by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, Writing a Book
“If I Had More Time, I Would Have Written You a Shorter Letter.” – Mark Twain
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Most authors know the famous adage, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” This saying is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is, ironically, delivered by the exceedingly longwinded character Polonius. Brevity, simply defined, is shortness or conciseness of expression. While brevity is often an essential part of wit or humor, it is also a necessary tool which writers must master. In an age where attention spans are under siege from competing information streams, skillful and brief communication can cut through the noise and capture the attention of the listener.
Like Shakespeare’s Polonius, many authors recognize the importance of brevity, while struggling too actually be brief. Authors are conditioned early on with the idea that longer; more complex sentences and words are better. As people who enjoy the act of writing and are immersed in a world of words, it is easy for writers to become longwinded.
As a book publicist I bridge the gap between authors, who can be longwinded, and the media who have no time to listen or talk! So, it’s imperative that I condense everything down to the ‘elevator pitch’ answering these questions: Who is the author? What is their topic? Why should we interview them NOW?
William Zinsser, famous American writer, literary critic, and teacher said, “There are four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity.” Words carry power, but length does not equal strength. Some of the most powerful and most memorable works in human history are only a few dozen words:
- The Lord’s Prayer: 66 words
- The Ten Commandments: 79 words
- The Gettysburg Address: 272 words
- Declaration of Independence: 1,322 words
- Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: 1,667 words.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” Here are three important practices for writers:
- Know the purpose of your communication. An elevator pitch or logline will be shorter than a synopsis or an excerpt. Whether writing a pitch or working on your novel, keep in mind the purpose of the writing and consider how brevity can help meet that goal.
- Remove unnecessary words. Even Jefferson’s famous quote about brevity can be reduced to the following statement, without changing the meaning. “The most valuable talent is never using two words when one will do.”
- Change the sentence structure. Revising the structure of the sentence may eliminate words and possibly even express the idea more powerfully.
Author Dennis Roth says, “If it takes a lot of words to say what you have in mind, give it more thought.” Thoughtfully implementing these practices will help you eliminate the fluff and maximize the impact of your writing.
One area in which authors typically struggle, but which is an excellent exercise in brevity, is crafting elevator pitches and loglines. Pitches and loglines are a marketing tool to help sell your idea or work, and attract the interest of publishers, editors, or producers. Having a refined a pitch or logline can also help authors maintain focus during the writing process, becoming a tool which keeps the author from getting tangled in the weeds of extraneous details that can detract from the story.
An elevator pitch or logline succinctly answers the question: “What is your book about?” and provides a tease or a taste of the story. Loglines encapsulate the story arc and themes in one to two well-crafted sentences. The pitch should evoke the curiosity of the listener, help them understand what sets your work apart, and compel them to want more. Loglines and elevator pitches should SELL the story, not tell the story.
As a writer, brevity is your friend. Brief, simple, and concise communication shows respect for the listener and their time. Utilize brevity to help your writing get the attention it deserves.
I could blather on in this article but in keeping with the title… I am going to be brief!
The Bottom Line: Be brief. Master the art of brevity to make your writing more powerful and effective.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Audiobooks, Author Advice, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, How to title a book, Promoting a Book, Writing a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Alliteration is a very useful literary tool. Alliteration is simply defined as the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words and also the repetition of an initial consonant sound, as in “a peck of pickled peppers.”
Alliteration is one of many tips and techniques covered in my new book designed to help authors title their books called BOOK TITLE GENERATOR.
Incorporating alliteration into your book title can help people remember your work and it will stick out in people’s minds.
