Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For September, the question is: “If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?”
This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the awesome co-hosts are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise – Fundy Blue.
My answer to the question
If I would be an avid book reader – which I wish I was, but there are not enough hours in my day to be one – I would easily be able to answer this question. I don’t even know what my favorite genre is! These years, I read e-books written by friends or used books given to me by friends and family. My TBR list is huge. I do LOVE reading after all.
Without research or much experience, I think I’d like my perfect beta partner to be a travel writer like Bill Bryson, Jon Krakauer, or Paul Theroux. Not only are these men fantastic, intelligent writers, but – from what I remember – they have a good sense of humor as well.
Lots of thinking goes into this road to publication!
My book progress
Long-time followers of this blog must be getting tired of these monthly writing updates, as I have been doing them pretty much since I started work on my current travel memoir – gulp – almost five years ago! But soon, you will be able to actually read the book instead of reading about the book. I promise. (Says she who has no clue yet about what she’s doing.)
This past month was eye-opening and productive for me. Eight hours a day, I devoted and dedicated to reworking and reviewing my memoir for the umpteenth time, incorporating the suggestions from my editor, who provided me with a 13-page “manuscript assessment” and made notes inside the document as well. I also reread every chapter again. That didn’t leave much time for other tasks, except to learn more about self-publishing.
My memoir is now with my editor again for the (final) copy-edit. I expect it back the end of this month for me to revise one last time.
About the eye-opening part… I – and other writers – have heard and read the following tidbits of advice (and wisdom) before:
- Listen to your readers
- Write for your readers
- Learn to love your editor (that’s what blogger and author Pam promised me)
- Kill your darlings
- Grow a thick skin; be able to take (constructive) criticism
Until last month, I’d nod in agreement without ever having to put any of it in practice. Let me tell you, it was a steep learning curve. Especially since I can be as stubborn about my writing as our dog Maya when refusing to go for a walk. Or as protective of my original piece as Maya of her rawhide bone!
This toy, Maya is not protective of.
But I’m living proof that you can go from one extreme to the other, especially mentally… from “hating” my editor and justifying “my darlings” to changing my book’s opening. Yes, I actually created an alternate version of the first four pages in chapter one based on my editor’s feedback, thinking I’d never actually use this linear, narrative, chronological approach instead of the original, compelling, mysterious one. Ha!
The moral of this experiment, for which I enlisted the help of my target audience: sometimes it’s a good thing to listen to the professionals and to let go of your pride and habits. Especially when you’ve never published a memoir before. 😊
(Hover over photos or click them to read captions.)
Oh, and a friend of mine helped me with a “photo shoot” in which I aimed to return home with the perfect “author photo” for my back matter. Except, it was a windy day and I discovered that smiling makes my face chubby. So, onto another try!
What’s next?
Well, since all I did in August was focus on the content of my manuscript, all those other factors I have mentioned before are still on the table, with the most pressing being an attractive blurb and cover. This is my current blurb – for the back of the book and the description of online retailers:
Welcome aboard! My travel memoir Plunge takes you on a nomad’s physical and emotional journey through tropical waters that turn tumultuous.
Falling in love with the guy next door on an RV trip with her partner, a free-spirited – and slightly naive – woman has two choices: continue her passion of traveling or stay with her new lover. Her decision sends her on a whirlwind of love, loss, and living in the moment… at sea.
Floating about, she must overcome more than seasickness. As she co-exists 24/7 with her captain and his two dogs, she faces personal storms and life-altering moments. Will she be able to navigate the world and her relationship?
Not without twists and irony. Throughout challenges with health, work, weather, and Immigration, she soaks up the beauty, wildlife, and culture around her and tries to figure out how this less than ordinary life keeps her connected to the one she loves, and to her passion.
It most likely needs more work. I appreciate any input. I should probably delete the first and last paragraph, right?
With the cover design, I still have to start from scratch. My goal the coming days is to go through my entire archive of the decade of travel that this memoir encompasses and grab the best photos to use for the book, promotion, and blogs. I’m talking about browsing at least 10,000 photos on a hard drive!
I also have to research hiring a cover artist. As my author friend JH told me from the start: on the road to publication, there are two steps you should not skimp on – an editor and a cover artist. On to the second step!
Here are a few scenes touched upon in the first chapter of my book, on our first boat. Yes, Mark and I had another sailboat before Irie… Didn’t we look young and “green” in 2005?
To check out all my steps on this road to publication, click here.
As always, I appreciate any suggestions, tips, or thoughts you have about my writing, my blurb in particular. And don’t worry, my skin is getting thicker by the month!
September 2, 2020 at 20:38
I love Bill Bryson. He seems like he’d be patient also besides tuned into the nature interests you are. Good choice!
