I want to thank Tina Radcliffe so much for inviting me to guest blog here. I’m honored to be in Seekerville.
I also write romance … but over the last few years, whenever a fellow author has shared struggles with the ad copy or blurb for their story, I wanted to jump in and help trim, mold and shape. I love writing blurbs!
And yes, I see you shaking your head in amazed disbelief. I totally get that—I've an author friend who loves writing synopses, another who excels at query letters. I salute all of you who do well at these.
Me? No, just no.
But blurbing is my kind of chocolate. It's a new challenge with every book!
Can I, in a few sentences, make you eager to
- live vicariously through my heroine?
- sigh over my hero, if romance?
- grow spiritually and emotionally with my characters?
- learn how my characters experience a crisis of faith and with God's help, triumph?
- immerse yourself in the locale & inhabitants where my story unfolds?
- travel back into your favorite time in history and experience how it colors the problems & triumphs of characters?
Yes, depending on the genre, a well-written blurb can do all these things. Maybe not all in the same one. But a good blurb will touch on a combination of story facets.
A good blurb is NOT a mini-synopsis. A blurb is AD COPY.
In other words, you don't want to tell the reader about your book, you want to make the reader buy your book. The point is to show the reader in as few words as possible,
'Hey! Look at this--if you read this book, you are guaranteed a certain experience.' So first, you deduce what experience the reader wants from your genre of fiction. And you probably know this instinctively and use it to write your stories, but here we’re drilling down to the components so we can break them out.
In Christian romance, sweet romance, our readers want a heroine, a hero, a knotty, believable problem or wound for each of them, and then we want the two thrown into a situation that will not only force them to grow spiritually and emotionally to succeed, and give them that black moment when all seems lost, but we want them to finally learn that the other person is God's choice for them to spend the rest of their life growing with, and we want them to triumph in some way.
And although we don't want sex, we do still want a sense of the romantic tension between the protagonists. Tension between protagonists sells. And again, I know you know that, but we’re going to bring that out in the blurb, to hook the reader.
** If you write historical fiction, the reader also wants to know immediately the time period, so they can read on or move on.
And I did say the specific is terrific, didn't I? Let's get to it.
A good blurb will have
The Tagline - an over-arching hook
and/or
The Tiny Blurb – this is something I do for my clients. It’s a very short blurb that really sums up the characters & their problem. Amazon now gives us that tiny little place beside the book cover, and then readers must click ‘read more’ if they want the rest of your blurb. It can stand alone, or work with the full blurb as an introduction.
The Body of Blurb
- The character by first & last name, what they do/occupation and how they feel/the start of their emotional story journey. And if you have 2 POV characters, they’ll each get this.
- Next, what's happened in the past that’s influencing the way they live now?
- For a later book in a series, what’s happened in the last book(s) to cause internal or external conflict?
- The complication - What's going on so they must act?
- Setting - Tie it in with the story conflict.
- Selling paragraph - This is where you can say 'if you like A Certain Author you'll love this book', or ask questions 'Can these characters win out against whatever they're battling?' and make it an actual question.
- Call to Action - This sounds simplistic, but this is where you poke the reader and say 'Do it!'
Here’s the blurb for Tina Radcliffe’s re-issue of The Rosetti Curse, a sweet romantic comedy.
The Rosetti Curse
Author: Tina Radcliffe
TINY BLURB
Tagline: A Romantic Comedy of Italian Proportions …
Can a widow determined never to re-marry and a cop who's been engaged too often find love together? Or will an old curse keep them apart?
FULL BLURB
A Romantic Comedy of Italian Proportions …
Can a widow determined never to re-marry and a cop who's been engaged too often find love together? Or will an old curse keep them apart?
She's done with marriage …
A curse has widowed three generations of Tessa Rosetti's family. And she may look good in black, but after surviving a husband, she's not going there again.
Back in Silver Ridge, Colorado, she'll attend her mother's second wedding, help at the family bakery, but no romance! Until she finds her first love, Riley, bleeding on her front doorstep. He always did make her want to bend the rules--and all grown up, he's more attractive than ever.
He's through with romance …
Thomas Riley went from local bad boy to California cop. He's back to settle his grandma's estate, and to escape the media frenzy over his latest failed engagement, this time to a Hollywood starlet.
But he discovers someone is cooking up more than biscotti at Tessa’s stepfather's cookie factory. Riley won't let her investigate alone--not with danger looming. He's impressed with her courage, intrigued by her spirit, and more attracted every hour.
Can this couple find a way to a shared future before the last cookie crumbles?
CALL TO ACTION
Find out if old curses are made to be broken--get your copy of The Rosetti Curse today!
The good news is, if you want to learn to blurb your own books, you can. I did … although I’ll confess that as I learn more about writing blurbs, I’ve gone back and redone several of mine … more than a few times.
Go ahead, Seekers and Villagers, Be Brave! Post a Blurb You’ve Written. We’re all here to learn, right?
If you do not want to write your own, but now see how important they are … well, that’s where I come in!
Contact me @ theblurbqueen@outlook.com
@ Contact Form on my website
Also on TheBlurbQueen.com you’ll find my Prices, Portfolio, & Referrals by satisfied clients!
You can visit me on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheBlurbQueen/
& Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TheBlurbQueen
Best,
Cathryn Cade
Aka The Blurb Queen
We've got a $25 Amazon gift card up for grabs today. Leave a comment, and/or leave a blurb and you are in. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.
Royal Decree of the Day! Everyone who shares a blurb of theirs or another author shall be entered in an additional drawing for a Seeker book of choice. E or print. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.
Who told you I finished a book this week and sat down just this evening to attempt to write a blurb? Huh? Huh?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lesson. I'm printing it.
Coffee is brewing!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Helen, I was peeking!!
Welcome to the Blurb Queen. Long live the blurbs!!!
This was hugely helpful!
Thank you sooo much!
What a great article! Blurbs are so important and often so misunderstood. Can make or break a book sale. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Seekerville Kathy!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you here.
