Assignment 2: It’s a scary thing – the one sheet. You’ve either never heard of it or you’re unsure how or what to do to prepare one.
The one sheet, also known as a pitch sheet, is just what the name says. It’s one simple page with the pertinent information an agent or publisher needs. When you’re gearing up for conference season and your manuscript is polished and ready for presentation, it’s important to have a one sheet handy.
It’s been said, a writer should be able to bolt out of a dead sleep and recite their elevator pitch. A one sheet is a nice back up to help you make your presentation to an editor or agent smooth, concise, and impressive. Once you’ve totally blown publishing professionals away with your pitch, they can carry your one sheet back to the office and have all the valuable details they need to contact you and request the proposal and manuscript.
A one sheet should contain the following information:
* Title
* Genre, word count, and if the manuscript is complete or estimated time it will be finished (i.e. Historial Fiction, 90,000 words, completed)
* Targeted audience (Women 25-40, Young Adult, etc.)
* Two or three short, knock-out paragraphs about the book that makes those agents hungry for more (think back book text).
* Professional Bio – Remember make it concise, relevant, and professional. It doesn’t need to contain every writing credit you’ve ever done. Only what is
current and creditable. Show your personality and flare but don’t over do it. Editors don’t care if you have six dogs and nine cats.
* Current, high-resolution photo – Investing in a few professional shots is well worth your money. It’s much better than you on the beach, in shorts with
frog-eyed sunglasses – cute but not professional.
* Website and contact information. Please, please, please, if you don’t already have one, get an email that contains your name. Don’t give a publisher your family fun email address ([email protected]). A) They would not open a return email from an off-the-wall email address for fear of cyber attack or shady content. B) They can’t connect you to jellyjaws. Again, cute but not professional. If you have an agent, you’ll use their contact information.
Pare this information down to the sharpest and tightest writing you can do, place it nicely on the front of ONE SHEET and you’re ready to roll.
Click the link for a sample one sheet.
MAE IN JUNEonesheetJune2010
Your assignment is to make your one sheet. Bring it with you to Boot Camp so you’ll have it to present to editors, agents, and publishers.
Assignment 6 - Creative Non-Fiction
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 5 - Don't Waste Your Conference Experience
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
January 31, Assignment 4 - Bring Your Characters to Life
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
January 24, Assignment Four - Time to Shoot the Weasel Words
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1/8/2016
Assignment 3 - The Role of Speaker Tags and Beats
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 2 (2 of 2) Week of January 10
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
January 10, Assignment 2 (1 of 2 assignments)
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 1 - ACWC January 5 - Let's Start with a Bio
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 8 & 9 - Titles & Sentences - Nancy Lohr
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 7 - What in the World is a One Sheet - Andrea Merrell
by Cindy Sproles
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February 1 - Assignments 5 & 6 - Linda Glaz
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Sensory Perception Enhances Your Writing - Assignment 4
by Cindy Sproles
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Don't Write Your Bio - Write WHY ME? - Assignment 3
by Cindy Sproles
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How to Make the Most of Your Conference Experience - Assignment 2
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Appropriate Emails - [email protected] - Assignment 1
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
How Not to Get an Agent - Assignment 7
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
January 27 Assignment 5 -Storytelling Your Life Lessons
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
It's Not What You Know; It's Who You Know - Assignment 4
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Stay on Track with a Writing Schedule - Assignment 3
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Assignment 2 - Finding Speaker Topics
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
IMAGERY–WHEN THIS IS LIKE THAT
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Asheville Christian Writers Conference Privacy Policy
by Cindy Sproles
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2018 Writers Charge
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Last Chance - Assignment 7
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
An Adjective Safari - Assignment 6
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Get in the Mood to Write - Assignment 5
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Getting Rid of “I” Disease - Assignment 3
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
Curb Your Adverb Addiction - Assignment 2
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
WHO ARE YOU? - Writing Your Bio
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
WRITING IN A PICKLE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
THE NaNoWriMo CHALLENGE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
BRINGING YOUR CHARACTERS TO LIFE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
DON’T LET SPEAKER BEATS RUIN YOUR MANUSCRIPT
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
HOW TO CRAFT GREAT DIALOGUE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
AVOID REPETITION AND WRITE TIGHT
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
THE QUOTATION QUOTA – ASSIGNMENT 2
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
ELIMINATE THE EXCLAMATION POINTS – ASSIGNMENT 1
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
WRITING ADVICE FROM MARK TWAIN: WRITE WITHOUT PAY UNTIL SOMEBODY OFFERS TO PAY
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
WHEN THE STORY STALLS IN THE MIDDLE
by Cindy Sproles
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WHO REALLY SELLS YOUR BOOKS ?
by Cindy Sproles
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 15-MINUTE APPOINTMENTS
by Cindy Sproles
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ARRRGH! ANOTHER REJECTION – CINDY SPROLES
by Cindy Sproles
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FROZEN IN PLACE – ICEY SELF-TALK TO FREEZE YOUR WRITING
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THE BIO – THE FRAGRANCE OF WHO YOU ARE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
THE PAIN OF UNSOLICITED
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
REDUNDANCY: AN EXCESSIVE, OPPRESSIVE, PERVASIVE DISEASE
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
7 THINGS TO DO NOW TO BE READY WHEN WRITING INSPIRATION STRIKES – EDIE MELSON
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 15-MINUTE CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN WRITERS’ CONFERENCE?
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
YOU NEED A PLATFORM – LIVING A STORY- ASSIGNMENT 3
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
THE ONE SHEET
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
OVER-EDIT?
by Cindy Sproles
1/8/2016
