Hooks vs pitches!

Welcome! I'm Robin Currie, January Author for Mighty Kid Lit. 

Researching Hooks and Pitches, many authors started by saying, "My personal definition is" or "the way I use the terms." I found lots of "how to" and not much "what is." So....

A pitch is what I write to interest an editor or agent in buying my manuscript. It usually includes word count, type of story, selling points. It describes a manuscript with the potential to be a book.

The hook is copy I or the publicist writes for advertising or on book flap to entice the readers. It is often the brief description found on Amazon. Sometimes it will include mention of the art since it describes a book that is already completed.

So I wrote a few hooks and pitches for some of my WIP.

Magical Tree

PITCH: Just an old tree with strong branches. But climb the trunk with imaginative children to sail pirate ships, encounter dinosaurs in hidden dens, and sip tea in secret gardens. Told in lyrical rhyme, Magical Tree is a group read aloud or bedtime snuggle story, sparking dreams of adventures to come. 32-page PB, 231 words

HOOK: Explore the old tree with imaginative children who find adventure and dreams on the limbs and branches. What would your child do in a Magical Tree?

 

How do YOU sleep?

PITCH: Living things spend time in a still state called sleeping. But where and how - that’s found in this 32-page picture book (455 words plus backmatter) of fascinating information about animal slumber.

HOOK: Shut eye, slumber, doze, rest. Almost every living thing spends some time sleeping. Pair this book with a warm blanket and snuggly toy…. Is there anything like a book on sleep to make children sleepy?

What Big Eyes You Have!

PITCH: Creative nonfiction, 32-page picture book, ages 3-7. What big eyes they have! From nocturnal hunters to underwater marvels, each page reveals fascinating facts that will keep readers wide-eyed and eager for more. Discover the secrets behind those mesmerizing gazes and why these animals' big eyes are essential for their survival.

HOOK: Who can resist a pair of big eyes surrounded by fur, feathers, or scales? Meet an eye-popping cast of lesser-known Big Eyed species from around the world. You won't want to blink until you've reached the last page.

The big difference is who you are writing to attract. Now compare the pitches and hooks you have written. Try posting a pitch and hook for the same book. No one is evaluating - just learning.