As a reader, a short blurb helps me quickly decide if I'd be interested in reading that particular story or not. It gives me the facts in short precise sentences, that if written well, draw me into the book without even opening the pages. Then I'll go from there and read the back covers full blurb.
ReplyDeleteWhen I write book reviews, I try to stick to just a few sentences and tell how the book impacted me, my likes or dislikes (thankfully few of those), thoughts on the characters, and etc. It is hard sometimes to write those as I really want to draw other readers interest. I've found more is less in some instances :-) But when a book is really, really good, I have a tendency to write longer reviews. I still try to stick to the basics even then.
I loved reading your thoughts on blurbs. It's definitely food for thought. Though I'm not a writer/author, I can apply some of these principles to my review writing :-)
Please toss my name in the Blurb Queen's crown for the Amazon gift card :-)
I like that Trixi! Names going in the crown!!! Yes!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! An effective blurb catches my attention and compels me to read the full book description. I like Trixi's idea of using blurbs with writing reviews :)
ReplyDeleteHeidi Robbins, you are in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'd like to get on the platform and grab the microphone and give a shout out to Naomi Rawlings who re-edited The Rosetti Curse and Rogenna Brewer who updated the cover and Her majesty, The Blurb Queen who gave me a new blurb.
ReplyDeleteYou may now eat bagels.
I wrote this blurb for Close To You in my original proposal and was quietly thrilled when Howard Books kept it :)
ReplyDelete"A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand."
I love it, Kara!!!! Excellent! And how cool that they kept it.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina I'd love to win an Amazon gift card.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Seekervile, Blurb Queen. (Yes, I'm curtsying.)
ReplyDeleteHere's my tiny blurb:
When an independent artist takes on the challenge of raising her eight-year-old nephew, she discovers she knows nothing about guys. Along comes a testosterone-filled Navy SEAL who thinks there’s a solution to every problem with God’s help, and his next mission is to reach out to Natalie and her nephew.
If it gets picked up, I may title the series, SEALed by Love.
Thanks for your help!
Excellent.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently working with this for a blurb for my newly released Seeker novella.
Except I can't remember if I wrote this or Ruthy did. Probably me, right? Why would Ruthy write a blurb for my novella? Unless she asked me to do it and I was so slow it was faster for her to read the whole book, write a blurb herself and post it.
I'm sure she didn't do that. She'd be waaaaaaay more likely to just nag me until I did it.
Except I don't remember it.
But this is a good blurb so I'm claiming it. Ruthy, unless you can prove a copyright date, it's all my work.
His Mail Order Family by Mary Connealy--A lonely young rancher orders a mail order bride and after the vows are spoken, she 'surprises' him with her three little brothers.
This is great!! I like the bullet list of blurb essentials. I'm writing those down! Makes it easy!
ReplyDeleteThe blurb Queen is so right, a writer only has about a minute to attract a reader with the title/cover/blurb before they move on to the next book, so they are extremely important when I'm trying to decide to buy or not to buy.
ReplyDeleteI read The Rosetti Curse a few years back, but after reading the new blurb I want to go back and read it again.
In fact, I may have to go back and reread all the Russo/Radcliffe books to get my Tina fix until the next book comes out in December, lol
Please add my name to the royal crown :)
I posted this awhile back. It's for a sci-fi I'm not currently working on at the moment, but I had the blurb ready so ... here it is:
ReplyDeleteDEEPSHAW
*Sometimes it's not good to see stars*
Struggling to make ends meet and pay off the debt accumulated by the treatment of her ill twin, Telianna Kalenne is stuck in a dead end waitressing job with no prospects for advancement, trapped on the planet she and her family came to in the hopes of saving her sister. But now all of them are dead, and even the doctor who attended them—in whom she found an unexpected comfort—has been called away, himself a prisoner to the duties required of him as “property” of the Realm. Telianna is alone in the world—in the galaxy—with little hopes her life will ever change … until a mysterious patron, Mr. Deepshaw, shows up in the diner where she works and ends up getting her fired—by accident? Her roommate is gone, her rent is due, her loan officer wants to raise her minimum payments: For Telianna Kalenne, things just keep getting worse and worse—until Mr. Deepshaw offers to take her debt and hire her as a worker aboard his spaceship. It seems too good to be true.
And perhaps it is …
Welcome, Cathryn! I can see why you have fun writing blurbs. There's so much to pack into them, though, and still keep them short and intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMy publisher (Love Inspired) writes the blurbs for their books, but when I'm submitting a multi-book proposal I usually write blurbs to introduce a 1-paragraph overview of the story for books later in the series. That one-line blurb gives the idea a foundational "hook."
I love reading blurbs. Coming up with something concise is definitely a talent. This is a great post and I'll probably re-visit it several times as I have more stories to blurb.
ReplyDeleteHere's a couple of what I DO have:
(for a less than 5,000 word story)
Two childhood sweethearts make a moonlight vow to bind their hearts and love to each other forever. Circumstances separate them for twenty years. When they finally meet again, will the childhood vow bind their hearts together once more?
(for my first full length story)
A marine-biology student striving to escape her checkered past finds herself square in the cross-hairs of illegal treasure hunters and a Coast Guard investigation. Can her faith provide the strength to conquer both those who seek her death and the heart of the Coast Guard hero who’s claimed hers?
(for a almost still in planning stage MS)
It’s déjà vu all over again...or is it?
Christmas is coming, but unwed mom-to-be Mary Ives is disowned for bringing shame on her family's name. Homeless and stranded alongside the Interstate during a blizzard, her future looks bleak.
For tow-truck driver Joe Saint, rescuing Mary is like déjà vu. Christmas blizzard born to an unwed teen who abandoned Joe with her rescuer, he’s determined not to let the same thing happen to Mary’s baby.
Mary’s parents begin manipulations to gain custody of the child. Can a marriage of convenience be the rescue Joe and Mary’s hearts and lives need?
okay... that's probably too much for the comments section, but hey - the Blurb Queen is here. Can't resist. Sign me up for that gift card?
