No one knows or understands a story better than its author.  And yet, many authors find it difficult, if not impossible, to answer the simple question, "So, what's your story about?"  We stammer and stutter and launch into a dissertation on every nuance of the story.  We're so proud of our characterization.  Our research.  Our description.  "You can't possibly understand it all unless you hear it all.  That's why we wrote it all."

But when it comes right down to it, when you're in a room with an editor or agent, or trying to condense everything down into a query letter, the long dissertation is fatal.  Before you've even begun to share the wonders of your work, they've lost interest.

There are three essential ingredients to consider when boiling your story down.

1)  Learn what a log line (or high concept statement) is.  These are the statements similar to what you see in the television guide each week.  Take a look.  You pretty much know what the movie is about when you read the description.  You haven't a clue who the characters are.  You only know where it is about half the time and the research that went into it...well that's a total mystery.  That statement sells you on the entire concept of watching the film.  Same goes for editors and agents when you give them a logline for your book.  Will he or won't he read it?

2)  Know your work.  Know those loglines so you can pop them off at the drop of a hat.  I can't even count the number of times I've gone to a conference and sat at a table with an editor or agent.  They very cordially ask everyone, "So, what do you write?"  I've seen some amazing authors whip out this entire story in a sentence.  Several of them have received an invitation to submit.

3)  Lastly, it's important to be comfortable with you work.  Learning what type of storyteller you are is vital.  Are you a character creator first or does the plot take precedence?  Does your work have a message or consistent theme?  Is there a category which your work falls into which fits with a marketing idea, but sets you just a little apart? 

No one knows or loves a story like its author.  No one can sell it better than you either, but until you sell it first, no one else can.  The most important tools we as authors have are words.  Learning to put them on paper is vital.  It's just as vital to use those words verbally.  I've taken a public speaking class to help me overcome my introversion.  I've begun recently doing improv writing exercises with a new group--a group that requires I read my work aloud.  (Gulp!)

Practice makes perfect, on paper and in person.  Most writers have the first part down or are working on it.  Too often we forget the other.  Boil it all down and learn to sling it around with ease.  Somebody somewhere will catch it.