Have you ever been asked by a friend, ‘What’s your book about?’ and you just … pause, searching for the perfect words to capture your story?
Then it happens – you stumble. Maybe you start describing the protagonist, then pivot to a major plot twist, only to backtrack and add a few crucial details you forgot. Before you know it, you’re rambling, watching their polite interest fade into a glazed-over expression. Sound familiar?
If you’re like most writers, you know what it’s like to feel tongue-tied after hearing this question. How could you possibly boil your magnificent book down to a handful of words?
Now imagine the same scenario playing out with an agent, editor, or publisher – the pressure to ‘get it right’ becomes almost unbearable. And when you’re caught off guard, the result is often a mix of nervous over-explaining or, worse, a complete mental blank.
That’s why every writer needs a one-sentence descriptor for their novel (also commonly referred to as a logline, an elevator pitch or a one-sentence pitch). It is meant to hook someone’s interest as concisely and quickly as possible.
Note: Most one-sentence descriptors are one sentence, but not all of them are. Aim for one sentence, but feel free to play around with the structure if this doesn’t work for you!
Whether you’re pitching to a publisher, querying an agent or catching a reader’s eye, a great one-sentence descriptor is your secret weapon for making an unforgettable first impression.
If you think condensing tens of thousands of words to a single-sentence summary sounds daunting, you’re not alone! But even the most complicated books have a core premise, and once you know what yours is, you’ll have a compelling one-sentence descriptor in no time.
Let’s dive in!
What Is a One-Sentence Descriptor?
A one-sentence descriptor is a succinct, captivating summary of your book. It’s typically no more than 25-30 words, and it focuses on the core of your story. This might include your protagonist, the central conflict, the stakes, and what makes your book stand out in its genre. It’s often called an elevator pitch because it’s the sentence you’d give if you were in an elevator with an agent, publisher, or reader and had 30 seconds to explain your book.
Think of it as the essence of your novel – everything you need to know to spark curiosity and make someone want to hear more.
Download our one-sentence descriptor template here and create yours today!

Why You Need a One-Sentence Descriptor?
So why is this one sentence so important? In short: it forces you to focus on what really matters in your story. Whether you’re pitching your book to an agent, promoting it to readers or simply telling your friends what it’s about, having a clear, compelling one-liner is key.
Clarity on Your Story
The process of writing a novel is long, and sometimes you can get buried in the details.
What’s the real heart of your story? What’s driving the plot forward?
A one-sentence descriptor keeps you grounded. It reminds you of your book’s core and ensures that your writing stays focused. When you know exactly what your story is about in one sentence, you’ll be less likely to get sidetracked with unnecessary subplots or tangents.
In a crowded market, your novel needs a clear identity. The one-sentence descriptor helps define what your book is about in a way that’s unique and memorable. It distils everything down into a single, compelling sentence that helps your story stand out from the crowd.
Let’s take Twilight by Stephenie Meyer as an example:
“When Bella Swan moves to a small town in Washington, she falls in love with a mysterious boy who just happens to be a vampire.”
This one-liner immediately tells us the genre (paranormal romance), the central conflict (Bella falling in love with a vampire), and the stakes (the danger and mystery surrounding their love). It’s direct, clear, and makes you want to read more.
Pitching & Networking Made Easy
When you’re querying agents or pitching to publishers, you only have a few moments to grab their attention. The one-sentence descriptor is your first impression. It’s your chance to spark interest and convince them to ask for more. Whether you’re at a conference or chatting online, it’s crucial to explain your novel clearly, quickly, and compellingly.
The right one-liner can open doors.
A Key Marketing Tool
This isn’t just about querying. Having a one-sentence descriptor also helps with marketing. Whether it’s your book’s blurb, a TikTok, or a Facebook post, you need to be able to capture your audience’s attention immediately. The right one-sentence pitch can spark interest long before readers crack open your novel.
Creating Instant Appeal
A strong one-sentence descriptor doesn’t just tell people what your novel is about; it makes them want to know more. You’re not giving away everything—just enough to pique their curiosity. With so many books to choose from these days, this is essential to capture the attention of readers.
A good one-sentence descriptor sparks that burning question: What happens next? Think about A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas:
“Feyre, a huntress, is taken captive by a faerie lord and must navigate a world of dangerous magic to save her loved ones.”
In this one line, we get the central conflict (Feyre is captured), the world-building (faerie magic), and the stakes (she needs to save her loved ones). The sentence is designed to raise questions – What kind of magic? Who’s the faerie lord? How does Feyre get out of this situation?
It hooks you.
Download our one-sentence descriptor template here and create yours!
You may also want to create a blurb for your novel. You can learn more here.