Great blurb info! I am not yet ready to try my hand at creating one, but I have saved this post and your contact information for when I am ready. :-) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of blurbs and have even read some I truly enjoy. Thanks, I will be printing off the list and referring to it when I write my own blurbs. Have a great week every one!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, and I'll definitely keep this post handy for both blurb- and review-writing.
ReplyDeleteGift card sounds fun, please add my name to the crown!
Great post on writing blurbs! Thanks for sharing. Definitely keeping this post!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to meet you, Cathryn, and to learn about your business. I admire those of you who write great blurbs. I do my best, but I love watching what others do to make the blurbs for my books come to life. The Love Inspired editorial team does a great job with blurbs. I eagerly wait for my next LIH to show up on Amazon so I can read the blurb. The LI copy writers capture the essence of our stories so well.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question for you. (It's purely hypothetical, of course.) Suppose a writer is preparing her proposal and really wants to sell the story but realizes that blurb-writing isn't her forte. Suppose said writer has read a wonderful post about your services here in Seekerville and has learned that there's someone out there who can help. What would said writer need to send you if she wants you to create her blurb from scratch? And what would you need if she just wants you to spiff up her mediocre attempt? (Aside from the payment for your quite reasonable fees, of course?)
I love blurbs -- hate writing them though. But I can't read a book without reading the blurb first. I have to have a sense of what the book is about. And I hate it when the blurb doesn't match the story. So blurbs are definitely what sell me. I read it once when I buy the book and then again when I get it home and place in the TBR pile (just for the thrill of anticipation) and finally when I'm ready to read the book, I have to go over the blurb again.
ReplyDeleteBlurbs are book hugs -- you know when you see a friend and give them a quick hug in delight, knowing you're in store for a great time? That's what a blurb does for me. A nice little hug before spending time together.
Yes, I know I'm weird. Now you know it too.
Blurbs are book hugs? LOL Kav this is like one of those MEMES.
ReplyDeleteMake a poster quick!
Kav, I love this: "Blurbs are book hugs -- you know when you see a friend and give them a quick hug in delight, knowing you're in store for a great time? That's what a blurb does for me. A nice little hug before spending time together."
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to describe a book blurb. Perhaps if I keep this in mind, writing blurbs won't be quite as daunting a task.
The crown suits you! Heehee!
ReplyDeleteMy WIP is not quite far enough along to pen the blurb and in fact as a non-romance writer (girl vs human nature) the tension is more grey and fluid than I can get my head around at the moment.
Is it Friday yet?!
Stephanie
Kate and CathyAnn, you are in the draw. I borrow the queen's old crown for today's drawing. She frowns on borrowing the one on her royal head.
ReplyDeleteMary, the Queen has asked me to order a case of Ginkgo Biloba for you. Consider it done.
ReplyDelete"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."
ReplyDeleteHenry The Fourth, Part 2 Act 3,
Hi Cathryn:
Did I get your attention?
As a copywriter and marketing person for over thirty years, I just loved your post.
I would add that the major goal of the cover art, title, and blurb is to attract the favorabile attention of the best prospects for that particular book. You can't pass by the low hanging fruit. For example: it's not the artwork that attracts the most people that produces the best selling success; it's the artwork that attracts the most prospects who, if they just learn about the book, will buy the book.
You wrote that the blurb is 'ad copy'. That will scare the dickens out of most writers! But please don't object too much. F. Scott Fitzgerald started out as a copywriter and was quite proud of some of his headlines. He could even quote them years later!
As an adman I also have a way to think about ad copy and blurbs:
The blurb is like a free sample of food given out at Sam's. Make sure the blurb delivers the best tasting features of the book. One bite and you want to eat the rest.
Personally I love writing blurbs and taglines. I love writing synopses even more. A synopsis is a story of what the story is about. It is not a summary or an outline. If you really like your story, you should like telling about it.
I could write a sample blurb but I'd rather post a blurb that I found to be excellent. I don't know who wrote it but I would have been happy to have written it myself.
Blurb for "Glimmer of Hope"
She’s a wounded girl serving up trouble.
He’s a pastor’s kid bent on serving God.
But can they find a glimmer of hope for a future together?
"From the moment Jack O’Bryen kissed the sixteen-year-old tomboy next door, he knew he would love her forever. Lacey Carmichael was everything he’d ever wanted—intelligent, warm, and brimming with life, the perfect complement to his serious and sensible self. A girlfriend who not only shared his faith, but he hoped his future as well, the perfect mate for a would-be pastor.
"Eighteen-year-old Lacey Carmichael has dreamed of marrying Jack O’Bryen since she was twelve years old, the boy next door who always picked up the pieces after her father shattered her heart. But when her cousin leads her astray while Jack’s away at school and her father’s rejection soars to new heights, Lacey finds herself at odds with the boy that she loves, not only jeopardizing their relationship, but Jack’s faith and heart as well."
I read this blurb and immediately bought the book even though it is a prequel and I had already read the book it is a prequel to. :)
BTW: I just read that since McDonald's started offering breakfast all day long, their breakfast business has greatly increased. The thought was it would decrease as peopole able to delay breakfast into later in the day would forego the breakfast hours. However, what it did do was allow people who did not eat breakfast at all to sample their breakfast menu and many of those were converted into now buying their breakfast during the regular morning hours!
Lesson: write a novella prequel to an existing book and it may very well stimulate the sales of that existing book. I'd love to see an edgy high passion novella prequel to "A Passion Most Pure" come out today. It could stimulate new interest in the whole seven book Boston series! I just see marketing opportunities everywhere.
Hail to the Queen!
Vince
That blurb made me want to read TINAs book, until I read further and found I already did! Great post, and I love how you got your info out there!
ReplyDeleteHis Mail Order Family by Mary Connealy--A lonely young rancher orders a mail order bride and after the vows are spoken, she 'surprises' him with her three little brothers.
ReplyDeleteThis is a Love Inspired book. You're writing for LI now, aren't you.
Oh, my Jackie. (ye of the curtsying) Can't wait to read your story.
