WRITING WITH FINGERS CROSSED

 

Hey! It’s the monthly blog hop/ known as the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You’re invited to join if you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers. It happens the first Wednesday of each month, and it would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words are appreciated. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.   Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!  

 

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

This month's optional question: What's harder to do - coming up with your book title? Or writing the blurb?

Hoo boy!

That’s a toughie...

But for me it’s the blurb... 

Even if you have a killer book title...

An agent or publisher might change it...

Unless that is...

You self-pub then — hoo boy—good luck!

While a book cover’s design and its title...

May catch a reader’s eye...

A great blurb...

If it’s done right...

Can catch a sale.

The blurb is actually a great marketing tool.

Besides using it on the inside jacket cover or back cover...

It can be used in query letters... 

Social media to promote your book...

On your website...

And as enticements to reviewers, 

Ahh...

But how do you write the blurb intriguing enough?

First it should be no more than 250 words... 

And here’s a formula: 

* Who is the main character, and what is going on in his/her life when the    

   story starts?
* What is the Big Problem?
* What are the biggest obstacles the main character has to face?
* What is at stake?

(source: https://jwmanus.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/the-formula-for-a-novel-blurb/)

 

 So. there you have it...

Simple, no? 

No!

At least not for me!

It takes me at least a hundred times...

Before I’m happy with it...

And actually...

I’m never happy with it...

Because I just can’t shut the internal editor off.

And if writing the blurb isn’t daunting enough...

Ever do a face-to-face pitch with an agent?

Trust me...

It’s sweaty palms & pits -I need a drink - daunting! 

Because there's no delete button...

And no rewrites...

You either land on your feet...

And hope you landed that agent...

Or land on your ass...

Then go have a drink, and make it a double. 

And what about you?

Which is harder?

Title or Blurb?

Always, 

Em-Musing