The Premise
Creating a premise.
The premise is the first order of business, for a writer, in any format. The premise is the story in a brief paragraph. A partial summary with a tease (no spoilers, please). You know the whole deal yourself, and have it written in a separate file.
But, speaking as a film and television screenwriter in a previous life, the premise is what they would call, in Hollywood and vicinity, 'the elevator pitch.' You're on an elevator in Century City and recognize Sofia Coppola, Ron Howard and/or Brian Grazer heading your way. They're getting on your elevator. You are very helpful and hold the door for them. You have now captured their attention with your uncommonly (sad to say) courteous gesture, and have their attention. You now have whatever time it takes to get from your floor of entry to her, his or their floor of exit.to hold it long enough to convince them to give your script (or elsewhere, manuscript) a look.
You have less than a minute to accomplish this.
For book publishers (or agents, for that matter) require a query letter, in which you present the premise, and similarly have only the first paragraph (and title) to capture their attention and interest.
In this instance, you have the advantage of taking your time with your preparation and presentation. So proceed with care. This stage comes before the outline, so my apologies for going out of order in my previous posting. But sometimes we have to go with what inspires us at the moment, rather than adhering to a proper procedure.
So as to content:
This is up to the writer, of course. But whatever it is, it must grab the reader's attention and hold on tight. You must tame that bronco. But then tease your reader as well. A wink, a smile, a promise of great things to come.
Content means topic. Introduction(s), development(s), conclusion(s).
And then, of course, you have to deliver it. And on it.
Here are examples of successful premises:
A former Navy Seal returns to his Florida roots, while keeping them half a state away, self-employed as a P.I. (Private Investigator). No sooner has he returned, than something bad happens: the murder of a client he was on his way to see.
A former football player turned cop and then P.I. has his life ripped away from him by the senseless murders of his wife and young daughter.
Set in Japan, a well regarded family of successful doctors is having a celebration with their many friends in the community. Someone poisons them all, including many children. There is only a single survivor: the blind youngest daughter of the family.
All of them, you will note, could be elevator pitches. And were, whether to a producer, an agent, or a publisher (or well-known editor).
Ciao for now,
E.C. Ayres
The premise is the first order of business, for a writer, in any format. The premise is the story in a brief paragraph. A partial summary with a tease (no spoilers, please). You know the whole deal yourself, and have it written in a separate file.
But, speaking as a film and television screenwriter in a previous life, the premise is what they would call, in Hollywood and vicinity, 'the elevator pitch.' You're on an elevator in Century City and recognize Sofia Coppola, Ron Howard and/or Brian Grazer heading your way. They're getting on your elevator. You are very helpful and hold the door for them. You have now captured their attention with your uncommonly (sad to say) courteous gesture, and have their attention. You now have whatever time it takes to get from your floor of entry to her, his or their floor of exit.to hold it long enough to convince them to give your script (or elsewhere, manuscript) a look.
You have less than a minute to accomplish this.
For book publishers (or agents, for that matter) require a query letter, in which you present the premise, and similarly have only the first paragraph (and title) to capture their attention and interest.
In this instance, you have the advantage of taking your time with your preparation and presentation. So proceed with care. This stage comes before the outline, so my apologies for going out of order in my previous posting. But sometimes we have to go with what inspires us at the moment, rather than adhering to a proper procedure.
So as to content:
This is up to the writer, of course. But whatever it is, it must grab the reader's attention and hold on tight. You must tame that bronco. But then tease your reader as well. A wink, a smile, a promise of great things to come.
Content means topic. Introduction(s), development(s), conclusion(s).
And then, of course, you have to deliver it. And on it.
Here are examples of successful premises:
A former Navy Seal returns to his Florida roots, while keeping them half a state away, self-employed as a P.I. (Private Investigator). No sooner has he returned, than something bad happens: the murder of a client he was on his way to see.
A former football player turned cop and then P.I. has his life ripped away from him by the senseless murders of his wife and young daughter.
Set in Japan, a well regarded family of successful doctors is having a celebration with their many friends in the community. Someone poisons them all, including many children. There is only a single survivor: the blind youngest daughter of the family.
All of them, you will note, could be elevator pitches. And were, whether to a producer, an agent, or a publisher (or well-known editor).
Ciao for now,
E.C. Ayres
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