How is it I can push through writing a +90,000-word book but struggle with a 150-word back-of-the-book blurb? I feel like the person in that photo: underwater and needing a lifeline. I've got the book blurb blues. There’s a lot of room in a book to tell a story, to build characters and sneak in plot twists. Not so with back-of-the-book blurbs. You’ve got a handful of words to make a reader want to know more about your story without giving too much away. It’s ad copy. It needs to hit hard and fast and hook the reader. It’s a different skill set from novel-writing, and one I’m still learning.
That’s where I’m at with the two new books in the series.
It’s also where I’m at with the five existing books in the series.
As regular readers of my blog will know, I’m heading down a rebranding path which includes revisiting the existing blurbs. No doubt I’m in for many frustrating hours banging my head against the wall hoping some precision wordsmithing falls out. I may need a helmet.
On a lighter note, we’re on the back end of herring season here on Denman Island, which means the seas lions have gorged and are lazing around in contented pods. From shore, what we see are dozens of sea lion flippers sticking out from the water at odd angles with the occasional snout making an appearance. But from the air, it’s a completely different perspective. Thanks to a friend with a drone, we were treated to some brand new and spectacular views. Until next time ... enjoy.
It’s always much harder to condense and idea into just a few sentences, isn’t it? I just did that for my dad’s book and it took forever! And even when I had something, I second-guessed my choices. Best wishes to you and thanks for posting these terrific sea lion pictures!
Thank you. Second guessing is driving me around the bend!
I’m very sure you’ll figure it out. That is exactly it: as somebody who is good at writing 90K words, you have hard times squeezing the main ideas in a few short lines. It might be a good idea to take the base from your editor and then totally adjust it to your own liking. Or, sometimes asking a question immediately provides with the answer. Good luck and I hope spring starts sometimes in our area, too, because we have still winter.
I’ll send spring wishes your way!
Great post! And love the hand reaching out of the water. Fits the challenge for sure. I know what you mean. I struggle with book blurbs too. I write them and then a year later, I think, oh, I could’ve done better. Good luck with them. You are so talented, I’m sure it’ll all come together soon.
That photo came from nikko macaspac on Unsplash. It’s a terrific resource. My very talented editor, Nina Munteanu, has written all of my blurbs to date. I thought it was about time I learned how to do them. I’ll need that luck I’m afraid.
Yes, it’s really hard, but I think it’s one of the best learning experiences for writers, whether self-published or traditionally published. I’ve had editors write book blurbs for me in the past, and some of them make me cringe a little. No one knows your book as well as you do, so stick with it and you’ll get there. I’ve always found feedback from my writers’ group really helpful too. Good luck!
You’re right – it’s a useful exercise. One down, six to go. Ugg.
Possibly writing a blurb from the perspective of a drone, high up, looking down at the book, seeing it for an airborne moment, capturing that brilliant, shimmering moment…hmmm. What do I know. Good luck…
I think my drone has a wide-angle lens. It also might need cleaning. I liked writing blurbs to the flash fiction you write so well. Maybe you have a second (third) career in the making?
This is exactly why blurbs are best left to your editor to write for you … 😉
My editor would agree!