Can You Summarize Your Book in One Sentence?

Why Every Nonfiction Book Needs a Strong “Keynote” Sentence

Whether you’re writing for an academic press, a trade publisher, or planning to self-publish, there’s one thing your book absolutely needs: a clear, powerful one-sentence summary of what it does.

I call it the keynote, because that’s what we called it at the academic publisher where I worked for a decade.

You call also call it:

• Core sentence

• Purpose statement

• Central claim

• Elevator pitch

• Through-line

• Anchor sentence

• Main proposition

• Thesis-in-a-sentence

When I worked as a commissioning editor, this was the very first thing I looked for in a book proposal. Before the chapter outline, before the market analysis: I wanted to see, in a single sentence, what the book achieved.

Not just the topic.

Not just the field.

But the purpose, the through-line, the why this book exists.

And if a proposal didn’t have one — or couldn’t articulate one clearly — it usually meant the manuscript still needed work.

What a Keynote (or Core Sentence) Does

A strong keynote sentence isn’t a tagline or a marketing hook. It’s a distillation of your book’s core argument or purpose. It tells the reader:

This is what this book does, and why it matters.

It answers the questions:

• What is the central idea or argument?

• What problem does the book solve?

• What insight or change does it deliver?

It’s not easy to write, because it requires clarity. And clarity is usually the result of serious thinking, structuring, and refining.

Why It Matters, Even If You’re Self-Publishing

Even if you’re not planning to submit a formal proposal to a publisher, crafting this sentence is still essential.

• It will shape your writing process by keeping your scope focused.

• It will guide your back cover copy, your Amazon listing, and your marketing pitch.

• And it will help readers understand — instantly — what they’ll get from reading your book.

Without a clear keynote, nonfiction books often feel scattered, overly broad, or hard to position. With one, your project gains structure and momentum.

A Quick Test

Try to complete this sentence:

This book [explores / explains / argues / guides / helps] ________, in order to ________.

If you can’t answer it in one sentence, your idea might still be too vague, too big, or too fragmented. That’s OK, but it’s a sign to do more development work before you dive into drafting or pitching.

Want help sharpening your keynote?

If you’re developing a proposal or outlining your book idea, I offer focused editorial support to help you clarify your book’s purpose, audience, and structure, starting with that all-important one-sentence summary.

Get in touch or learn more about the packages I offer: Services for Serious Nonfiction