Nonfiction Book Elevator Pitch Tips, Best Practices, and Examples for Authors: Write a Logline That Wins Over Readers and Sell More Books
What’s clear, catchy, written in bold font, and sells books all over?
A logline, also known as a tagline, keynote, or elevator pitch. Ding! Ding! Ding!
The answer shouldn’t be a puzzling riddle for authors.
But it is.
If you have a poor elevator pitch (or none at all), you’re missing out on opportunities for your nonfiction book—opportunities to get published or to attract (and help) more readers and sell more books.
As an author, you don’t have a lot of time to get people’s attention. If you don’t hook them within the first few lines, you may lose the sale altogether.
If you want to take your book to the next level—pun intended—you need to master the art of the elevator pitch.
Here’s what you need to know. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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How to write an elevator pitch for a book / how to write a logline for a book (nonfiction)
Read on as I draw on my experience as a nonfiction author coach for American authors who also writes book descriptions—
You’ll learn all about nonfiction book loglines:
1. What is the logline for a book (also known as the book elevator pitch or the book keynote)?
2. How long should a logline be?
3. What should a logline include?
4. Nonfiction book elevator pitch best practices and tips
5. Nonfiction book logline examples
(Before we get started, keep in mind we’ll use the terms logline, tagline, keynote, and elevator pitch interchangeably in the author resource below. And we’ll be talking about nonfiction books, specifically—books like self-help, how-to, memoir, biography, cookbooks, books about spirituality, history, and other genres.)
What is the logline for a book (also known as the book elevator pitch)?
The logline of a book is the short ditty that goes on the book’s Amazon sales page as well as the sales pages of other online retailers. It is typically the beginning of the book description.
Its purpose is to grab the reader’s attention while compelling them to want to learn more (and to buy your book!)
How long should a logline be?
A nonfiction book logline should be one to two sentences—about 25 words on average.
What should a logline include?
Whereas a fiction logline would normally include such elements as the setting, protagonist, goal, obstacle, and stakes, a nonfiction book logline is different.
A nonfiction book logline must incorporate one or more of the following elements:
the essence of your book
the promise of the book—its benefits or the transformation the reader will achieve
exactly who the book is for
what differentiates this book from the others like it
For nonfiction authors, this can be difficult to do.
You don’t want to give away the entire book.
Its benefits or achievable outcome must be clear, especially in genres where there is a lot of competition or for subjects where people have specific problems they’re looking to solve or interests they’re looking to satisfy.
You’ll find the right readers if it’s obvious who the book is for. That might be stated directly or indirectly—as in hinted at through word choice.
And finally, what differentiates this book from the others like it? Too many authors struggle to answer this question. Yet every agent or publisher will ask.
As the author, you want everyone to know what makes this book special so they can talk about it and sell it on your behalf.
Nonfiction book logline best practices and tips
Write your book’s elevator pitch sooner rather than later.
If you’re in the early stages of a book project, you may find it helpful to write your elevator pitch early and revise it often during the writing process.
Keep your “elevator pitch” on a sticky note where you can see it as you type. It will help you stay focused on delivering what you set out to deliver for your readers.
Keep it short.
Remember: a sentence or two, 25 words or so, maybe 30.
Write simply.
Make it easy to follow and easy to understand. No large, complicated words. Nothing pretentious.
Eliminate any unneeded words. Avoid repetition.
You don’t want anything to trip people up as they read the elevator pitch.
Write for an eighth-grade audience.
You can use Hemingway Editor, a free online tool, to help clarify and simplify your writing.
In the example shown here, So far, so good!
Try writing at least 3 versions of what you think your elevator pitch should be.
Create a few versions.
Edit, Edit, edit.
Get outside opinions. I rarely suggest this, but try it out.
Try it out on other authors.
Try it out on your author coach.
**If you’re an American nonfiction author looking to write, publish, or sell your book like a pro, get individualized guidance and feedback to aid you in your author journey. Whether you need help outlining or writing your book, preparing to self-publish or crafting and pitching your book proposal, or creating and implementing a book marketing plan that works, I can help you. Get started with author coaching here.
Try it out on someone with a marketing or sales background—someone who understands buyer psychology. Buyer psychology can’t be ignored if you want your book to sell.
Try it out on someone who doesn’t know (and probably doesn’t care) about your book.
Does it pique their interest? Can you deliver your elevator pitch from memory without hesitating? If so, that’s a good sign.
Bestseller status, book club picks, and endorsements can all be added to the book’s sales page at a later date, typically after the publication date.
You may notice on some of the biggest-name bestselling books that “#1 New York Times Bestseller” or “Oprah’s Book Club Pick” and the like often appear before or even within the book’s logline. Sometimes a high-profile endorsement appears before the logline, too.
Don’t worry about adding such signs of “social proof” to your logline. At least not until after publication.
If you or your book is famous enough, your publisher will handle this in due time, anyway.
Sometimes, even the (celebrity) author or influencer’s name appears in the logline too.
Unless you’re famous, there is no need to include your name in your book’s logline.
An example of a logline (with “social proof” preceding it.
Look at similar books and see what their elevator pitches or log lines are like.
That may help you. You will no doubt see some books (especially older ones) with no loglines, others with loglines that are too vague, and some that get it right.
Again, where to use nonfiction book loglines / elevator pitches?
A nonfiction book logline / tagline / keynote / elevator pitch goes on the back cover.
It appears at the beginning of the book description on the cover and on online retailers’ sales pages.
It can also be used in a query letter and book proposal to pitch a book to an agent or traditional publisher.
It can also be used in Amazon ads, Facebook ads, and social media graphics and posts.
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Nonfiction book logline examples
Here are some of the best examples of nonfiction book loglines, with the book genre for each one in parentheses:
This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men—and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life. –Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski (self-help)
Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the number one podcast On Purpose, distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life. –Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty (self-help)
The communication and leadership secrets of Jeff Bezos and how to master them, from the bestselling author of Talk Like Ted. –The Bezos Blueprint by Carmine Gallo (business)
An intimate, revealing look at one artist’s journey from self-censorship to full expression –More Myself by Alicia Keys (memoir)
A long-overdue biography of Grover Cleveland—the honest, principled, and plain-spoken president whose country has largely overlooked him. –A Man of Iron by Troy Senik, 2022 (history/biography)
A funny, relatable, and irreverent escape for comedy fans who are fed up with everything going on in the world but can still find humor in the dumb and dumber. –100 Things to Hate Before You Die by Claudia Stavola (humor)
Go back to basics—compost, raising chickens, water and irrigation, dealing with pests, and much more—with this unique, full color bestseller (over 400,000 sold). –Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre by Brett L. Markham (crafts, hobbies, & home)
You CAN take control of your money. Build up your money muscles with America’s favorite finance coach. –The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (personal finance/self-help)
The debut cookbook from inspiring and hilarious New York Times bestselling author and beloved podcaster Jen Hatmaker, jam-packed with easy recipes, big flavors, and Southern wit. –Feed These People: Slam Dunk Recipes for Your Crew by Jen Hatmaker (cookbook) (I think this one is missing a dash after Times. –DT)
Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the number one podcast On Purpose, distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life. –Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty (self-help)