September 3, 2020 at 10:21
Oh Jacqui, now you make me want to read more of his books! But, yours are higher on the list, though. 🙂
September 2, 2020 at 21:15
All that hard work editing will pay off.
With the blurb, I’d say the first paragraph isn’t necessary. It starts with the second one.
Don’t skimp on the cover. Some of us do judge.
September 3, 2020 at 10:22
Thanks for the input, Alex! I think most of us judge a book by its cover – literally and figuratively.
September 2, 2020 at 21:22
You’re getting to the finish line, Liesbet. As for the blurb, the tighter the better.
September 3, 2020 at 10:22
Thanks, Jill. I might cut the first and last paragraphs. Or, start over again and see what I come up with. 🙂
September 2, 2020 at 21:45
Hi, Liesbet – I really like your blurb. I agree with others that it could be a bit tighter – but the core is spot on. It makes me want to read more. Congratulations on all of your hard work on this. You are making remarkable progress.
September 3, 2020 at 10:24
Thanks, Donna. Still so much to do and time is ticking as we hope to get back into the van early next month.
September 2, 2020 at 21:49
Yes, you are getting there, Liesbet. I’m not sick of your memoir journey. Remember, I rode similar waves with a totally different topic just last year.
I like PLUNGE in the title; it’s metaphorical and multifaceted. Will there be a subtitle? And I do agree with Jill and Alex about the blurb, the tighter the better.
P.S. I wish I knew how to create the “hover over the photo effect” to see the caption – magical!
September 3, 2020 at 10:29
Marian, how interesting that you say you were “riding similar waves” last year as my current subtitle for “Plunge” is “Riding the Waves of Love and Adventure”. 🙂 But, I’ll most likely change it. I still haven’t made a decision about that subtitle. Since I’m down to a lot of personal decision-making right now, I’m slacking. I’ve always had a hard time choosing. I contemplated bringing my list of choices up in this post, but it was getting too long already.
That function of reading the photo captions might be a theme-thing in WordPress. I have the Hemingway theme. This is the only way to display captions in galleries…
September 4, 2020 at 09:55
🙂
September 2, 2020 at 22:14
Hi Liesbet! Congratulations on your progress, I KNOW it isn’t easy but it really sounds like you’ve come a very long way. I liked the blurb and although as others said it could be tighter…it is still very compelling. And to me your cover is more about placement and use of lettering rather than just the photo so don’t obsess too much about that. Keep it simple and go from there. I’m so looking forward to how it turns out! ~Kathy
September 3, 2020 at 10:32
Hi Kathy! Thanks for the encouragement. So many steps, so many decisions, so much work… I’ll keep your advice about the lettering and placing in mind. The cover photo(s) will have to reflect the main theme(s) of the book. I have a couple of photos in mind I’d like to play with before hiring a professional.
September 2, 2020 at 22:42
Wow, that sounds like a ton of work! Hopefully your editor resolved a lot of your questions about the book’s length, structure, etc.
When it comes to the blurb, definitely write in third person and don’t switch tenses from first to third. I’d suggest starting with: Plunge takes you on an emotional journey through tumultuous tropical waters. Remember readers will skim the blurb, so you need to grab ’em.
Jon is fabulous. I love his books!
Good luck, Liesbet. It’s a long road, but you’ll get there. x
September 3, 2020 at 10:37
Hi JH!
Thanks for the blurb tip and all your other advice! I can’t believe how you manage this process over and over… I’ll be so exhausted from the publishing journey when this is done that I won’t want to think about writing another book for a long time. I think. 🙂 If only we could stick to and focus on just the writing.
This last editing round took so long, because I always create more work for myself and I’m a perfectionist. I couldn’t help but read through the entire 88K manuscript again and scrutinize it for better word use and tighter prose. It will never be done this way! At some point, I’ll have to let go and move on.
September 3, 2020 at 05:32
I know what you mean, my TBR pile never stops growing!
Wow, eight hours a day of work. That is some awesome dedication 🙂
Love your flowers!
September 3, 2020 at 10:40
Thank you for reading and commenting! The dedication sure was there last month… My husband was out of the house for work, so I figured I’d use that time on my book. Soon, this kind of commitment won’t be possible anymore, because we will resume our life on the road.
September 3, 2020 at 08:41
Oh, how I love reading this. You’ve come such a long way. And believe it or not, in a short time! I say this because it took me over 7 years to get my first novel published, and 35 years to get my first children’s book published. 🙂 Just sayin’.
I agree with what others are saying – shorten the blurb. Make it tighter. Easier said then done, but you’ll get it eventually.
