-
Finding the main hooks of your book communication without simplifying subplots?
Hi! I am creating a plan on how to frame my book for the readers, and I was talking to the designer that is helping me with the cover as well and we are struggling with answering: My book has an initial tension that frames the action from the beginning, but it is clear as you proceed that there’s more to it than what the narrator originally lets on. I need to define, for example, which characters I will include in the cover or how to frame the marketing activities, but I don’t want to let go of too much or too little. I could frame the story – which is a YA coming of age story – as rivalry between two siblings, because that’s what you have in the beginning. But then it quickly develops into a revenge plot when the siblings have to partner up, and then ultimately you realise that there’s a love triangle there that had been part of it from the beginning but no one spoke about. I have narrowed down the elevator pitch to ‘One Tree Hill meets Heartstopper in this story about two estranged twins who are forced to work together when everything goes wrong.’ But do you have examples of how to find the focal communication points of your book when building its identity? I am looking to go beyond the elevator pitch at this point.
-
2 Replies
-
You are looking for a cover that does justice to your themes? Why not look for books in the same genre, so a YA coming of age story and a YA thriller. Malorie Blackman is a good starting point – her YA Noughts and Crosses series encompasses some of that. (Not the twin theme though). Examine the covers of her books and see if it gives you some suggestions re colour and character reveal.
-
Hello Celina
Unfortunately, I can’t give any examples. I’m wondering if you aren’t trying to convey too much with the cover.
The sibling rivalry is the central theme so the two sisters would surely have to be shown, but not any other characters, to keep it simple. I can already picture it: the twins standing back to back, conveying their opposition. What they could be doing, though, I have no idea!
Sibling rivalry is a fascinating thread. Good luck with your book.
