How to Pitch Your Book in One Sentence (Without Tearing Your Hair Out)

Nov 19
5 min read

You’ve just finished your book—or maybe you’re still deep in the trenches of revisions, staring at a manuscript that’s taken months (or years) to come together.

You’ve lived inside this story for so long that the characters feel like roommates. You’ve crafted arcs, polished scenes, and obsessed over commas. You know this book inside and out.

And then someone asks, “So, what’s your book about?”

Cue the panic.

Suddenly, you find yourself blanking. You stammer something vague and awkward—“It’s kind of hard to explain”—before launching into a long-winded explanation that still doesn’t feel quite right.

Then you walk away from the conversation feeling deflated. You wrote an entire book…but you can’t describe it in one sentence?

Here’s the thing: this is incredibly common. Whether you’re preparing to query agents, updating your author website, applying for a writing residency, or just trying to tell a friend about your novel over coffee, having a tight, compelling pitch is essential. It’s your verbal handshake. Your book’s first impression.

And yes, it’s absolutely possible to learn how to do it without turning into a puddle of frustration on the floor.

Let’s talk about how.

Why One Sentence Matters More Than You Think

It might seem counterintuitive that you’d spend months or years writing a complex story, only to be told to describe it in just one line.

But this isn’t about reducing your book—it’s about revealing its essence.

In publishing, attention spans are short. Whether it’s a literary agent skimming your query letter, a podcast host reviewing guest pitches, or a potential reader scrolling through social media, you have a fleeting moment to make an impression.

Your one-sentence pitch does the heavy lifting of hooking interest. It tells people, “Here’s what this story is, here’s why it matters, and here’s why you should care.”

The Anatomy of a Great One-Sentence Pitch

Let’s demystify this.

A strong pitch does three things:

Introduces the main character (or subject, for nonfiction)
Clarifies the core conflict, goal, or journey
Establishes the stakes—what’s at risk, or what the character stands to gain or lose

A helpful formula that I often recommend is this:

When [something happens], [main character] must [take action] or else [stakes/consequences].

It’s not the only way to do it, but it’s a solid place to begin. It gives you a container to organize your ideas without getting overwhelmed. From there, you can shape it to reflect your tone, genre, and audience.

Let’s take a few examples:

Novel: When a grieving father discovers he can travel five minutes into the past, he becomes obsessed with preventing the accident that killed his son—until he realizes changing time comes with a cost.

Memoir: This book tells my story of discovering my grandmother’s hidden letters from WWII, the journey I went on to uncover my family’s silence, and the self-discovery of having to face my own past trauma.

Nonfiction: My book is a practical, grace-filled guide for women who want to stop overcommitting, start saying no, and reclaim their time from the pressure to do it all.

Each of these examples identifies what the book is about, what’s happening, and why it matters. But they don’t try to explain everything. They hint. They tease. And most importantly, they create curiosity.

That’s what your sentence should do. It’s not a synopsis—it’s an invitation.

But here’s the catch: most authors are way too close to their own work to do this easily. You’ve got all the subplots, backstory, and worldbuilding spinning in your mind, and suddenly someone wants you to shrink it all into one tidy statement? No wonder you feel stuck.

That’s why having a simple, repeatable structure is key. It helps you step outside the complexity and focus on what moves the story.

Where Writers Get Stuck (And How to Get Unstuck)

If you’re struggling with this process, know that you’re not broken or “bad at marketing.” You’re simply close to your story. Too close, sometimes, to see the forest for the trees.

I’ve worked with authors who can write a 400-page novel with stunning clarity and beauty—but when it comes to writing a one-sentence pitch, they feel totally paralyzed.

Why? Because reducing your book to its essence feels like cutting out your own heart and trying to hand it to someone wrapped in a napkin.

There are a few common traps that writers fall into when they try to write a pitch:

They get too vague. “It’s about love and loss” doesn’t tell us anything specific.
They cram in too much. Suddenly, it’s three sentences, five character names, and a sprawling explanation of the fictional universe.
They try to be clever instead of clear. Metaphors and wordplay might sound cool, but if they obscure meaning, they won’t land.

Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for precision. What’s the beating heart of your story? What’s the question it asks? What does the main character want, and what’s standing in their way?

Those are the things that belong in your pitch, not the minor subplots or the cool side characters (no matter how much you love them).

An Exercise to Help You Find Your Sentence

Still not sure where to start? Try this:

Write a short paragraph explaining your book in casual language—no pressure to be “pitchy.” Just describe it like you would to a friend who genuinely wants to know what it’s about.
Highlight the key components: who the story is about, what they want, what happens, and what’s at stake.
Plug those elements into the sentence formula:

When [event] happens, [character] must [goal/action] or risk [consequence/stakes].

Refine it for rhythm, clarity, and tone. Read it out loud. If it sounds like you, and it sparks curiosity, you’re there.

Try it once. Try it five times. This isn’t about crafting the “perfect” pitch on the first go—it’s about getting closer to the one that clicks.

Your One-Sentence Pitch is Only the Beginning

That one-sentence pitch isn’t just for your query letter. You’ll use it over and over again: in podcast queries, on your website, in your author bio, in conversation, on Instagram captions, at writing conferences, and in your launch emails.

It becomes the foundation for everything else you’ll say about your book. And when it’s done well, it makes every other part of your launch so much easier.

But here’s the thing: a one-sentence pitch is only one part of a bigger picture. You still need to know how to build your audience, create launch content that feels like you, and share your book in a way that doesn’t make you feel like a pushy salesperson.

That’s where the Ultimate Book Launch Flight Plan comes in.