Since I read almost entirely fiction, I’ve only read one Bryson book and one Krakauer book. That said, I’ve just read (and highly recommend) the non-fiction book BREATH by James Nestor. He shows how to write a true story (about breathing no less) with humor and facts and lots of “humanness,” if that makes sense. The author I’d like for my beta reader is Madeleine L’Engle. She’s best known for her young adult novels like A Wrinkle in Time, but she also wrote some wonderful adult novels and incredible personal journals that sent me on my way to being a writer of different genres.
September 3, 2020 at 10:46
Hi Pam!
I’m glad you’re putting this writing process in perspective. I just hope, if I ever write another book, it won’t take five years. Believe me, I’ve had many book ideas over the years and they keep brewing, but I think I’d be happier to just sit somewhere and focus on the project than doing the “all in” for a couple of months and the “totally ignore” for the next three months and repeat for years.
You are so well-read and knowledgeable about English literature, Pam. I’ve never heard of any of the authors you (or anyone else in this month’s IWSG blog hop) mentions. Maybe if I would have grown up and studied in the US, I would be a bit wiser in that regard. It sounds like Madeleine L’Engle would be your perfect beta partner. 🙂
September 3, 2020 at 15:22
The way I view it, we have lots and lots of years to catch up with lots of books/authors…and to write our own stories. xo
September 4, 2020 at 12:09
The talk of a positivist, Pam! I should listen to you (again) and stop thinking I’m running out of time in this precious life, where every moment counts.
September 6, 2020 at 22:37
Loved “Breath!” I will check out other Madeleine L’Engle books. xx
September 8, 2020 at 16:49
“The Summer of the Great Grandmother.” I read it years and years ago and it hit me hard, even though I was so young. I need to re-read it now, and it will ‘hit’ me even harder, but in beautiful ways.
September 3, 2020 at 11:37
Good luck with your memoir. With all that you have given us here I am sure it’s moving in a great direction. Loved your post.
September 4, 2020 at 12:03
Thanks, Sonia! Still a long way to go, but at least I’m making some progress these months! 🙂
September 3, 2020 at 13:09
This is great news Liesbet. I will buy a copy the instant it is published.
As an exercise here is a (brutally) cut version of your blurb. I think blurbs are usually third person throughout. I was also told to avoid the ‘this and that’ format if possible i.e. not ‘physical and emotional’ or ‘twists and irony’.
Welcome aboard Plunge — a nomad’s travel memoir through tumultuous waters.
Falling in love with the guy next door while on an RV trip with her partner, Liesbet faces two choices: continue her passion for traveling or stay with her new lover. Her decision sends her on a whirlwind of love, loss, and living in the moment… at sea. As she co-exists 24/7 with her captain and his two dogs, she must overcome seasickness, personal storms and life-altering moments, while navigating the world and her relationship.
Survival is often in the balance.
September 4, 2020 at 12:06
Hi Hilary! I love your suggestion and can see that avoiding the “this and that” format makes the blurb more brief and to the point. Thank you so much for your help – and for your interest in the book. 🙂
September 9, 2020 at 12:33
Good luck – the road to publication is long and stony!
September 10, 2020 at 09:12
Thank you, Hilary! You speak of experience!!
September 3, 2020 at 13:51
Kali & Darwin look right at home on the deck!
September 4, 2020 at 12:07
I see you love dogs as well, Damyanti. 🙂 These two were the most amazing dogs ever! Kali and Darwin liked being on that particular boat (a monohull) as long as it didn’t move. Just like me…
September 3, 2020 at 15:52
Getting there! Best of luck with the next stages.
September 4, 2020 at 12:09
Thanks, Anabel. Only 99 more stages to go! 🙂
September 3, 2020 at 17:58
You are almost to the finish line… how exciting! I bet you’ll be so relieved when it’s published. It sounds like your editor has been well worth the cost. Fresh, professional eyes on your work are so important.
September 4, 2020 at 12:15
Yes, the editor has been a big help. Even though the writing and blogging community have been very supportive, a set of professional eyes is needed to guide me in the right direction. I have felt quite alone in this process, but also the more opinions, the more directions I can go with anything. It’s a precious balance, weighing the advice from others and coming to a satisfying “solution”.
Can you believe I’m still struggling with a subtitle for my book? Well, at least I’ve settled on the main title. But, as long as I don’t have a subtitle and a blurb, I can’t start work on the cover… Aaaargh! So, yes, I will he hugely relieved when all this is “done”. Or at least, when the book is published and I can stop “tinkering” with it. The decision-making is killing me.
I’m looking forward to reading your story this weekend, Janis.
September 3, 2020 at 18:42
Hi LIesbet,
Great you are making such good progress and seem to be coming close to the final edit. After five years of work, that has to be pretty exciting and somewhat daunting as well am sure. Your persistence will be worth it in the end.
