hook

Writing Your Blurb

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

You’ve finished writing your book. But you’re not done. Writing your blurb is next on your agenda.

A blurb is a short book description usually found on its back cover or beside a book’s photo on its Amazon page. Its purpose is to make readers want to buy the book by giving intriguing details about its plot, characters, setting, and so on.

The parts of a blurb are: 1) an interesting hook; 2) information about the main character (for example: This book is about a surgeon who loses his eyesight in a car accident.) 3) The primary conflict in the story. 4) Some authors list their credentials for writing the book; others prefer to show theirs elsewhere. 5) Some people include comparable titles, but again, I reserve these for things like a query letter or in marketing.

I put my photo and two-sentence bio on the back cover, but not as part of the blurb. You may feel differently. Just make sure you put it somewhere that readers will see it. 

How long should a blurb be? Short enough to contain the main components, but long enough to be interesting. Keep editing it until it’s perfect because it will follow you wherever you go!!

Remember: A blurb acts as an advertisement for your book. You wrote it; now use your blurb to assure that readers want to buy it!

Can You Say It In Three Minutes?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Are you able to pare your story down to three to five sentences?

Can you say it smoothly within three minutes?

The sole purpose of a pitch (the in-person conversation with an editor or publisher) is to convince them to give your story a look.

Be sure your pitch includes:

Hook: Why they should read your book. 

Synopsis: What the story is about. (Be sure to include the title, length, and genre of your novel). Your

target audience; and where it fits in the market (Titles of books similar to yours—and why yours will be different); and your bio.(including why you are qualified to write the story and what you are willing to do to promote your book after it is published.)

Remember to take your business card with you. You don’t want to be writing down your information on a gum wrapper while going out the door!

The Query Letter

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

As promised, I read about query letters in several sources this week. Here’s what I learned. All in one place.

Note: you can send a query letter in an email -OR- standard letter. Put QUERY in the subject line, if using an email.

Use a professional font. Nothing quirky. No color. No cartoons or pictures. Your writing—and only your writing—should be used to make your query stand out amongst others. 

Include your personal contact information in a header (if using a standard letter) or at the end (if submitting by email).

Create a strong hook and place it in the first sentence of the first paragraph. Its purpose is to get the reader’s attention and inspire them to keep reading. 

This should be followed by a synopsis, or overview of the storyline or main points and key elements of your book. This may include setting, characters, style, and genre.

The synopsis should be followed by the addition of your credentials: List your published works, including publications, websites, short stories, and so on. If you have educational achievements, add those, also—especially if your book and your achievements are related. 

Close your letter with a statement of gratitude for the person taking the time to read your letter. 

A physical letter should have a place for your signature.

Suggestions: Address to a specific agent and use the agent’s name throughout (not: Dear Agent). Use block formatting. Double-space between paragraphs; single space within. Left-justify. 12 point.

Use your real name, even if you publish under a pen name.

Hope this is enough to get you started, but not so much as to be overwhelming! 

Does This Back Cover Copy Tempt You?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

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Back cover copy is important. People read it hoping it will give them clues  as to what the story is about, how the book ends and if it reading it will be worth their time spent.

From an author’s perspective, it is an opportunity to tempt the reader into reading their book by hooking them into the story and hinting at the outcome.

Here is the back cover copy for my latest book. Does it accomplish its purpose? Only time will tell…

Truth or Dare is a childhood game—or is it?

Simon Wilson is a bully. A Thief. An Accomplished liar.

But the biggest lie of all is not one he has told. It’s one he believes.

It’s the one that says he will never be good enough. He will never measure up. Never be worthy.

He is at a crossroads.

Will Simon continue to be deceived by the lie?

Or will he choose to believe the Truth?

To Query or Not to Query

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

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What is a Query Letter and why should you send one to an agent?

We’ve all done queries when we type a request for information into the search bar at the top of our computer screen.

A Query Letter is a little bit different, however. Put simply, a query letter is a single page cover letter, introducing you and your book.

It is NOT A RESUME.

It is three concise paragraphs, which include the hook, the mini synopsis, and the writer’s biography.

The Hook, or paragraph one:  A concise, one-sentence tagline for your book meant to snag your reader’s interest and reel them in.

The Mini-synopsis, or paragraph two: This is your novel, reduced to one paragraph. (Yikes! Are you kidding me?)

Writer’s biography, or paragraph three: Keep it short and related only to your writing.

Close your letter by thanking the agent for his/her time and consideration. If your book is nonfiction, include the outline and table of contents.

If your book is fiction, ask the agent to request the full contents, if interested.

The internet has many examples of query letters—both bad and good—available. It will be well worth your time to read some so that you get a good feel for what agents expect.

As my father always said, “It never hurts to ask…”

Post on Buzzfeed

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

 

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Another in our list of strategies for selling more books is to submit a post to Buzzfeed. Begin with a clever tie-in to your book. Then, write a short article about your book in a unique format—say a riddle or a quiz about your main characters. For example, “Would Max or Rhoda be most likely to try Scuba Diving?” A crossword puzzle or a word search could also be a possibility.

Anything is fair game as long as it hooks your potential reader!!