How to Create A One-Sentence Descriptor
Now that we know why a one-sentence descriptor is essential, let’s talk about how to create one that packs a punch. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Focus on the Basics
Start by identifying the fundamental elements of your story:
Who is the Protagonist?
Who is the main character? Or, more accurately, what is your protagonist? Because every word counts, it may be more relevant to give a short description of your main character rather than their name.
- Example: ‘a resourceful, fiercely loyal teenager’ instead of ‘Katniss Everdeen’ paints a fuller picture of who and what this story may be about.
What is the Setting of Your Novel and Why is this Important?
Where does the story take place and why is this so important to the audience? The setting isn’t just a backdrop – it shapes your characters, their choices, and the stakes.
- Example: in The Hunger Games, the dystopian nation of Panem, with its oppressive Capitol and poverty-stricken districts, creates the perfect storm for rebellion and survival.
Ask yourself: What makes your world intriguing, dangerous, or impossible to ignore?
What is the Inciting incident?
This is the moment that flips your protagonist’s life upside down – the event that kicks off your story. After this, there’s no going back.
- Example: In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry learns he’s a wizard and is invited to Hogwarts. His ordinary life at the Dursleys is over.
- In Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing, Kya Clark discovers she’s a suspect in a murder investigation, pulling her out of her secluded marsh life.
What’s the catalyst that will change everything for your protagonist and why is this important to your story?
What is the Conflict at the Heart of Your Story?
Pinpoint the heart of your story: What stands between your protagonist and their goal?
Every great story has a central problem. What’s yours?
- Example: In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet faces societal expectations, family pressures, and her own prejudices as she navigates love and independence.
Pinpoint the heart of your story: What stands between your protagonist and their goal?
Download our one-sentence descriptor template here and create yours!
You may also want to create a blurb for your novel. You can learn more here.

What are the Stakes?
What happens if the protagonist doesn’t succeed? Why should we care about your protagonist’s journey? If they fail, what will they lose – and why does it matter?
- Example: In Andy Weir’s The Martian, Mark Watney’s life is literally on the line as he fights to survive alone on Mars.
High stakes (and sometimes a ticking clock!) create tension.
Spell out the ‘what if?’ for your readers.
What is your Protagonist’s Goal?
Your main character’s want or need is the component that drives the entire novel forward. It’s why your protagonist chooses to go on after whatever life has thrown at them in the inciting incident, and it’s the motivation that keeps them going through every obstacle thrown their way. Your protagonist’s want or need drives your story forward. What is it, and how does it reflect who they are?
- Example: In Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Bella Swan wants to feel like she belongs and to experience a love that defies ordinary life. This reflects her deep sense of not fitting in and her desire for something extraordinary, which is further amplified by her fascination with Edward and his supernatural world. Bella’s need to find her place and embrace the unknown drives her actions, pulling her deeper into the dangers and wonders of Edward’s vampire life.
- Example: In The Hunger Games, Katniss wants to protect her sister, Prim, and ensure her survival. This reflects her fierce loyalty, selflessness, and resilience, traits shaped by her life in the harsh conditions of District 12. Katniss’s need to protect her loved ones drives her actions throughout the series, from volunteering in place of Prim at the Reaping to ultimately challenging the Capitol’s control. This desire not only fuels her journey but also positions her as a reluctant symbol of rebellion.
A clear, relatable goal tells readers what to root for and keeps the pages turning.
What Makes Your Book Stand Out?
With the number of books out there, yours needs to stand out to be picked up and read by anyone. Vague lines about losing a true love or outsmarting a bad guy won’t describe your book enough to spike interest. Think about what makes your book unique and what combination of things makes your book unique.
Have you put an interesting protagonist in a situation way outside their comfort zone? Have you thrown together two characters without a single thing in common? Have you subverted a trope in an unusual way? These are the things to emphasise in your one-sentence descriptor; not necessarily something that’s never been done before, but something that’s never been done like this before.
- Example: In Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, a notorious teenage assassin, Celaena Sardothien, is dragged out of a brutal labour camp to compete for her freedom in a deadly tournament – but as she fights to win her freedom, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy within the kingdom and must decide whether to embrace her darker instincts or fight for something greater. This setup combines an unconventional protagonist, a morally grey female assassin who is still a teenager, with a high-stakes competition, political intrigue, and hints of magic, creating a unique and compelling hook.
Ask yourself: Have you subverted a trope? Created a protagonist who doesn’t belong in their situation or is unique and rarely, if ever, been done before? Blended two genres in a fresh way?
You may also want to create a blurb for your novel. You can learn more here.

