This book looks cool! I used to be a freelance book blurb writer. It’s a tough medium! My advice would be to open the blurb with what the stakes are. For example:
Kylan Bence is waiting around to die, his life given a price tag too high to be worth a rescue. Inside the ghost settlement of Pallas, Sarra sees a signal from the outside come across her console for the first time in years, does she dare risk banishment or death by responding?
That’s not perfect, but I think readers are more likely to read on or click through if they have an idea of what’s at stake right away.
I worked mostly with indies, but I had a contract with a small Canadian non-fiction press that eventually went under. I quit doing the blurbs because I realized I didn't want a career that had be constantly looking for clients, and I was using blurb writing as a shadow artist career.
I got started by accident. A client I did email copywriting for (she owned an SEO firm) wrote a book and asked if I could write a blurb. I said yes because it sounded fun. I hyperfixated on book blurb writing for a week and learned a ton. I figured out there was a need for the service and so I started offering it. I mostly got business by word-of-mouth.
I needed to make my own art and copywriting was giving me an excuse not to make art, and it was eating away at me.
Thanks for sharing! I can see why you chose to leave it. I don't think I'd ever be able to ghost write or do anything like that. It's not vanity, but like you said, it would take away from my own creative pursuits. Power to those who can, though. Unsung heroes.
May 2, 2023·edited May 2, 2023Liked by Lisa Kuznak
Okay, before I comment on A or B or anything else, let me just say that you have voiced every thought I've had on publishing. Excuse me while I go cry for a while. I'll finish when I get back.
<French accent> Many moments later...
A, definitely A. It's the perfect lead into the story, gives nothing away, but sets up the protag's situation perfectly, as well as outlines the dangers ahead of him. I loved it. B, as you mentioned, felt as if it were a romance novel. I mean, if it's a romance novel, fine, but you listed it as scifi/horror, so A's your GO in my opinion. Also, have I mentioned how much I love abandoned/seemingly abandoned megastructures? If not, let that question serve. I would very much love to read the ARC. I'm willing to put aside the time for it.
PS If it "sucks", I will politely tell you it wasn't "my thing" -- because truly, in the age of indie authors, I've read novels that I wouldn't [fill in the blank] that receive extreme praise. What does that mean? That there is an audience for EVERYTHING. More to the point though, as has been said before, critique, not criticism. But I'm betting it won't.
PSS Can you tell I like to ramble and read the sound of my own words? T_T
Thanks so much for the input! Shoot me an email and I'll send you what I've got. If it isn't your thing, that's totally fine! That's what reviews are for. The readers, not me.
No worries about the rambling, I do it quite a lot myself!
It might be worthwhile to walk into a bookstore and go to your genre section to read a a whole bunch of blurbs, just to get the hang of how they do it in traditional publishing, including typical word count.
Thanks for the input! I've done this loads of times, but I still seem to be stuck when it comes to my own work. If you don't mind my asking, what didn't you like about the two I posted? Is there anything I should keep or just scrap them entirely?
I agree with the length, especially with the second one. That's the one I used when I was querying, and it got an OK response (in the current querying climate haha) before I decided not to go with traditional publishing. But a blurb for a query (to hook an agent) isn't the same as what might work to hook a reader.
Be intrusive! And I have no experience, really. Nothing in practice. I just read a lot of advice and try to apply it. It really is harder than writing the stupid book hahaha
The bastard blurb... I really like how Jason has framed it- "why should I care?" I think you want to create more questions than answers, the others feel a bit too explanatory?
I hate to say it but you may need a C, or an adapted A. B does seem to suggest a heavy relationship angle to the story.
I'm excited to read it. You have one guaranteed sale. :)
Thanks a bunch! Yeah it's funny because A is closest to my very first attempt at a blurb for this book, going waaay back. But with some changes (I'll have to think hard on the "why care" question) it might be the closest to a functional blurb haha. C + A.
This book looks cool! I used to be a freelance book blurb writer. It’s a tough medium! My advice would be to open the blurb with what the stakes are. For example:
Kylan Bence is waiting around to die, his life given a price tag too high to be worth a rescue. Inside the ghost settlement of Pallas, Sarra sees a signal from the outside come across her console for the first time in years, does she dare risk banishment or death by responding?