Here are a few examples of books with alliteration in their titles:
- The Teeny Tiny Teacher by Stephanie Calmenson
- The Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat by Catherine Ann Cullen
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
- Love’s Labor’s Lost by William Shakespeare
- The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
- The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- Caesar and Cleopatra by George Bernard Shaw
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Roger Parker of Personal Branding says, “Sometimes the most important lessons in personal branding are the simplest ones, like using alliteration, or repeated “hard” sounds, to make the title of your brand-building book stand out and be easy to remember.” You want readers, fans, and your potential audience to enjoy your book’s title. Alliteration can help that title roll off the tongue nicely. If your book’s title is memorable and fun or easy to say, people will talk about it. The alliteration will stand out in conversation or in the review section of a website.
According to Mike Ball, author of ‘Banjos, Boats and Butt Dialing’, alliteration can be a very effective tool for a humorist. Ball explains, “I rarely use it for serious subjects but judiciously used, alliteration is an author’s best friend. Since humor is all about timing, alliteration forces the reader to participate in the timing you are trying to set up. That’s why my book title ‘Banjos, Boats and Butt Dialing’ gets people to laugh before they crack the cover.”
As J.R.R. Tolkien observed, alliteration “depends not on letters but on sounds.” Thus, the phrase know-nothing is alliterative, but climate change is not.”
Domey Malasarn from the website “The Literary Lab” feels that alliteration can belong in titles as well as within your book. “I have used it on occasion myself in places where I thought it was helpful. For example, if I had a sentence like ‘Alfred was furious.’ I might revise it to “Alfred was angry.” because to me it pairs the subject of the sentence with his emotion a little more powerfully.”
Puja Lalwani of Buzzle explains, “The importance of alliteration should not be undermined as just another literary device that is beyond comprehension. It is highly useful and most invaluable, whether just to drive a point home, make for a fun read, or as a marketing tool that will leave your product etched in the mind of the consumer.”
On the website, helium.com, Stella McIntyre perfectly outlines the benefits of using alliteration across various mediums. “Although most commonly used in literature, most particularly poetry, alliteration can also be found in non-fiction writing: leaflets, newspaper headlines, advertising and merchandising. Its effect is twofold. Firstly, it draws attention to and emphasizes a phrase and secondly, it can create connotations that significantly add to the understanding and enjoyment of a writer’s meaning.”
The Bottom Line: Alliteration in book titles will help people remember your book title because it will help your work stand out and engage your reader.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Author Spotlight, Blog, Book Promotion, Book Publishing, Writing a Book
MasterClass Review: Take your writing skills to the next level with online courses from the authors who have perfected the craft.
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
One of my favorite things for authors is MasterClass. Imagine having a one-on-one lesson with the best writers of our day. That’s what you get when James Patterson speaks to you directly in his MasterClass. Same with Dan Brown, Malcolm Gladwell and many other bestselling authors.
I’ve gained much insight from these top writers who are eager to share their methods and thought processes. MasterClass is an invaluable resource especially if you’d like to improve your writing skills and succeed as an author. It offers seemingly endless engaging online courses taught by some of the best authors in the world. Don’t worry, there’s no test either, just good helpful info.
These authors know what it takes to write a unique, compelling book that sells. They’re dedicated to their craft and are generous in sharing their knowledge and insight with you. Here’s a closer look at the various courses you can take. Click on the link to watch a customized trailer for each.
Neil Gaiman – The author of Coraline and The Sandman shares his unique approach to storytelling. With his course, you can find your voice, come up with exciting ideas, and give your characters life.
James Patterson – If anyone is in a position to help you start and finish your book, it’s James Patterson. He’s the author of 19 consecutive No. 1 New York Times bestsellers and shares a variety of tips in his course. “My first novel was turned down by 31 publishers. It’s rare that somebody comes up with a totally fresh idea out of nowhere. Write the story. Don’t write sentences,” said Patterson.
Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers and The Tipping Point are two of Malcolm Gladwell’s books that have allowed readers to understand complicated ideas such as performance prediction and behavioral economics. Gladwell can teach you how to write powerful stories that help others learn. “The job of the writer is not to supply the ideas. It’s to be patient enough to find the ideas.” he explained.
