If you've made the decision to query and agent or editor or decided to pitch your novel in person at a writers' conference, you may have heard the term, 'high concept.' If you check out an agent or editor 'wanted' list, many of them will say their desire high concept fiction. They might specify such as high concept romance or science fiction. What does that mean?
High concept fiction is a novel that can be captured with a brief description that immediately attracts attention. It's a hook or title captured in a single sentence. That sentence is what's fun in your story. It's the book in a single image. It's the very essence of the novel's premise. It is the entertainment value of the piece.
The story has to have an original and unique premise that grabs attention before even reading a word of the actual book.
High concept fiction appeals to a mass audience and hopefully garners the attention of cross-over fans from other genres. Perhaps a thriller with a love subplot that appeals to romance readers.
Strong emotions are raised by high concept fiction. Emotions that linger such as fear, joy, love, hate and rage.
High concepts inspire the mind to paint a picture, conjuring images of what the story is about. The idea involves the visual part of the brain to get involved in the excitement of the story.
And after hearing a high concept pitch, you'll ask 'what if?' What if Thor is real and looking down on us?
Often you can find that one sentence pitch for high concept fiction on the front cover of a book or at the top of the inside flap of a hard-back book. By reading some of these in your novel's genre, you can get ideas how to create you own one sentence pitch. Let me give some examples.
It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, and another to be born. The Passage by Justin Cronin (combination thriller, horror and science fiction novel)
New York, 1891. A new breed of cop for a new breed of killer. Letters from a Murderer by John Matthews (thriller combined with historical)
Can you put the premise of your novel in one sentence that catches the imagination and interest of anyone who hears it? If you can perhaps you write high concept fiction.
Do you have more suggestions for writers about the definition of high concept fiction? Have you tried to put your pitch into one sentence? Have you heard other terms that meant the same thing as high concept? Do you know your hook before you even start writing a novel?
If you want to read more about the definitions of high concept fiction, read what Writer's Digest has to say it is. Still confused? Here Rachelle Gardner, literary agent, gives her definition.
Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy. As Susan Kelley she is published in science fiction and fantasy romance. You can find her at:
Susan Says
High concept fiction is a novel that can be captured with a brief description that immediately attracts attention. It's a hook or title captured in a single sentence. That sentence is what's fun in your story. It's the book in a single image. It's the very essence of the novel's premise. It is the entertainment value of the piece.
The story has to have an original and unique premise that grabs attention before even reading a word of the actual book.
High concept fiction appeals to a mass audience and hopefully garners the attention of cross-over fans from other genres. Perhaps a thriller with a love subplot that appeals to romance readers.
Strong emotions are raised by high concept fiction. Emotions that linger such as fear, joy, love, hate and rage.
High concepts inspire the mind to paint a picture, conjuring images of what the story is about. The idea involves the visual part of the brain to get involved in the excitement of the story.
And after hearing a high concept pitch, you'll ask 'what if?' What if Thor is real and looking down on us?
Often you can find that one sentence pitch for high concept fiction on the front cover of a book or at the top of the inside flap of a hard-back book. By reading some of these in your novel's genre, you can get ideas how to create you own one sentence pitch. Let me give some examples.
It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, and another to be born. The Passage by Justin Cronin (combination thriller, horror and science fiction novel)
New York, 1891. A new breed of cop for a new breed of killer. Letters from a Murderer by John Matthews (thriller combined with historical)
Can you put the premise of your novel in one sentence that catches the imagination and interest of anyone who hears it? If you can perhaps you write high concept fiction.
Do you have more suggestions for writers about the definition of high concept fiction? Have you tried to put your pitch into one sentence? Have you heard other terms that meant the same thing as high concept? Do you know your hook before you even start writing a novel?
If you want to read more about the definitions of high concept fiction, read what Writer's Digest has to say it is. Still confused? Here Rachelle Gardner, literary agent, gives her definition.
Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy. As Susan Kelley she is published in science fiction and fantasy romance. You can find her at:
Susan Says
