Lesson 6

[Scott Billings]

What I learned: this helped narrow down what details to put in–and what to leave out–in an elevator pitch.

1. To find your main hook, give us what is most unique about your lead character’s journey from a big picture perspective.

A hurricane forces a newlywed couple to spend their wedding night in the motel from hell.

2. How can you tell it in the most interesting way possible?

Goal/Unique Opposition
A newlywed couple is forced to spend their wedding night with criminals, prostitutes and a serial killer dressed as a clown.

3. Using the 10 Components of Marketability, what is your Elevator Pitch?

I’m working on a comedy called HONEYMOON WITH STRANGERS, which is about a couple forced to spend their wedding night with criminals, prostitutes and a serial killer dressed as a clown.

[Diane Keranen]

Diane’s High Concept/Elevator Pitch

What I learned doing this assignment is that 1) ChatGPT is fun to use and interestingly helpful in the way it reshaped ideas for me, and 2) my rewrite phase will be fascinating to work through.

1. A soldier considers suicide after he returns from combat, unless he can find a life worth living.

2. What’s a stake? This is one most interesting way to present the story because the veteran’s life is at stake. Dilemma is another. (Main Conflict could be another but it depends on my rewrite choices.)

3. I’m writing a story about the veteran suicide epidemic.

4. Chat GPT assisted High Concept Pitch:

A soldier on the brink of suicide during and emotionally charged homecoming must reconcile with his estranged veteran father to confront their wounds and discover a renewed meaning of life.