Dan Brown – Known for The Da Vinci Code and other best-selling thrillers, Dan Brown reveals how he turns ideas into narratives. Find out how he researches, comes up with characters and keeps suspense throughout all of his books. “Write as though nobody’s watching because nobody’s watching,” said Brown.
Margaret Atwood – When it comes to creative writing, Margaret Atwood is the expert. She’s the author of The Handmaid’s Tale and provides a roadmap for developing ideas into novels that attract and inspire all kinds of readers. Atwood is a firm believer of the idea that you become a writer by writing.
David Sedaris – David Sedaris is well-respected for his bestselling books like Calypso and essays in the New Yorker. His course can teach you the art of personal storytelling. Learn how to use humor to write openings that pique interest and endings that satisfy readers.
Joyce Carol Oates – Become a better short story writer with Joyce Carol Oates who’s published 58 novels and thousands of short stories. She’s a creative writing professor at Princeton University and will teach you how to explore your own imagination and write works that people want to read.
R.L. Stine – If you want to write for young audiences, R.L. Stine can steer you in the right direction. For over 20 years, Stine focused on funny stories and jokes. He eventually transitioned to writing horror stories for youngsters and is best known for The Fear Street and Goosebumps series. You can count on him to show you how to develop plots that intrigue young readers.
Billy Collins – With Billy Collins’ poetry course, you can find your voice as a poet and appreciate “the emotional pull of poetry.” Collins is a former U.S. Poet Laureate who will read his poems out loud and explain how he wrote them.
The Bottom Line: If you want to become an outstanding author then master the craft of writing from the most successful authors through MasterClass.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, How to title a book, Writing a Book
Struggling to come up with a good title for your book? Try these online tools.
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Coming up with a title for your book is easier said than done. The good news is there are online tools you can use to jump start the creative process. Use them to help create a compelling, attention-grabbing title that speaks to your audience. A good book title is the key to increasing sales, interest, and impact. Here are several worth considering
1. Portent’s Content Idea Generator: Simply enter the subject of your book and this generator will give you some ideas. You can continue to click the arrow until you find a title that piques your interest.
2. Kopy Writing Kourse Book Name Generator: Once you type in your subject, it will give you a long list of hundreds of book titles. Chances are you’ll find one (or a few) that suit your book.
3. Awesome Titles Title Generator: Believe it or not, this generator can open your eyes to 700 catchy titles. Enter a main keyword and you’ll get 3 pages worth of ideas.
4. Selfpublishing.com Nonfiction Book Title Generator: If you’re in need of a title for your nonfiction book, this generator is invaluable. Enter a word that describes its topic. After you click “Generate,” it’ll deliver some good options.
5. Ruggenberg Title Generator: Get six titles at one time with this generator. All you have to do is click “Give me some titles,” sit back, relax, and allow the tool to work its magic.
6. Adazing Book Title Generator: This book title generator will give you “perfect titles in less than 30 seconds.” It’s a bit more involved than other generators because it asks you to select your genre and type in details like the occupation of the protagonist and main character’s goal.
7. Serendipity Fantasy Novel Title Generator: For a simple generator for your fantasy book, the Serendipity Fantasy Novel Title Generator a solid pick. Continue to click “Another” until you see what you’re looking for.
8. Sumo Kickass Headline Generator: The Sumo Kickass Headline Generator allows you to choose the type of title you want: a numbered list, how-to, controversial, playful, etc. Once you do, it’ll ask you to enter a topic and desired outcome before it spits out an option.
9. Writing Exercises Story Title Generator: With the Writing Exercises Story Title Generator, you can click back and forth between the “Adjective” and “Noun” buttons to create a unique story title.