ReplyDeleteI shall send the chambermaid in to wake the queen forthwith.
I'm anxious to see what she suggests for your blurb.
Thanks for the guidance, CATHRYN! The bullet points are easy to understand -- now to do them :-)
ReplyDeleteNancy C
Welcome, Cathryn, and thanks for these great tips and examples! This is definitely a keeper post!
ReplyDeleteAs an editor and reviewer, I'm just starting to get into writing blurbs. Therefore, this post was quite timely for me. Blurbs often are my deciding factor when I'm looking for a book to read during my very limited "reading for pleasure" time. I think the importance of a blurb is sometimes overlooked.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
How delightful to meet you, Blurb Queen! There is always room for more royalty in Seekerville! Together we shall reign in peace, harmony, enticing blurbs, and excellent grammar!
ReplyDeleteTINA -- a re-edit of The Rosetti Curse? Nothing different plot-wise, right? Not that I would mind re-reading it ... :-)
ReplyDeleteNancy C
Royal Decree!!!!
ReplyDeleteSince the queen is a bit late this morning, let's have a little fun. Everyone who shared a blurb of theirs or another author shall be entered in an additional drawing for a Seeker book of choice. E or print. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.
Keep those blurbs coming!!!
ReplyDeleteNo, Nancy, since I am changing to Radcliffe, I had the splendid Naomi Rawlings go in and proofread and now the book is spotlessly clean.
She did that on Christmas Angel and Bloom. So am preparing to have Rogenna Brewer update my covers.
Since I am working from home I am planning Bloom 2 and to continue the McBride series.
She did a terrific job breaking this down for us blurb blunderers. You are right, Jill.
ReplyDeleteThank you, your highness.
Hello Catherine Welcome to Seekerville and thank you for this fantastic post. Wow. You really dissected the blurb and shared what to really put in it. Congratulations and a million thanks. I am writing a blurb for my wip so really did need this.
ReplyDeleteHave fun today.
Good morning, Blurb Queen! What a terrific post! I had no idea I could hire out blurb-writing, but that's what sells a book and it must be right. I agree with Keli - the LI team does a terrific job. It's intimidating to think of writing my own if I ever self-publish. I'm saving this post and your information for future reference.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Keli, Kav your Quote is superb "blurbs are book hugs" Love it.
ReplyDeleteCATHRYN ... WELCOME TO SEEKERVILLE!! AND, WOW, WHAT A GREAT TOPIC!!
ReplyDeleteBecause OH. MY. GOSH!!!! If there's one thing I love writing better than first lines of a book, it's jacket blurbs!!!
Love, Love, LOVE Tina's blurb that you did and always have. I remember the first time I read it -- I grinned outright because it was SO Tina and SO fitting for that marvelous story, so GREAT JOB, Cathryn!!
In fact, I like writing blurbs SO much (especially the header hook), that I'm pretty sure the poor Revell copywriter cringed every time she sent me a blurb for one of my books. :)
Okay, you said to be brave and include some blurbs we've written, so here's one of my faves I wrote for my indie book, A Light in the Window:
One Woman. Two Men.
One stirs her pulse, the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?
Marceline Murphy, a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues, catches the eye of two of Boston’s most notorious. Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are best friends with a bond like brothers … until they meet one woman neither can have.
Overseeing St. Mary’s Christmas play -—A Light in the Window-—Marcy wrestles with her attraction to both. But when disaster strikes, she’s destined to discover the play’s message firsthand. For although two men have professed their love, only one has responded to the light in the window.
If you have any suggestions, I'll take 'em, and thanks for such a fun blog today!
Hugs,
Julie
Vince I thought of you the minute she mentioned that a blurb was ad copy for the book, not the synopsis.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm sorry, but this is SUCH a fun post today that I can't resist posting some of my favorite header hooks I've written:
ReplyDeleteA PASSION MOST PURE:
She's found the love of her life.
Unfortunately, he loves her sister ...
A HOPE UNDAUNTED:
What happens when the boy she loved to hate ...
becomes the man she hates to love?
A HEART REVEALED:
The ring on her hand belongs to one man …
but her heart belongs to another.
LOVE AT ANY COST:
Fooled by a pretty boy once, shame on him.
Fooled by a pretty boy twice, shame on me.
SURPRISED BY LOVE:
From Ugly Duckling to Swimming with the Swans …
but is she over her head when it comes to love?
Okay, I'm done and will go back to my writing cave and leave you alone. ;) Thanks for a great post and a lot of fun, Cath!
Hugs!!
Julie
Here is my shot at it! From my play The Best Lesson!
ReplyDeleteDonna Lewis, a divorced educator with a teen-age daughter is kicking and screaming her way through middle-age after Jake, her ex-husband leaves her for a woman half her age. Her challenge is raising her daughter, Charmayne, who could pass for her sister by Christian values while living her new sexy-sassy lifestyle. What else can she do when she’s too young to be old and too old to be young?
Throw my name in the crown!
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJACKIE!!! LOVE your series title "SEALed by Love"!!!
DEB H'S HEADER BLURB: It’s déjà vu all over again...or is it? LOL ... THAT immediately grabbed my attention, Deb -- LOVE IT!!
Uh-oh ... I'm noticing I tend to like the shorter blurbs. I'm in trouble. :|
Hugs,
Julie
"The blurb Queen is so right, a writer only has about a minute to attract a reader with the title/cover/blurb before they move on to the next book, so they are extremely important when I'm trying to decide to buy or not to buy."
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Tracey. With ebooks, I sometimes utilize the Look Inside feature, but mostly I am looking for hooks that I prefer.
Love, love reunion stories and love Pygmalion stories.
Lara, you know Lara Storm is a perfect SCI-FI/Fantasy author name. And Lara Hitchcock of course conjures up mystery and suspense.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you writing now?
Good Morning, All!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's first thing in the morning out here in North Idaho. I must say, the rest of you get up EARLY, lol. I should have thought of this, and set my alarm for the 'crack of black'.
