Finding Non-Fiction Hooks in Fiction for Content

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BONUS FREEBIE: I have a resource for you that will help you prepare to talk with media and audiences. It’s the 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer. You can grab the fiction and nonfiction lists here.

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A few months ago, I led the Media Pitch Lab, a course to help authors craft effective pitches. And I realized that a lot of fiction authors were struggling to come up with effective hooks. The solution? Thinking about the audience. When it comes to creating your own content as well as pitching the media, you need to be thinking about your audience and how you can offer something of value to them. 

Media outlets care about their audience — not about selling your book. So as authors, you have to offer something of value to the audience. And that often seems a lot more straightforward for non-fiction authors. A cookbook author can offer recipes to try at home. The author of book about history can offer new knowledge that helps the audience understand the present more deeply. An author whose book centers on health tips can give advice that makes a real difference.But what about fiction authors?

The truth is that hiding within every fiction book are non-fiction hooks. And that’s what you need to focus on to create effective content.

I’ve laid out my pitching framework to help you think like a journalist and find those non-fiction hooks inside your novel.

Here are some areas to consider when looking for hooks:

Character traits: What are the unique abilities and experiences of your characters?

This is a great place to start because your characters are at the core of your story. For example, Jodi Picoult’s novels use character experiences with issues like gun violence and racism as hooks for media discussion about these topics.

Timely themes: What are the newsworthy trends or cultural relevance of your book’s themes? 

Themes can start a conversation that ties into trending topics and ideas.  For example, Kelly DeVoe’s novel, Fat Girl on a Plane, leveraged the emerging body positivity movement for media coverage.

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Author’s process and expertise: How did you build your author platform? How did you start and finish your book?

Consider the “behind the scenes” aspects of your journey that might be useful for your readers (and aspiring authors!) to know. For example, a historical fiction author could pitch about their writing process and world-building strategies to writer-focused media. 

Reading’s benefits: How is reading good for your audience?

Reading is good for us! And there are statistics to back that up. It reduces stress and helps us calm down after a stressful day. Using statistics about the power of reading is a great way to get a producer’s attention. Journalists like it when the numbers back up your claim! 

==> Want more tips? You can get access to my Media Pitch Lab course right here!

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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