting an elevator pitch that will move your manuscript to the top of the slush pile