Thanks to Tina for leaping in to welcome everyone and answer all these lovely comments!
Blurbing is indeed a universal need for writers. I was asked to write my own in my years with Samhain, even tho
1. I had no idea what I was doing and
2. A pro was going to take over and create something hooky and wonderful.
So you never know when you'll need to blurb.
Helen Gray, I knew you just finished a book and needed a blurb because we are ALWAYS just finishing another fab story, right?? Such are our lives.
ReplyDeleteKathy Carlton, thanks so much for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteTrix, Wow! Thanks for adding a reviewer's perspective here. I hadn't thought of this--but I see you are right; a good review touches on the same aspects of story as a great blurb.
Heidi Robbins, You are so right. The blurb either makes us readers click that buy button ... or not.
VINCE SAID: "I could write a sample blurb but I'd rather post a blurb that I found to be excellent. I don't know who wrote it but I would have been happy to have written it myself. Blurb for "Glimmer of Hope"
ReplyDeleteLOL, Vince, thank you SOOO much!! Since AGOH is my indie novella, I wrote the blurb for both it and Isle of Hope, so your words just made my day -- THANK YOU!!!
VINCE ALSO SAID: "BTW: I just read that since McDonald's started offering breakfast all day long, their breakfast business has greatly increased. The thought was it would decrease as peopole able to delay breakfast into later in the day would forego the breakfast hours. However, what it did do was allow people who did not eat breakfast at all to sample their breakfast menu and many of those were converted into now buying their breakfast during the regular morning hours!"
WOW, that's pretty impressive, Vince, and I have to say that not only are you the ultimate modern philosopher in my eyes, you are an EXCEPTIONAL ad man as well, as evidenced by ALL the tips you've given me that I have either used or written down because I intend to use them someday.
For instance, what you said here?? "I'd love to see an edgy high passion novella prequel to "A Passion Most Pure" come out today. It could stimulate new interest in the whole seven book Boston series! I just see marketing opportunities everywhere."
OH. MY. GOSH!!! You don't have a brain, my friend, you have a 1,000-watt light bulb in that head of yours -- PURE GENIUS!!! Just reading what you wrote makes me want to write a prequel novella for APMP RIGHT NOW, fingers itching to get it started. Trust me, I will, and YOU are going to get all the credit and acknowledgment. Only thing is, I think I'm going to have to brainstorm with you on this because having already written a prequel novel (which, ironically, was supposed to be a novella), so not sure what the story would be ... Therefore all ideas welcome!! ;)
Thank you SO much, Vince, for all your amazing ideas!!
Hugs,
Julie
Kara Isaac, I can see why your publisher kept your tiny blurb - it is good! I would read that book. Love Tolkien, love NZ, so you've used 2 huge hooks right there. And then, your hero and heroine and their conflict sound fun too. 5 stars for you!
ReplyDeleteJackie,
ReplyDeleteSingle heroines raising beloved children is a huge hook, as is a hunky SEAL stepping up to help ... and staying to fall in love. A SEAL who depends on God for guidance? Le sigh! This man is the complete package. I'M in love, myself. In other words, nice hooks, lady.
Kara, I just finished "Close to you" and love, love, loved it! You so had me laughing out loud and it was very hard to put down, even in the wee hours of the morning when I was up feeding my baby girl. :-)
ReplyDeleteMary Conneally,
ReplyDeleteYou've hit all the hooks - rancher, mail-order-bride, surprise 'baby'/children. Nice. Bet this book sells many, many copies!
Tracey Hagwood,
ReplyDeleteScore! I'm claiming credit for tuning you back in to Tina's books! ;D
I do think new blurbs can help re-vitalize back-list books, or just books that aren't moving off the shelf as hoped.
Tina,
ReplyDeleteYes, I do have a memorable name thanks to my father and my husband. I started writing mystery/fantasy but that's on hold (it was a series and too much to try to get right without learning a thing or two). Then I switched to the Sci-fi and put that on hold (need to pick my dad and husband's brains as they are both physics / engineering types and I have some mechanics issues I need to get straight). About a year to 6 months ago I picked up a project that began as a writing prompt and finished it. Yay! That's the one I recently submitted to the two contests (and the one at least two people have said they've had trouble putting down). I guess I would call it a new adult inspirational romantic suspense. (I really wanted to write up a blurb for that and post it here, but since I would be drawing on the synopsis I submitted for one of the contests, I didn't think that would be wise. At least one of the contests said that the manuscript should not have been published elsewhere in any form, including online.) Now I'm working on another inspirational (this is the one you'll get to see the first chapter for ... soon, I hope--still waiting on my friend). If I get motivated today, maybe I can write a blurb for that one. (Though my first drafts tend to need a lot of work.) :-)
I'm having fun reading all the blurbs!
Julie,
ReplyDeleteJust finished Isle of Hope too. Sooo good! Keep 'em coming! :-)
Lara, being a SFR writer myself, your story sounds most intriguing. I hope you write it! If you need some help punching up your blurb when you do finish, let me know!
ReplyDeleteGlynna Kaye, you're right, it's great to have a publisher polish up those blurbs!
ReplyDeleteCathryn, you're a genius! So glad you can be with us today, and thanks bunches for the great info about writing blurbs.
ReplyDeleteI'm saving your post for reference!
Okay, here's one I did for an indie novella. It's close, but no cigar. Any suggestions?
Nurse Brigid O’Grady refuses to open her heart to NYPD Detective Tony Calabrese, knowing she could lose him to the gang violence that killed her dad. But, while working to save a patient on Christmas Eve, Brigid is confronted by the very danger she most fears. Can Tony save Brigid…or do they both need a miracle to make the darkness turn merry and bright?
This is such a timely post. Several writer friends and I were debating tagline vs. blurb importance last week. They are BOTH important! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDeb H, thanks so much for sharing your blurbs. You have some great nuggets in each.
ReplyDeleteOne of the services I love to provide is re-writing blurbs, working with an author to polish what they've done. I tighten language, punch it up, add key words and make sure the hook and call to action match the tone and genre.
