Author One Sheets
Over the past few years the publishing industry has been going through growing pains as it is “morphing” into a new version of itself. At a recent Romance Writer’s National Conference almost every workshop had something to do with the changing industry and the role of the internet.
More and more editors and agents want to see email queries and proposals as they do their part in going “green.” Authors are expected to have a web site and promote their books through activity on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads…and a host of other sites. And the ebook is no longer a stepchild of the industry, but a serious, viable alternative to printed books.
As I gear up to go to my next conference, along with the clothes, business cards, and laptop, one of the things I will be taking is a One Sheet. As I speak with editors and agents, a One Sheet is something I can hand out that will jog their memories of my pitch and of me. It is also something they can jot notes on of our conversation if they choose.
So just what exactly is a One Sheet?
It’s a condensed, comprehensive sales pitch and there are two types for authors.
- Author One Sheet promotes yourself and your services (author, speaker, teacher)
- Book One Sheet promotes your book (s)
Things to include on both are:
- Genre is it contemporary, historical, fantasy, speculative, non-fiction?
- Word count
- Contact information – including website and blogs
- Short biography of yourself
- Photo
For the Author One Sheet, include a short synopsis of your book (25 to 30 words.) And then include other services you provide. For example: online teaching, speaking at conferences or writing workshops.
For a Book One Sheet, include the short synopsis and then also a longer version that goes into more detail. With fiction, you would want to note the important plot points. For non-fiction, you would want to point out the topics. You can also include the target audience and how you intend to market this book.
Make your One Sheet as professional looking as you can. This means white, 8 1/2 x 11 inch, paper. Use different fonts minimally to attract attention to the main areas, but stick to standard Times New Roman, 12 point for the main body. Keep things clean and concise.
One Sheets can be used for other business ventures as well. A quick search of One Sheets online will put a plethora of examples at your fingertips.
