I had noticed a lot of questions in writer’s groups on social media regarding how to write an effective blurb. I was also slightly inebriated when I came up with the idea to write down the ideas I have about this topic. I constructed these points drawing from experience and also preferences I have when reading the backs of books before an irresponsible impulse purchase where I should have put the money towards things like rent.

I noticed a lot of questions in writer’s groups on social media regarding how to write an effective blurb. I was also slightly inebriated when I came up with the idea to write down the ideas I have about this topic. I constructed these points drawing from experience and also preferences I have when reading the backs of books before an irresponsible impulse purchase where I should have put the money towards things like rent.

I even made a short transcribed vid version **here (and at the end of the post) listing the main points for anyone who thinks TLDR.

 

Ok, I am drunk so here is a lesson on BLURBS 😀

 

This is the blurb for King of Spades.

 

MDS train their elite agents at an unclassified installation out in the desert. Agent Cleo Darkrose is lethal. She possesses the high-tech weapons and know-how to snuff a target in seconds so she doesn’t flinch when her latest assignment comes straight from the top.

Orders are to neutralise some conspiracy theorist planning a devastating terrorist attack on The Outside. But there’s a catch; this ‘patriot’ used to be one of theirs and her superior wants his family for safe-keeping despite the fact civilians have never been permitted at HQ.

Between hunting her target and working with a hastily dumped ex-lover, Cleo is running out of time, trying to keep her flawless success record while her shadowy world fragments.

The credits upload may not be worth it this time.

 

Writing a blurb is shitty. It either flows straight out or it does not. Mine didn’t flow for about six months, trying several times to get it right while I was working on making King of Spades publication-ready.

I will break it down into a formula that I used and maybe it will help. If you like it, feel free to use the pointers. I had three different versions at the end…and the one above was the version that won, but partly because I was sick to death of coming up with variations of what was essentially the same thing. It is 128 words long.

These are the stages I tried to create (and stick to);

1. Where, when, if applicable, who (and then) what makes them special, unique or the star of your show.
2. What the hell is going on to make you have to write 300 fucking pages about it.
3. Why the hell this task will be so hard for you hero.
4. Some extra thing that rounds off your descriptions, invites intrigue and possibly lets the reader know the kind of thing to expect.

Eg. with this blurb, the last line tells the reader that maybe it is set in some futuristic world/circumstance when payments are made to agents via uploading credits and not handing them cash…but it doesn’t tell them the size of the chip in their body or where it is, what else it is used for etc.

I have noticed that sometimes indie authors fall into a trap of giving too much information away on the back jacket, describing the plot in too much detail and explaining minor reasons and nuance behind main plot twists or points.

Mentioning “hastily dumped ex-lover” was enough in this particular blurb. If it had said, “hastily dumped long-term, ex-lover who was also a work partner and who has black hair, green eyes, is a gifted Sniper, has just returned from war in the Middle East, has a soft spot for civilians and who she suspects of plotting against her” would be unnecessary overkill. Save it for the book.

Usually I suggest to edit it down as much as you can for it to still make sense and still have impact and conjure ideas of what that sentence may mean.

“Hastily dumped ex-lover” – Reader’s brain( hopefully; ) why is he an ex? What happened? Why was he ‘hastily’ dumped? ‘Lover,’ eh? ooooh. Isn’t that awkward? I wonder how she will deal with that on top of everything else.

Here is the aforementioned short vid, crudely made for your enjoyment!

 

 

 

 

All content is no copyright infringement intended. All posts are opinion only and are subject to change due to experience, kicking ass and learning how to adult more effectively. If you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. Elements of original content may be reproduced with expressed permission from Ever Eden.

The RED COWBOYS Title Trailer dropped today!

 

 

I have been MIA. I know, I know. I’m going to try and make an effort to do what I’ve always intended, and that was to keep this site a little more up to date with musings, fanfic/ideas/art, my own Darkrose Novel inspired art and “write advice.”

Red Cowboys is the second book in the Darkrose Novels. It can be read as a stand alone but far better if you have armed yourself with the backstory that King of Spades supplies.

The **RED COWBOYS Title Trailer is a simple lil thang, just to whet the appetite of those hanging on and missing Agent Cleo Darkrose and Agent Trent Starr. Red Cowboys picks up where King of Spades left off, after an ending that left some people mad, some people sad and others excited for just how the next installment will unfold.

 

 

Now you know who you’re messing with.

MDS doesn’t care who you are, the agenda is all.

So just how will Trent Starr navigate The Outside without the only person he trusts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All content is no copyright infringement intended. All posts are opinion only and are subject to change due to experience, kicking ass and learning how to adult more effectively. If you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. Elements of original content may be reproduced with expressed permission from Ever Eden.

 

 

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