So, in a quick example, instead of 'Mary’s parents begin manipulations to gain custody of the child', we might say something like 'Mary receives another blow to the heart when she learns her own parents plan to sue for custody of her baby/or/take the baby from her.'
Keli Gwyn said...
ReplyDelete'Here's my question; Suppose a writer is preparing her proposal and really wants to sell the story but realizes that blurb-writing isn't her forte. Suppose said writer has read a wonderful post about your services here in Seekerville and has learned that there's someone out there who can help. What would said writer need to send you if she wants you to create her blurb from scratch? And what would you need if she just wants you to spiff up her mediocre attempt? (Aside from the payment for your quite reasonable fees, of course?)'
Thanks for asking, Keli! On my website, The Blurb Queen, I have a 'Client Form'. All any writer would need to do is fill out the form and send me the requested materials (ARC or 1st 3 chapters/Outline/Synopsis or any combo of these).
My Client Form has spaces so you can be very specific about what you need - All New Ad Copy, or re-written Ad Copy, Tagline, Call-to-Action or any of these. I have pricing for each so no one pays for services they don't want.
Here's the link: http://www.theblurbqueen.com/contact/
Kav,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - the blurb MUST match the story - tone, genre and hooks!
I recently received a re-write from an author who got this review 'I loved this book, EVENT THO I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD FROM THE BLURB!'
Ouch! This author conceded she is an awesome writer, but not so great at blurb writing. My kind of client. She now has a blurb that hopefully lets her wonderful story shine as it should.
S. Trietsch said...
ReplyDelete'The crown suits you! Heehee!
My WIP is not quite far enough along to pen the blurb and in fact as a non-romance writer (girl vs human nature) the tension is more grey and fluid than I can get my head around at the moment.'
Dear S - thanks! I had fun on Canva creating my 'royal likeness'
Re: When to write the blurb. I write my blurbs as soon as my story idea pops into my head. It gives me something fun to write toward. However, I'll add my blurbs often morph and change A LOT as the story develops.
Cathryn, I'm glad the Sci-fi blurb intrigued you. I do hope to go back to that story one of these days, but for now I've got another project on my plate.
ReplyDeleteLoving the blurbs.. It certainly gets me to read a book!
ReplyDelete~It was a well-laid plan - but it wasn't her plan.. It's all her grandmother's fault. Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Quieting
Vince said...
ReplyDelete"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."
Henry The Fourth, Part 2 Act 3,
Vince, You got that right! I'm among so many seasoned writers here, I worry a bit about showing the cracks in my new crown.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful and wise post. I'm saving your words to my OneNote Notebook on marketing to ponder and see how I may want to use them to change my own marketing approach.
McD's are indeed the best at 'Give the People What They Want', and we writers must be as well. Thus, the use of popular tropes to describe our work. Readers are looking for an emotional experience, and our ad copy must show them we will give them that.
best to you as well!
Meghan Carver said...
ReplyDeleteI had no idea I could hire out blurb-writing, but that's what sells a book and it must be right. I agree with Keli - the LI team does a terrific job. It's intimidating to think of writing my own if I ever self-publish. I'm saving this post and your information for future reference.
Meghan,
Thanks for saving the post ... and I hope you'll pass along The Blurb Queen as a reference to any other writers who may be tearing their hair out over blurbs.
Julie Lessman,
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! You had me giggling with your professed 'love' of writing blurbs. You are certainly not alone.
You so seem to have overcome your aversion well - your blurb for A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW is well done.
Lara (Storm) Hitchcock said...
ReplyDeleteAbout a year to 6 months ago I picked up a project that began as a writing prompt and finished it. Yay! That's the one I recently submitted to the two contests (and the one at least two people have said they've had trouble putting down). I guess I would call it a new adult inspirational romantic suspense.
(Though my first drafts tend to need a lot of work.) :-)
Hurray for you! Sounds like you've found a genre where your voice shines! As for first drafts needing a lot of work, I love the quote 'The first draft is you telling the story to yourself. Subsequent drafts are you polishing it so that others will want to read it.'
Anyone recall who said that? I couldn't find it on Google.
Vince is our house marketing guy. Our very own MAD MAN. Er, Ad Man.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTerry Pratchett said-The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.
Debby Giusti said...
ReplyDeleteOkay, here's one I did for an indie novella. It's close, but no cigar. Any suggestions?
Nurse Brigid O’Grady refuses to open her heart to NYPD Detective Tony Calabrese, knowing she could lose him to the gang violence that killed her dad. But, while working to save a patient on Christmas Eve, Brigid is confronted by the very danger she most fears. Can Tony save Brigid … or do they both need a miracle to make the darkness turn merry and bright?
Debby, You've hit on some fabulous tropes here! I think you're very, very close.
This is a great tiny/short blurb. I would add a tagline, and then a longer blurb where you go a little deeper.
For this short blurb, my suggestions are in CAPS.
'Nurse Brigid O’Grady refuses to open her heart to NYPD Detective Tony Calabrese, knowing she could lose him to the gang violence that killed her OWN FATHER. But, working to save a patient on Christmas Eve, Brigid is confronted by the very danger she most fears. Can Tony save Brigid AND GIVE HER HOPE FOR A FUTURE TOGETHER … or do they both need a miracle to make the darkness turn merry and bright?'
And then in the longer blurb, if the patient is a victim of gang violence, I would say 'called to save a shooting victim on Christmas Eve' or something like that, so we know she's on the street and vulnerable, or if she's in the hospital and the rival gang showed up there 'working to save a gang's victim on Christmas Eve'
Anyway, I'd drill down and be more specific so we know a bit more about the 'danger she most fears' and how she's in the middle of it.
Hope that helps!
Jeanette Hill said...
ReplyDelete'Several writer friends and I were debating tagline vs. blurb importance last week. They are BOTH important! Thank you!'
You are so welcome, Jeanette. You're right, you really can't weigh the two, they are both needed. Tagline is the hook, the blurb is the juicy bait.
