Tuesday, April 02, 2013

[Linkage] B is for Blurb

Note: My A-Z theme is linkage. Every day (at 7:00 a.m. EST), I'm going to list three helpful industry links per letter, and then I'll ask for suggestions in the comments—that way, we can pool our resources! :) 

B is for Blurbs:


 Have you ever had to write a blurb? What helped you?

P.S. Looking for my post on Lynn Rush, Faith Sullivan, and Juliana Haygert's new releases? Click here.

49 comments:

Melissa said...

Great links!

Here's one from Writers in the Storm:
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/gottcha-blurbs-easy-and-fun-to-write/

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Those back cover synopsis are difficult!

Unknown said...

So helpful...being able to write cover copy helped a ton when I was querying my agent and for any pitching I've done. Apparently, it worked! Great resources.

Nick Wilford said...

Savvy Book Writers: http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/5-tips-on-how-to-write-a-blurb-for-your-book/

Great theme!

Bob/Sally said...

Very handy links - I know I've struggled with just what to highlight in a blurb (and what to leave out).

Unknown said...

This is really great! I'm saving these. This is my first visit to your blog. Please visit ours at http://citymusecountrymuse2012.blogspot.com/ and please sign up to become a member if you like what you see!

Commonweeder said...

I'm saving these too. I'm glad A to Z brought you to me.

Donna K. Weaver said...

Yes, and just like the dang query it's hard. I've also helped critique a few which can be quite a learning process. It helps when you can get input from both people who have read the book and from those who haven't.

ilima said...

Ooh, these are great. I'm gonna take a look.

Tony Noland said...

I don't know how long I spent writing, re-writing and honing the query for my book. It became much easier when I started thinking of it like a blurb, the four sentences that would hook a reader.

Visiting from the A to Z challenge.
http://www.tonynoland.com

Unknown said...

Blurbs are hard to write! Thanks for the links. :)

Jenelle Leanne said...

Very helpful. I find blurbs to be the bane of my existence...

Carrie Butler said...

Oo, thanks for adding to the list, Melissa! :D

Carrie Butler said...

They are! Summarizing (and enticing) is almost more difficult than writing. *shudder*

Melissa Sugar said...

I am loving your A to Z theme. Blurbs are difficult for me to write. Some people are just naturals at condensing it all into one to three sentences. I am not one of them. Thanks for the links. I can't think of any to add today.

Nancy Thompson said...

I remember when SSP asked for a short synopsis, I didn't realize it was for my blurb. I never really liked it. I much preferred my query blurb instead. Blurbs are so difficult. How do you condense 90,000 words into 200? UGH!

klahanie said...

Hey Carrie,

Ah yes, a blurb that encapsulates the ambience of the story. In my case, I get Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar to write my synopsis :)

Enjoy the alphabet challenge. I'm only beginning to realise you start from the beginning of the alphabet. Doh!

Gary :)

JeffO said...

I have yet to properly blurb. I'll have to keep an eye on those links for when that day arrives.

Carrie Butler said...

Oh, I bet! It's certainly a special skill set. :) Thanks for stopping by, Rebecca!

Carrie Butler said...

That's where outside readers come in handy. :) Thank you!

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks for sharing, Nick! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Juliet! :) I'll come check it out.

Carrie Butler said...

I'm glad to hear that, Commonweeder! :) Thanks for stopping by!

Carrie Butler said...

I completely agree, Donna. Query and synopsis writing requires a whole new level of patience. *shudder*

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Ilima! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Aren't they? Yuck!

No problem. :)

Carrie Butler said...

And I'm sure all of the practice has helped you! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Jenelle! :) Me too...

Carrie Butler said...

Maybe that's a good thing. I realized it, and it added that much more pressure! LOL

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Melissa! :) They're difficult for me, too. I always manage to get stuck on a few little details, and I lose my momentum.

Mark Means said...

I can tell I'm going to be doing a lot of note taking as I come here this month.

I know I'll need some of this info in the future :)

Carrie Butler said...

Hey Gary,

Any chance we could hire Penny, too? I think everyone wants a superstar to do their synopsis! ;)

Thank you!

Carrie Butler said...

It's something you might consider working on a little bit at a time--maybe after you nail down your query. That way, it won't hit you all at once. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Good! :) Thanks for stopping by, Mark!

Golden Eagle said...

I've never had to write a blurb--but I'll be returning to this post if I ever do!

klahanie said...

Hey Carrie,

I shall have a word with her and her um 'pawblicity' department! :)

Regina said...

Love the linkage idea and the blurb!

Heather M. Gardner said...

These are great! I need to make a list!
HMG

Samantha May said...

Okay so I've created a new folder just for these links. Thanks so much Carrie :)

Carrie-Anne said...

I don't think I've had to write a real blurb, though I did some for my own stories back in elementary school and junior high. I also probably wrote blurb-like things when I worked at a newspaper and had to do articles about local writers' books

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Blurbs are real important. Thanks for the links.

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Eagle! :)

Carrie Butler said...

That's awesome! Thanks, Samantha. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Regina! :D

Carrie Butler said...

I'm glad! Thanks for stopping by, Heather. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Hopefully, all of that experience will help when the time comes to write a "real" blurb! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Very! No problem. :)

Unknown said...

I hate writing blurbs, so these are some great links to take a look at! Thanks!

Carrie Butler said...

I do, too. Thanks, Rachel! :)