The Proven Formula That Makes a Story Irresistible

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What is it that sets runaway bestsellers apart? There’s a secret ingredient that makes certain stories irresistible to agents, publishers and readers — and it has nothing to do with the writing, the genre, or even the author. Today, I’m revealing the proven formula that will have agents and publishers fighting over your manuscript and giving you a framework to help you develop your next blockbuster story idea.
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MORE WRITING AND PUBLISHING ADVICE:
 
HOW TO COME UP WITH A HIGH-CONCEPT STORY IDEA:
00:40 – What is a “high-concept” book?
04:04 – Reimagine a familiar trope
04:50 – Ask what if?
05:39 – Craft an unexpected mash-up
07:11 – Experiment with structure
 
ABOUT ME: 
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey—whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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MUSIC: 

[skyguytomas]

'summarized succinctly in a single sentence'

Nice.

[kevinreily]

You are a treasure to be found by writers who understand that it takes hard work, to write a good novel. But having your advice, expertise and encouragement is a Godsend!

[kevinbarryoconnorauthor]

This really clears things up about high concept books. I like that it’s not just about action or big plots, but also about strong characters and meaningful themes. The “X meets Y” idea is such a smart way to think about story ideas — makes it feel fresh but familiar at the same time. Also, the point about execution being just as important as the concept itself really hits home. Learned a lot from this—thanks for breaking it down so well!

[meggiebeth_writes]

My WIP novel: a girl living in a utopian future society goes looking for her missing best friend and discovers a whole other society just outside the bounds of her home.

[larssjostrom]

After watching this I realized what the high concept pitch for my WIP is and included it in my cover letter.

[magnusruben]

I'm waiting on the Alyssa Matesic Skin Care PDF

[Hanedie]

All Mirrors Have Shades

A teen’s memory gaps is linked to a missing person, an experimental drug, and a woman’s son.

[Tygertyger]

I've been practicing this elevator pitch for a while: "It's a buddy cop story with an angel and a demon."

[gothicwriter]

Great advice as always. My go at a concept - 'Where did Count Dracula come from?' - I have already written around 50% of it and it has turned into 3 books.

[Jus-X]

I had no idea what high concept was before today, but apparently my novel is high concept? After it's revisions, I'm marketing it as X-Men meets The Hidden Legacy, tackling themes of intolerance toward witches and warlocks, while said witches and warlocks are foretold to save humanity from a Demon Apocalypse.

Also, thanks again for an informative video about the industry, Alyssa. When I think I know everything, I still end up learning something new.

[SM_Shore]

Just tried this with the novel I’m currently writing and it’s so hard to do because I want to explain all of it!! 😅

here’s my attempt:

In a world shaped by quiet obedience and emotional decay, five unlikely friends uncover the truth behind a system designed to erase them.

[brandieweikle]

Love your new bookcase backdrop! More importantly, of course, great video.!

[forestelf]

Very much in idea phase, but my concept is: A mother has to save her son from beyond the grave.

[csloanlewis]

Great video! I didn't realize that most of my story ideas are developed through this "high concept" method, which is really cool! Two books I'm working on could be described as "the Handmaid's Tale meets the Walking Dead" and "if Stephen King wrote Twilight."

[tearstoneactual]

I'm reading through "How to Write A Damn Good Thriller" By James N. Frey and he just talked about this very thing. He also kind of touched on it in "How to Write A Damn Good Mystery" too. But thrillers are a bit broader in scope. So it applies more there.

[djwaglmuffin]

Sure, I'll sub. This is the first vid I'm seeing from you and I feel like I learned something. I'm hoping I've got something at least APPROACHING high concept...I hope.

[ethanos]

Brotherhood of the Stranded:

(The Last of Us meets Leave the World Behind.)


The lights go out, electric cars stop working, the military is defunct, and a young man crosses an America filled with three hundred million starving people to reunite with his younger brother.

[havelahmclatauthor]

This makes sense. I have always wonder what makes it high concept. Thanks for explaining.

My high concept pitch:

SHOW ME A SIGN X THE LOST YEAR.
After the death of her caregiver, a deaf Ukrainian immigrant finds herself alone in America, where her survival depends on finding her last surviving relative - her father.

[tearstoneactual]

So this is where I'm at for my story "Crossfire" - A hardboiled but flunking lady cop, with the help of a street samurai, seeks to bring her mentor's killer to justice, uncovering an entire network of corruption all the way to the highest offices in the city.

It's meant to be a gritty cyberpunk mystery and/or thriller, with a buddylove thread running through it. Cop and criminal working together, but also kind of against each other.

Themes that come up for it are about justice vs revenge, loyalty, honor, trust. I had the idea last year and it's just never gone away. So now I'm working on the pre-writing. I really hope I can get what I want out of it, and make something people really want to read, or find compelling.

[denisel]

"An accidental bond between a magical society diplomat and a tormented drifter unearths dangerous truths about their precariously allied nations... and secrets about themselves."