That’s not perfect, but I think readers are more likely to read on or click through if they have an idea of what’s at stake right away.
Thanks so much! But now I'm curious, how does one become a freelance blurb writer? Did you work with publishers or solely with indies?
I worked mostly with indies, but I had a contract with a small Canadian non-fiction press that eventually went under. I quit doing the blurbs because I realized I didn't want a career that had be constantly looking for clients, and I was using blurb writing as a shadow artist career.
I got started by accident. A client I did email copywriting for (she owned an SEO firm) wrote a book and asked if I could write a blurb. I said yes because it sounded fun. I hyperfixated on book blurb writing for a week and learned a ton. I figured out there was a need for the service and so I started offering it. I mostly got business by word-of-mouth.
I needed to make my own art and copywriting was giving me an excuse not to make art, and it was eating away at me.
Thanks for sharing! I can see why you chose to leave it. I don't think I'd ever be able to ghost write or do anything like that. It's not vanity, but like you said, it would take away from my own creative pursuits. Power to those who can, though. Unsung heroes.
Okay, before I comment on A or B or anything else, let me just say that you have voiced every thought I've had on publishing. Excuse me while I go cry for a while. I'll finish when I get back.
<French accent> Many moments later...
A, definitely A. It's the perfect lead into the story, gives nothing away, but sets up the protag's situation perfectly, as well as outlines the dangers ahead of him. I loved it. B, as you mentioned, felt as if it were a romance novel. I mean, if it's a romance novel, fine, but you listed it as scifi/horror, so A's your GO in my opinion. Also, have I mentioned how much I love abandoned/seemingly abandoned megastructures? If not, let that question serve. I would very much love to read the ARC. I'm willing to put aside the time for it.
PS If it "sucks", I will politely tell you it wasn't "my thing" -- because truly, in the age of indie authors, I've read novels that I wouldn't [fill in the blank] that receive extreme praise. What does that mean? That there is an audience for EVERYTHING. More to the point though, as has been said before, critique, not criticism. But I'm betting it won't.
PSS Can you tell I like to ramble and read the sound of my own words? T_T
Thanks so much for the input! Shoot me an email and I'll send you what I've got. If it isn't your thing, that's totally fine! That's what reviews are for. The readers, not me.
No worries about the rambling, I do it quite a lot myself!
Welcome. Ultimately, all up to you. blahblahblah blah at blah blah dot com
Sent!
Received.
Go for an option C or D.
It might be worthwhile to walk into a bookstore and go to your genre section to read a a whole bunch of blurbs, just to get the hang of how they do it in traditional publishing, including typical word count.
Thanks for the input! I've done this loads of times, but I still seem to be stuck when it comes to my own work. If you don't mind my asking, what didn't you like about the two I posted? Is there anything I should keep or just scrap them entirely?
I thought both were a little long, and possibly don't have a high enough lense.
Making your own work sound captivating or enticing is hard, it's a bit like boasting, isn't it? But that's the job of the blurb.
They didn't grab me, and I think, importantly, didn't capture / distill the world you've created - what is the reader walking into?
I could have another look tomorrow, but I don't want to be that intrusive, it sounds like you have a great deal more experience at this than I do.
I agree with the length, especially with the second one. That's the one I used when I was querying, and it got an OK response (in the current querying climate haha) before I decided not to go with traditional publishing. But a blurb for a query (to hook an agent) isn't the same as what might work to hook a reader.
Be intrusive! And I have no experience, really. Nothing in practice. I just read a lot of advice and try to apply it. It really is harder than writing the stupid book hahaha
The bastard blurb... I really like how Jason has framed it- "why should I care?" I think you want to create more questions than answers, the others feel a bit too explanatory?
I hate to say it but you may need a C, or an adapted A. B does seem to suggest a heavy relationship angle to the story.
I'm excited to read it. You have one guaranteed sale. :)
Thanks a bunch! Yeah it's funny because A is closest to my very first attempt at a blurb for this book, going waaay back. But with some changes (I'll have to think hard on the "why care" question) it might be the closest to a functional blurb haha. C + A.
Just caught this before work. Leaving comment so I can comment properly later. All the best.