C'mere, fishy, fishy ...
hullo your Majesty! *curtsies in the presence of royalty.
ReplyDeletei'm writing my third book, which is the third and final in my unsavory heritage series.
from my first book, Tessa, the front cover tag reads:
"When you pretend to be something you're not, it always finds you out."
and the back cover blurb:
One mother. Two daughters. One favorite. One not.
When Cassie Barclay is presented with an opportunity – or is it a curse – she jumps at the chance. She takes on a new life, her sister’s life, and although at first, it holds appeal and promise, she soon realizes sometimes the fairy tale is tainted.
Assuming the name of Tessa, Cassie moves into the life that was her sister’s, and faces first one realization then another, one disappointment after another. Stepping into Connie’s life does not automatically grant her all that Connie had or was.
But it does deny all that she had and was as Cassie. As herself.
...which i now realize does not have a call to action, something i had never thought to add to blurb, or blog post for that matter!
CATHRYN, welcome to Seekerville! Thanks for the excellent tips for writing blurbs! Normally my publisher handles back cover blurbs, but here's the blurb I wrote for a Seeker historical novella collection:
ReplyDelete“A Daddy for Christmas” by Janet Dean
When Rafe Rafferty discovers he’s a father, he returns to Bountiful, Indiana, to marry the mother, only to learn she died after childbirth and her sister Tess is raising his child. Rafe falls head over heels for his daughter and for Tess Russo, a woman who doesn’t trust easily. Especially the man she thinks abandoned her sister. Can Rafe prove he’s worthy and conquer the protective walls she’s built around her heart?
I see that I didn't establish the date in the blurb. I did end with a question. Do I get a point for that?
Janet
BLURB QUEEN/CATHRYN, your blurb for Tina's story is great and makes me want to reread The Rosetti Curse. I love Tina's sense of humor and your blurb captures the tone perfectly.
ReplyDeleteSeekerville's resident royalty, our Grammar Queen, can be a tad possessive so watch that crown.
Janet
Loving all of this Cathryn, thank you, especially since 'blurbing' is not my favorite piece of chocolate...
ReplyDeleteCathryn,
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
Yes, I needed "AND GIVE HER HOPE FOR A FUTURE TOGETHER," which you added. That's the romance the reader wants! Duh! Silly me. I wasn't letting them know there would be a HEA!
Love the way you made the blurb shine with the other changes.
Huge thank yous!!!
Have you done classes online or at writing conferences? No? You should! Just an FYI!
This is a wonderful addition to Seekerville! Hooray for The Blurb Queen!!!
ReplyDeleteI have such aching heads over this kind of thing, that it's fairly ridiculous.... and then sometimes it just flows like spring river water...
But mostly headaches!
What a delightful thing, to have a knack for this. Cathryn, I'm so glad you're here!
Robin Mason. Welcome to Seekerville!!!
ReplyDeleteCathryn, does this revision work with the "gang's crosshairs?" Or should I be more specific?
ReplyDeleteA Miracle for Christmas
Nurse Brigid O’Grady refuses to open her heart to NYPD Detective Tony Calabrese, knowing she could lose him to the gang violence that killed her own father. But working to save a gunshot victim on Christmas Eve puts Brigid in the gang's crosshairs and forces her to confront the very danger she most fears. Can Tony save Brigid and give her hope for a future together … or do they both need a miracle to make the darkness turn merry and bright?
Oh, Debby! I just loooove that blurb!!
ReplyDeleteKelly B, Sarah, Sally S. You are all in the drawing. Thanks for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteKav, you are not weird. I live for blurbs. It is the way I pick books. And I love that they are hugs.
ReplyDeleteWaving to Crystal. Thanks for stopping by! You are in the drawing!!
ReplyDeleteMegan triple semi finalist!!! Dark chocolate I hope!!!
ReplyDelete~It was a well-laid plan - but it wasn't her plan.. It's all her grandmother's fault. Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Quieting
ReplyDeleteOh, that's an excellent one, Deanna!!!
You are in the crown.
CATHRYN, I need my own personal blurb queen! How much do you charge? Not kidding. I'd rather have a root canal than write a blurb.
ReplyDeletePlease toss my name into your shiny gold crown, Blurb Queen (or do you prefer Your Majesty) for your most excellent drawing. :)
Here's a blurb of one of the books next on my TBR pile from Sarah Ladd "Dawn at Emberwilde"
ReplyDelete"Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty."
Love it and from this, makes me anxious to delve into the pages! TINA....I hope this will count as an extra entry for a Seeeker book :-)
KAV....you always have an eloquent & unique way of putting your thoughts into words! I think you just coined a new phrase "Book hug". I'll have to borrow this ;-)
Just home briefly between my two jobs so not much time for leaving a comment but I do want to be entered into the drawing for the Amazon card! I will try to get back through all the comments and read some of the blurbs. It is an interesting topic! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTina this is in Spring into Love a Seeker Collection.
ReplyDeleteBut you and Barbara are right, the 'surprise' kids are LI material.
I should've pitched to them I guess. :)
Great post! I can't think of anything whitty to write for a blurb but I love reading them! Blurbs are very important for books! I always read them so it's important to get it right!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be entered!
Barb Scott and Sandy! You are in the crown. So is Valri!
ReplyDeleteThis came right on time.... I have to write a blurb tonight!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.
Hey, Mary Hiker! Welcome to Seekerville. WE AIM TO PLEASE. Hi to the dog too.
ReplyDeleteLARA!! Thank you SO much, my friend, and if you post a review, be sure to let me know so I can enter you in my contest to have a character named after you in my next book (book 2 of IOH), okay?
ReplyDeleteAnd, Cathryn, THANK YOU!! A nod from the Queen is a true compliment! :)
Hugs,
Julie
Cathryn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Seekerville and thanks for helping with our blurbs!
Cathryn, enjoyed your post...and welcome to Seekerville.
ReplyDeleteCount me in for the Amazon card; a generous giveaway, and I would enjoy more books to read during my recupe time....lol Thanks again for all the prayers.
