Whether you're planning a wedding, a kid's birthday party, or a lunch with friends, the special event always requires thought to setting the mood. Do you want a shabby chic wedding at a country chapel? Or a Super Hero bash for your four year old? How about a garden tea for a few of your closest girlfriends? All these events bring about a vision in our heads, a trigger for our senses.
Your fifteen minute agent/editor
appointment at a writer's conference does not fall short as a "special
event" for your writing career. The spotlight shines bright and brief
in those few moments, so why not be sure you are prepared to not only
sell your novel with a bang, but set the mood of your writing, and
leave the professional with an experience they can't forget?
Besides stellar writing and a snazzy
premise, it's best to tap into more than the agent/editor's sense of
hearing as you speak, and impress an image that will stir the
appropriate emotions for your particular book. The one sheet is the
most effective way to tap into the professional's senses during your
“special event”. It is your décor and mood lighting all in one.
It can also be another hook to grab their interest and dig deeper
with conversation. And it is my ABSOLUTE favorite thing to create
besides the actual story.
Here are some examples of establishing
the tone of the book through graphics and layout using my own
designs (I tend to write more character-driven books so I include a profile or face in my own one-sheets):
A historical set deep
in the Amazon jungle (Winner of the Mile High Scribes 2011 One Sheet
Contest):
A coming of age story set post-Dust Bowl in cotton country of Texas (Finalist of the Mile High Scribes
2013 One Sheet Contest):
A historical romance set in a coal town in the Utah mountains (prejudice is a theme, so I went with the starkness of black
and white):
For more info on creating these
yourself, click here.
This conference season, I am excited to, once again, offer one sheet designs to any CBA writer. Go to my blog www.angiedicken.blogspot.com click on my CBA One Sheet Design page for more details!
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Angie
Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the
monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is
passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their
background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's
fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical
cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is
represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
Angie, you certainly have a gift! I absolutely love it and I think many people will want to utilize your services. Not many people feel like that have the creativity to do that kind of visual "art". Love it!
ReplyDeleteTerrific idea! You're very talented, Angie!
ReplyDeleteAhh, you are talented!
ReplyDeleteThree times I've had agents/editors actually ask to keep my one-sheet as an example to give to others. One asked permission to use it in a class she was teaching. A great one-sheet really can make you stand out in the crowd!
And I actually had my one-sheets designed by someone else since I'm not overflowing in graphic design skills...so it's definitely worth the investment. Hope lots of people take advantage of your new venture!
Thanks Sherrinda and Jill!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, What a compliment for you! Would love to see it!:) I have designed a few for some of the Alleycats. So fun to take a concept and make it visual!
ReplyDeleteAngie, your one sheets are amazing! I hope your venture goes well. I'll definitely keep you in mind when I'm ready to create my one sheet.
ReplyDeleteHow long does it take you to prepare one for a client?
Those are awesome, Ang! I hope lots of people take advantage of this!
ReplyDeleteJeanne,
ReplyDeleteIt usually takes me a couple of days to get a design ready, depending on workload. :) Let me know when you'd like to find out more about the details!
Thanks!
Thanks, Amy!
ReplyDeleteI remember your one sheet...it was so good!
Angie totally saved my hide when I was working on mine last year.... I'd asked for advice on how to "fix" it, and she came back with this AMAZING concept for me and was better than I could have ever asked for!!!
ReplyDeleteSO excited you're doing this again, girl!!!
So glad you're doing this again! Your one-sheets are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAngie took SO MUCH stress out of getting my one sheets done last year! Never again will I do my own. I'm serious. I'll pay the money for a better product and time saved on my end while getting ready for the conference!
ReplyDeleteThank you, fellow Alley Cats! I LOVE to design them and help a sista out! HAHA! Graphics is a PASSION and LOVE I have had almost as long as writing!!!
ReplyDeleteI love making one sheets! One of my favorite parts of conference prep!!! :D Great post!
ReplyDeleteYou do a beautiful job on one-sheets, Angie! I love the one you created for me last year. I'll be hiring you for sure. :)
ReplyDelete