A to Z Writing advice:
KISS (Keep It Short & Simple) – when writing queries and blurbs, you can't get into the juicy details. You have to tempt readers, agents, etc, with a brilliant taste of what's to come, an appeteaser, making them hungry for more. And a blurb is the shortest! But that's all anyone wants to hear when they ask: What's it about? They just want a quick few words to decide if they even want to read the back cover! My advice (which I got from SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder):
- to sum up your story in one sentence, label the character and sell the twist - "It's about a broom salesman who falls in love with a witch" - get to the crux of the story
- memorize your blurb, you never know when you'll be on an elevator with an agent, hence, the elevator pitch
- try it out on strangers, get their reactions, like when waiting in line at Starbucks (this part I struggle with, but it sounds good!)
Easy? No way! I know, it's very hard to pack all that awesome into a couple of lines or paragraphs - but you can do it!!
Visiting BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy) - Teenage fantasy creatures in high school break the rules, causing chaos. Gabe the goblin leads a quest to find the Book of Ages, hoping it can help save BROKEN BRANCH FALLS:
kiss - yes, there's a sweet kiss scene in my MG fantasy. I love a little romance =)
And for laughs:
An alphabetical list of reasons men are happier people...
K is for Keeper
Men get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness
Hi Tara,
ReplyDeleteNice to be here,
Part of this years a to z i am here, good to read this piece. Very interesting one. have a happy weekend.
~ Philip
I always struggle when people ask what my story is about. I think I need to actually write up a quick little description that gets the point across without explaining too much. I could never in a million years go up to a stranger and tell them! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteKISS--I LOVE this, and it's so, so true! Thanks for keeping an explanation about shortness and simplicity so short and simple! Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought of trying it out on someone in a shop queue before - god I'd have to be brave to do that. Although Brits do start to chat when they are stuck in a queue, it's the one place we seem to get over our inhibitions - I was at the cinema recently waiting to see Coriolanus and there were a load of us hovering round awkwardly - as soon as the cinema decided to find us somewhere to queue, we were all chatting away like old friends ;P
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
I love Save the Cat, I refer to that often because there is such good info in there. :)
ReplyDeleteWhere can I buy the story about the broom salesman and the witch? :-)
ReplyDeleteAs to kissing in YA. . .Y Not? Some nice smooching, especially with those green lips, is perfect to add a touch of romance.
I'm going give the man in my life a little extra credit today.
Great tips about keeping everything short and sweet. As a rambler this is definitely something I struggle with :)
ReplyDeleteHey! I resemble that.
ReplyDeleteSave the Cat is an awesome book. I actually find it easier to sum up my books in a line or two than in a couple short paragraphs.
I'm getting better at writing blurbs and oneliners. I think. LOL
ReplyDeleteSave the Cat is my favorite writing advice book. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes to all the things mentioned!
ReplyDeleteI could have used this advice so many times. I'll remember for next time. KISS.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love it! The advice is spot on.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Kiss is a popular choice today. Happy K Day!
ReplyDeleteI think that's the hardest thing I've had to do with my writing -- boil a whole novel into one sentence. Thanks for more great advice!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I'm horrible at writing blurbs.
ReplyDeleteLearning how to condense a long book into a succinct pitch is an artform and a very valuable skill to have. I got some wonderful advice from Diane Holmes of the former Pitch University on how to do this for a saga.
ReplyDeleteTry it on strangers? Eeeek!
ReplyDeleteWell, there is this bank teller who keeps on asking me when's the book coming out... maybe I should try it out on him...
Hmmm. I don't read much MG. I'm curious about how the kissing scenes go. Probably more sweet than hot, huh? Or probably more not as all. :)(Did that last line make sense? Cause it makes total sense in my head.)
ReplyDeleteI am still trying to find that perfect sentence that captures the essence of my book. Gah.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice on the Keep It Short and Simple! :-)
ReplyDeleteI definitely have not mastered the enticing blurb, or the logline. I did write one great logline that got me an agent's attention, but that is just for one of 12 novels I've written. :P
ReplyDelete