One-Liners
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One-liners are those pat phrases that make a point and leave it marked indelibly on someone’s mind. These are the mini-commercials that hover in the air once the show goes back on. Most writers think these only exist as elevator pitches to agents at conferences. Not so. One-liners are appropriate in a wide assortment of arenas, and the more of them you have prepared, the sharper you look.

Where else do you need one-liners other than pitching your book? Consider these everyday questions that cross your path, and see if a one-liner might not fill the bill.

1. “Who are you / What do you do?”
2. “What do you write?”
3. “Why do you write?”
4. “What is your book about?”
5. “Who do you write for?”
6. “What’s your latest project?”
7. “What’s the first line of your story?”

Who are you?
“I’m C. Hope Clark, editor of an online site FundsforWriters.com, a freelance writer of national magazine features and burgeoning mystery novelist.”

See how I threw in a few words that impress like “editor”, “national”, “burgeoning” and “novelist”?

What do you do?
“I write editorials and magazine features by day and mysteries by night.”

Makes me sound like I live to write 24/7, and if I invest myself in the craft so much, I’m bound to know something about my profession.

Why do you write?
“It’s empowering to create words that enable and entertain others.”

The confidence is still coming through. Hear it?

What is your book about?
“The Shy Writer helps writers sell their words, not their souls.”

The book is about reclusive writers learning how to self-promote, but this sounds better, don’t you think?

Who do you write for?
“I publish nationally in magazines and internationally online.”

If you’ve freelanced any length of time, you’ve done the same. Sounds impressive.

What’s your latest project?
“I’m writing a series of agricultural mysteries, set in the South.”

Note how I do not say that agents haven’t picked them up yet, or that they are unpublished, or that I hope to get them published. No backstepping or excusing why they aren’t in book form yet. The question was the latest project. The answer was right on target. Don’t dilute it.

What’s the first line of your story?
“Hands on my hips, I surveyed the small office. O-positive primer wasn’t quite the color I had in mind, but Lucas Sherwood hadn’t given the decor a second thought when he blew out the left side of his head with a .45.”

Okay, so it’s two sentences. The point is I remembered it. Problem was once I was asked, and I forgot because I’d edited it so many times. Be prepared to give your opening hook. Lets you realize how important hooks are to grab attention.