Instead of working on my novel, I decided to muck about drafting query letters and one sentence story pitches, with the understanding that this activity might give my writing renewed focus (rather than, say, giving me an anxiety attack).

So here’s my one sentence story pitch (with thanks to Nathan Bransford, who I’m coming to adore, in spite of his being one of those scary lit agents)…

Here’s his template for a one sentence story pitch:
When OPENING CONFLICT happens to CHARACTER(s), they have OVERCOME CONFLICT to COMPLETE QUEST.

And here’s my version:
When Caroline Honeychurch discovers that her dead husband may in fact be alive, she has to sift through their difficult past—while navigating an increasingly complicated present—to figure out what the heck really happened to him.

Hmmm. Still needs more work. Guess I know what I’m doing for the rest of the day!