Most pitches fail because they are too lengthy, boring, or lack connection. Thus, your beautifully crafted story continues to gather dust as you face many rejections. Your story is only as good as your pitch – this explains what your story is about, what makes it an ideal fit for the person you are pitching it to, and its market value proposition.
Think of your story pitch as a blurb, except it is usually directed to an agent or publishing house to convince them to take a chance on your work. A good story pitch singles your work out of the lot, bringing you one step closer to becoming a published writer.
Common Pitfalls You Must Avoid!
Genre Mismatch: Before submitting your story pitch, you must be diligent in your research to determine whether your work is the right fit for the agent or publisher. A genre mismatch comes about where, for instance, you submit your science fiction manuscript to a publisher who is interested in romance novels. It is more beneficial to do thorough research before submitting your story pitch to ensure that an agent or publisher actually handles your genre.
Ignoring Submission Guidelines: This is a technical knockout. Committing such a blunder suggests your lack of attention to detail. If you are restricted by specific instructions, including a maximum word count and formatting requirements, it is in your best interest to adhere strictly to them. In fact, invite someone else to cross-check whether or not your story pitch conforms to submission requirements.
Vagueness: A story pitch that neglects to focus on the crux of your story will get lost among the pile. An agent or publisher needs to be drawn in to see what holds your story together and why people will be interested in it. You must make the work of the agents easier by showing them how they can sell the book. You do this by clearly highlighting one or two characters central to the plot.
The Story Pitch Structure
The Hook: Your first line must immediately engage the reader and paint a vivid picture in their mind, piquing their interest in what you have to say. Think of the hook as what projects the tone of your story. For instance, a thriller pitch should build tension from the opening paragraph. After writing these first two to three lines of your pitch, take an objective stance and question whether a reader would be intrigued to read on. If no, then rewrite your hook.
The Central Conflict: Here, your goal is to introduce the reader to the plot and one or two characters, typically the protagonist, around whom the conflict revolves. You must answer questions such as: Who is the protagonist? What key incident upsets their world? Do they have an end goal? How would their failure impact the narrative? For prose or essays, you must provide the specific argument or angle that your story explores. Show the reader how, rather than blabbing on about what.
The Why Now Factor: Is your story relevant in today’s market? Directly answering this question in your story pitch moves your story to “must-publish” as it simplifies the work of the agent or publisher. Best practice suggests situating your story within current events, trends, or anniversaries. Also, use this as an opportunity to tell the genesis of your story on a deeper level – this builds connection, making your story pitch hit home, literally. This paragraph seeks to tell the agent or publisher why they should care about your work.
Your Credentials: This is where you brag a little (or a lot). Dedicate this paragraph to who you are, what you have done in the past, and why you are the right person to tell this story. Only share information relevant to your story pitch. For example, your story pitch is legal fiction that centres on a young female lawyer who struggles with finances and now stands at a crossroads – pursue justice or sacrifice it for a fat, ill-gotten pay cheque. Thus, including that you are a lawyer who has had to turn down shady offers in the past to uphold justice despite financial setbacks feels just right to position you as perfect to tell this story.
If applicable, provide links to relevant previous works to establish credibility. Ensure the voice of your bio aligns with the quality of your pitch, such that you do not go overly dry and formal as though you were now filling in information for your LinkedIn profile. If your story pitch is comedy-centred, your bio should have a bit of wit. If you are multi-faceted, stick to the pillar that fits the story. Overall, do not kick your creativity out the door because you want to write a formal, polished bio, creating a disconnect.
Visual Presentation: This is closely tied to adhering to submission guidelines, as earlier discussed. Additionally, employ appropriate white space and short paragraphs to make for an easy read. In the absence of instructions on what to include in the “subject” line for email submissions, a direct format like “Story Pitch: [Title/Hook]” helps filter out your email as a submission.
When you complete your story pitch, you must pause and critique it: Will my pitch get lost in the pile, or will it get noticed as a “must-publish”? It is best to seek a second opinion from someone who has gone before you in the writing industry. Your first few pitches may not be great, but nothing beats practice. Whatever you do, keep learning and refining your craft.
Abigail Anyomi is a Ghanaian creative and an early-career author, having published her poetry chapbook, Shell: A Tale of Resilience (2024).
Her writing has featured in Global Writers Project and She Writers Club 2025 end of year anthology, Cher Femme Issue 3, and the Writers Project Show on Citi Fm (Ghana).
Abigail's forthcoming book, The Law Students' Playbook, lies at the intersection of her background in writing and law.
To Abigail, creative writing is her chosen therapy.
Get more from her @thereal_a4 on Instagram.