Friday, January 18, 2008

Pitch ideas

I have 2 ideas sketched out for my new manuscript. They both fall into the cozy mystery genre and the protaganist and many of the secondary characters are the same in each. I like both of them and can't decide which to work on first so I'm asking for opinions.

Here are the pitches:

1. The Case of the Offed Boss

Annie just discovered her boss dead on the floor in his office. She's one of 9 people with the motive, means and opportunity to kill him, but she's the only one without an airtight alibi. She has 48 hours to prove her innocence and find the real killer before being arrested for a crime she didn't commit.

2. The Case of the Altared Man

Just as they were about to open their meeting, a dead man fell through the ceiling and landed in front of the altar. Now the ladies of Peony Chapter must discover who he is, how he died and why he waited until Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. to drop in on them.


Opinions please - and if you don't like either one, I do have some other ideas brewing.

17 comments:

Precie said...

I like Pitch 1...but I think the story would hinge on several factors, like the line of work she's in, who the other suspects would be, etc.

Overall, I think it's intriguing from the very start, and I'd want to read more!

Merry Monteleone said...

I'm with Precie, I like the first one best...

WriterKat said...

I love the second one. It's so, well, mysterious. And ripe with posibilities.

The first one is good, but the 48 hours thing sounds too dramatic for my taste. I would have to be sold why it's so important to have the case closed in that amount of time.

Stephen Parrish said...

The second one hooked me. The first one is just about someone trying to prove her innocence, something the pitch already guarantees.

Chris Eldin said...

Oh, sorry to do this because my vote will make each choice at 50%, but I like the second one better. It sounds like it has more energy.
Go with what is more fun.
;-)

Chris Eldin said...

Oops (I thought there were only 4 votes. I suck at math just the same)

Anonymous said...

Do the cult ladies version. You will have a guaranteed audience - they will be looking for themselves in your portrayal. They will love and exalt you, and promote you Grand High Poobah-ette. ;)

Anonymous Sister of Anti-Wife

cindy said...

i vote for one.
i'm not sure what's going on with the second, are they in church? what is a peony group? reading group?

for me, first pitch has more ... urgency and personal risk / danger. you set up all up for us. i also like the idea of one protag versus a "group" of ladies.

the second sounds like it could be comical and mysterious. the first like it is intense with danger.

Liane Spicer said...

"...why he waited until Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. to drop in on them."

That pun did it for me. I prefer the second.

Mary Witzl said...

I've now read everyone's comments, but I stick with my first reaction: I like the way both of these sound and I would definitely want to read them. I do agree with writerkat that it would be better to know WHY the case has to be solved in 48 hours, but I still think this one sounds intriguing. And I loved the pun in the second one too.

Maya Reynolds said...

I like the sense of urgency in #1.

Holly Kennedy said...

Ooooh, I love number two!!
It's sassy and unique and got me smiling right away. Something different. Go for it!
And good luck.

BTW, for me, number one sounded like it could be any book already written, published, and sitting on a shelf somewhere.

Jean B - Stanwood said...

I like both ideas, but Pitch 2 made my laugh -- go with it!!
~"Cult" Sister

Tyhitia Green said...

I like both, but I definitely like number 2 better! #2!! :*)

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

I like both of these but 2 struck me the best!

Heather Moore said...

Hmmm... snooping around your blog. I like your first pitch, fwiw.

The Anti-Wife said...

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Heather,
Thanks for snooping and come back any time.