Jackie Smith!! Terrific to hear from you! You are entered. Name tossed in the royal crown.
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI already posted my review, but I'm a little shy of having my name in a book, LOL :-). So I just figured I'd let someone else have that glory ;-).
Hi! I'm a reader, not a writer, so I don't have a blurb to leave BUT I've had a wonderful time reading all the great entries. Great job everyone! Loved the article and please enter me in the drawing for the Amazon card.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathryn. Taglines, blurbs, and more, oh my! I'm working on a total rewrite of a former WIP.
ReplyDeleteFor my current WIP: Typhoon Tessa broke Brady's nose and heart before she left Holly Heights for greener pastures. Now she's back, and all set to start again where she left off.
For the book I'm currently pitching: Three finalists. Two worthy opponents. One million dollars at stake.
Family pasts led to the shells around their hearts, and now these competitors must find a way to remove the barrier to claim love as their true prize.
Thanks for the tips as I refine the pitches and tagline.
Tanya!!!! Love that blurb!! So intriguing.
ReplyDeleteLoves To Read! Ms Cynthia. You are entered. And tell your sis congrats on the Daphne.
ReplyDeleteMy blurbs are always too long. I'm happy to learn there are people out there who enjoy writing them. Please count me in for the Amazon card.
ReplyDeleteTina, thanks for the congrats on the Daphne!
You are in Terri!!! You diva you!!
ReplyDeleteI need information on blurbs. I had forgotten that it was something else I need to learn. Thank you for the post & the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteJan
You are welcome, Janet Kerr. You are in the draw.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lara, but I'm giving you a point in the contest anyway. Surely there is SOMEONE whose name you would like to put in a book, yes???
ReplyDeleteHugs!!
Julie
Awk! I meant to be here earlier. Got sidetracked today. Thanks for the shout out, Tina!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure Rogenna. A pleasure to work with you as well.
ReplyDeleteLOL, all this time I've been calling full blurbs summaries (which I suppose they technically aren't, since as you say, it's not telling you what happened in the book).
ReplyDeleteNow that I know the formula for a book blurb, it's really easy to see ...
Nadine Brandes' "A Time to Die" has a pretty killer short and full blurb:
"How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?
Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside.
In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence.
What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out."
HELLO BLURB QUEEN! I am amazed at the creativity within this post.
ReplyDeletePlease put me in the draw for a $25 Amazon gift card.
Julie said : Surely there is SOMEONE whose name you would like to put in a book, yes???
ReplyDeleteLaughing here. I'll certainly think about it :-)
Hello--Please put me in the drawing for the 25 Amazon card. Becky B
ReplyDeleteBlurb
Fiona Lanier is the only woman in the tiny Gulf Coast settlement of Navy Cove. While her shipbuilding family races to fill the demand for American ships brought by the War of 1812, Fiona tries to rescue her brother who was forced into service by the British Navy.
Lieutenant Charlie Kincaid has been undercover for six months, obtaining information vital to the planned British invasion of New Orleans. When a summer storm south of Mobile Bay wrecks his ship and scatters the crew, Charlie suffers a head injury, ultimately collapsing in the arms of a beautiful mermaid who seems eerily familiar. As Charlie's memory returns in agonizing jags and crashes, he and Fiona discover that falling in love may be as inevitable as the tide. But when political loyalties begin to collide, they'll each have to decide where their true heart lies.
Becky, is that your blurb?? You are in either way.
ReplyDeleteGood one, Jennifer!!! You are in!
ReplyDeleteCaryl, good morning. You are in!
ReplyDeleteCathryn, I'm sorry I missed dropping by yesterday for your fantastic post! Thanks for these great tips. I love Tina's re-release blurb!
ReplyDeleteKARA, great blurb. No wonder the publisher kept it!
ReplyDeleteJanet
I hate I missed this yesterday! You really are the blurb queen. Here's one that sold my first novel (coming out at the end of this year)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be entered for the drawing, if it's not too late.
Bethany grew up expecting to die for her faith, but when her world is invaded by a race of giants she must decide whether or not she's willing to live for it.
What a fantastic post, Blurb Queen. I loved reading it. Please enter me for the Amazon Gift card.
ReplyDeleteDeanne P.
I'm actually really excited to hire the blurb queen for my next project! I always get stuck when I do it myself
ReplyDeleteHi Cathryn,
ReplyDeleteLove your post and hope it is not too late to comment. I just completed a rough draft of my first novel and have been working on a book proposal. The blurb has been a challenge in trying to say much in so few words. Makes me think of a product logo or slogan. Coke - it's the real thing... Wow, what a blurb !
Anyway wanted to get your feedback. My story is an duel plot that has been called Speculative Supernatural but I am not so sure about that. It is based on the message to the church in Ephesus from the book of Revelation, 'The Church of lost love'. It is a duel plot that tracks the struggles of two churches, one ancient and one modern, struggling with the same problem. Both have forgotten their love for the Lord and one another. The story involves angels of light and darkness who are battling over the fate of the church. Sorry not a romance but yes a love story!
Anyway here it is:
...Human wisdom is discovered in battle but the power of God is found in love...
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks, Mark
Your post couldn't have come at a better time. Not only am I self-publishing a book on May 20th, but on Saturday I'm leading a discussion in my ACFW-DFW Chapter a.k.a. Ready Writers. Subject? Blurbs, Pitches, and Tags! May I please quote you with full attribution?
ReplyDeleteOK, so here's the blurb for the new book:
Seeking relief from her disastrous marriage, a high school biology teacher returns to Shelter Creek for the summer to help her grandmother through chemo. She is surprised by a roofer with stamina through Texas heat and life’s hard spots. Her path away from bitterness involves the family guard-pig and teaching first grade.
Painful discoveries of her husband’s duplicity develop into danger. Murder is so much quicker than divorce.
As a wife betrayed and dumped by her husband, she could either lock herself away from further hurt or forgive and start over.
Was there a man alive worth the investment?