The Art of Premise

How to explain your novel in one sentence.

by Chuk Yong from Pixabay

Some writers talk about the fact that they’re working on a novel. Others keep it secret—even from their friends and partners. There is no right or wrong here. Whether or not you choose to discuss your work-in-progress is entirely up to you. When I first started writing, I kept it to myself. Then as I began to publish, I became comfortable talking about the stories in my head. Now, as I’ve grown into this career, I tend to only discuss my books in depth with people who have skin in the game (my family, friends, or publishing partners).

You do you.

But.

Know this: a time is coming when you will need to discuss your novel in a cogent way. And the first step in doing so is being able to describe your story in a single sentence. I would also argue that being able to do this is key to helping you finish said novel. Which is why one of the first things I do when I start a new book is fine-tune my premise line to a single sentence. 

Side note: at some point in the drafting process—usually about the fifty percent mark—you will look up from your computer all bleary eyed and ask, “What the hell is this book about anyway?” And that’s when you will look at the 3x5 card on which you’ve written your premise and go, “Ooohhh. Yeah. Now I remember.” And then you’ll get back to work. Likely you’ll do this two dozen times. That premise line will save your sanity. It will also stop you from turning that 1830’s western into a space opera. You’re welcome.

Some people call this exercise crafting an elevator pitch. Meaning you can describe your novel in the time it takes an elevator to rise a single floor. But I like to do it quicker. And here’s why:

At some point you will be asked what your novel is about. And the moment you say, “Well, it’s complicated, but…” you’ve lost your audience. And whatever opportunity that audience might provide. Remember, in publishing, everything is an audition.

Ideally the person who’s asking is an agent or editor and you can confidently look them in the eye and answer that question in a succinct and intelligent way. You keep it short and sweet because you want to pique their interest. You want them to ask more questions. You want them to request the manuscript. That is your end goal. Or, as you get farther into this career, you want your existing publisher to buy your next novel. 

A good premise line gets you 50% of the way there.

It requires a bit of writer math, however. But at least it doesn’t involve Algebra.

This is the formula I’ve used to determine the premise line for every single book I’ve written. (Full disclosure here: I didn’t come up with this formula. I don’t remember where I heard it. But it was ten or fifteen years ago and it’s served me really well).