Step 2: Keep It Short and Sweet
Your one-sentence descriptor needs to be short and clear – no longer than 30 words. Avoid getting bogged down in details or side plots. The goal is to spark interest, not tell the entire story. Keep it simple but compelling.
The basic formula: ‘When (who the main character is) (what happens to the main character), s/he must (what they have to do to solve their dilemma.)’
But remember, this formula can be reworked! Start with this and then rearrange some of the pieces!
Step 3: Use Vivid, Engaging Language
The one-sentence descriptor should evoke emotion. Use active, exciting language that grabs attention. A great example is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:
“In a future society where children are forced to fight to the death for entertainment, one girl volunteers to take her sister’s place.”
This one-liner doesn’t just tell us what the book is about – it grabs us. We immediately feel the tension and stakes. The question we all want to know is: Will she survive? That emotional hook is key.
Step 4: Test It Out
Once you’ve written your one-sentence descriptor, test it. Share it with a few trusted people (fellow writers, friends, or readers and post it in our Facebook Group for feedback).
Does it make people want to read more? If not, keep tweaking it until it does. The goal is to create a pitch that’s impossible to ignore.
Download our one-sentence descriptor template here and create yours!

Examples From Popular Books
An aged reclusive movie star summons a rookie journalist to tell her never-before-told life story, including her doomed marriages and forbidden love affairs, leading to a shocking and unforgivable confession that changes both women’s lives forever.
– The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
At a brutal and elite war college for dragon riders the only rule is graduate or die.
– Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
A loveable oddball whose social misunderstandings, mental health issues and unabashed wit make for an irresistible journey realizes that the only way to survive in the real world is to open her heart to friendship.
– Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
On a dystopian Marsa, a low-caste boy, remade as a spy among the ruling class, must fight a deadly war game against privileged, elite students.
– Red Rising, Pierce Brown
A romance author who no longer believes in love and a literary writer who’s stuck in a rut find themselves living in neighboring lake houses for the summer and engaged in a challenge to swap genres, leading them to realize they may both have been wrong about happily ever afters all along.
– Beach Read, Emily Henry
An unforgettable young girl grows into a beautiful and strange young woman alone in the lush coastal marshes of North Carolina, which keep violent secrets after two men break her isolation open.
– Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
A fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, throwing one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.
– The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood
A California high school dropout with a criminal past is mysteriously offered a second chance as a Yale freshman, where he is charged with monitoring the secret societies, whose occult activities are revealed to be more sinister than any paranoid fantasy.
–Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo

Writing a one-sentence pitch isn’t just about grabbing attention – it’s about discovering the essence of your story.
It’s your chance to get clear on who your protagonist is, what’s driving them, and why readers will care about their story enough to keep reading it.
Think of it as your story’s first impression, the spark that makes someone say, ‘ohh tell me more.’ And I can’t tell you how many times it will come in handy!
So, don’t rush it – craft it, tweak it, and tweak it again.
Because at the end of the day, a great one-sentence descriptor isn’t just a sentence – it’s an invitation into the world you’ve created – regardless of who’s asking.
Now it’s your turn! Download our one-sentence descriptor template here and create yours!
Working on your author package? Here are a few other things you may want to write!
How to Write a Novel Synopsis That Actually Works (Even If You Haven’t Finished Your Draft)
How to Find Comp Titles for Your Novel (And Why You Need Them)
How to Write the Perfect Blurb for Your Novel
How to Write the Perfect Author Bio