10. Book Title Generator: Using online book title generators are just one ‘tactic’ you need to consider while titling your book. If you want a thoughtful, insightful and scientific approach check out my award-winning book for authors called: BOOK TITLE GENERATOR at https://www.BookTitleGenerator.org. Using the latest methods of getting a book ranked on search engines and in Amazon, I show you a plan to help you get the right title for your book. Before you title your book, I ask you to consider all options in the quest for the perfect book title. From using numbers, alliteration, idioms, and keyword research, Book Title Generator (The Book) covers them all.
The Bottom Line: Your book title is one of THE most important tasks for authors. Don’t make it an afterthought.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Publishing, Literary Agent, Writing a Book
TO THE BEST OF my understandably shaky recollection, the first time I died it went something like this. – James Patterson, Private
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Did you spend enough time crafting the first line in your book? In our attention deficit world these days it’s more important now than ever to grab the reader’s attention immediately. Why? Because if they don’t like the first line, they may never read any further and may not buy the book!
We all know when we’ve read a good first line as it grabs you by the lapels and never lets you go. We’ve all heard memorable first lines our entire lives from bedtime stories our parents read us to the books published this year.
So, what about your first line? Is it memorable? Does it contain words with long lasting meaning and value? Some unforgettable first line examples include:
- TO THE BEST OF my understandably shaky recollection, the first time I died it went something like this. – James Patterson, Private
- Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. – Clement Clarke Moore, A Visit from St. Nicholas
- When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. – Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird
- Call me Ishmael, – Herman Melville, Moby Dick
- It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. – George Orwell, 1984
- It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
- Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
- Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. – Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
- If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. – J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Now that you’ve read some notable opening lines, let’s hear what authors had to say about their process of creating a remarkable first line.
From an article in The Atlantic, Stephen King said, “An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story. It should say, Listen. Come in here. You want to know about this.”
Simon Kernick, a novelist, told The Telegraph during an interview, “For me, the most important bit is that you grip your reader from the start. All good writers really need to think about the first line, it’s hugely important. If you spend too much time setting things up, these days it’s not going to work.”
Kathryn Guare, self-publishing author, shared her insight and said, “The first sentence of a novel is exactly that—nothing more, and nothing less. It is the building block and the foundation from which to build everything else. It needs to work, but it does not need to be a work of art onto itself. If you like it yourself, then stop obsessing over it.”
The opening line holds crucial importance for both the author and the reader. It is of the utmost importance to hook the reader with the very first sentence and engage them to read the whole book. A few ways to do so include:
- Painting a vivid picture – Gain your reader’s attention by painting an image that stays with them for the rest of the book. For example, an article on The Write Practice shared an excerpt from Cormac McCarthy’s, All the Pretty Horses, which uses this technique.
The candleflame and the image of the candleflame caught in the pierglass twisted and righted when he entered the hall and again when he shut the door.
- Capturing the reader’s interest with a scenario or question – rather than painting a picture for your readers capture a scenario or recollection of thought from your main character. As a reader, you might picture the character with his father in deep conversation or envision the father sitting his son down to share valuable life lessons. If you’re imagining a similar scene, the author has done their job correctly. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby.
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.
- Surprising the reader – this technique is used often by many authors to deceive their readers. Many authors use short and choppy sentences to confuse their readers and to keep them intrigued. A surprising opening is a theatrical way to present your book’s story into reality. For example, an article by Diane O’Connell, a book publishing coach and CEO of Write To Sell Your Book, shared an excerpt from Iain M. Banks, The Crow Road, which uses this technique.
It was the day my grandmother exploded.
Writing words that are funny, truthful and concise – the best technique that an author can use is honesty. A good example of honesty is the opening line of Lemony Snicket’s, A Bad Beginning, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Snicket (pen name for American author Daniel Handler is open and upfront with his readers from the very beginning by telling them that this isn’t a fairytale story. By using the honesty technique, he let his readers know what they were in for.
If you enjoy books with happy endings than you are better off reading some other book.
The Bottom Line: Grab your reader from the very beginning with an engaging and memorable opening line!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