With regard to your blurb.. ok here are some thoughts…
The second paragraph was rather confusing to me .. I had trouble figuring out who the guy next door was and who the partner was, and then later on there was a reference to the captain… if ambiguity is desired then mission accomplished, but if not, then perhaps it needs a more explicit reference to who the captain is. Is he the guy next door, or is he the partner. Because we have been reading you for some time I am assuming he is the guy next door, who is also referred to as the lover, but if I did not know you, I definitely would not know who was who.
By the way I really like the imagery of the physical storm and the tumultuous relationships… that sounds like a story I would want to read.
Peta
September 4, 2020 at 12:19
Great point about the ambiguity, Peta! Thank you. While I want the reader to be curious and to keep reading to figure out what will happen, the last thing I want to do is confuse them. I’ll have a think about how to achieve the curiosity without the ambiguity. I appreciate your insights and am glad the imagery draws you in! All very helpful feedback.
September 3, 2020 at 20:31
Wow, hooray for all your progress! I’m an inveterate advice-giver, so I hope you’ll bear with me:
1) I have an addition to your writing advice: Yes, definitely listen to your editor and readers. And keeping your readers in mind while you write is important; but write for yourself, too. If you don’t love what you’re doing, it’s just not worth it.
2) For a good do-it-yourself author photo, try this: Choose a bright overcast day instead of a sunny day, so you don’t have hard shadows or bright spots on your face. If you tilt your head (kind of stick your chin out) so that your chin is closer to the camera, it’ll make your face look normal instead of chubby. And if you can get your photographer to take the photo looking slightly down on you (camera level at about your forehead), that’ll help with face proportions, too. Play with different camera angles and different head angles.
3) Don’t delete the first paragraph of your blurb – it’s great! 🙂 Maybe what’s bothering you is the fact that it’s written in the first person while the rest of the blurb is in the third person. What if you made the whole blurb first-person? I think it helps readers connect to you; although most publishers expect you to use third-person. If you’re self-publishing, you get to decide!
4) I think you’re right about the last paragraph of the blurb. The preceding paragraphs say what they need to say in a nice dynamic voice, and the question that ends the second-last paragraph is a great hook that will make people want to read more.
5) Cover art can get really expensive, but here’s a low-cost experiment that might pan out for you: Fiverr.com. I’ve worked with a cover designer from Bosnia, and while his designs aren’t as mind-blowing as what you’d get for thousands of dollars, I think they’re pretty good for under $100 (and that price includes the source files). He did the designs for all my latest book covers. His name is Bojan and his company is PixelStudio. Here’s a link to his Fiverr site: https://www.fiverr.com/pixelstudio/design-an-ebook-or-kdp-print-book-cover-based-on-your-brief?context_referrer=search_gigs&source=main_banner&ref_ctx_id=dd3d0551-9b36-4c2e-8cf1-0d6ae07a93f3&pckg_id=1&pos=4&context_type=auto&funnel=78f209bb-1317-4dc5-93c7-30f073d7edd6. He will expect you to provide an image for him to work with, and if you can give him examples of the kind of book cover you have in mind, he’ll work with that.
And now I’m all out of advice, whew! 🙂 Feel free to ignore any or all of it, but I hope at least some of it helps.
September 4, 2020 at 12:35
You are undoubtedly the best, Diane! Thank you bunches for all this desired and very welcome advice. I mean it. There is no ignoring allowed when you put effort, time, and knowledge into this comment! 🙂
1)Yes, I agree, as writers we have to enjoy what we are doing. Totally number one priority. It’s just that I can be (am) stubborn about what I want to say and how I want to do it and that had to slide a bit…
2) I am going to follow your advice this weekend. It will be tough to give up that bright, blue sky in the background, I just LOVE blue skies. But, it will help make me not squint at the very least.
3) If I keep the first paragraph, I’ll make it third person. The entire book is in the first person, so I’m very happy to change that tune on the back cover. Enough about me already! 🙂
4) Great! That last paragraph goes. If only everything about blurb writing was this easy!
5) Thank you for the tip and info about Fiverr.com. I had heard about it, but haven’t done any research. I love your new covers, by the way, so I might give Bojan a try. I’ll see what he’s been up to. Picking a cover designer who created work for travel memoirs before might be a good idea. The only effort I have put into this cover thing so far (for some reason this step is daunting) is come up with a vague idea of which photos I like to incorporate. I ought to check on Amazon for covers, blurbs, approaches … of fellow travel memoirists and jot down thoughts and ideas. I know. One of these days…
Thanks again for this invaluable advice!!!
September 4, 2020 at 08:08
Hi Liesbet, You’re making progress and getting there! Hiring an editor and getting the book cover done by a professional designer are wise investments.
September 4, 2020 at 12:22
Slowly but surely, Natalie! I’m still behind in my cover research and work, but hopefully it will happen this month! Thanks for following along.
September 5, 2020 at 13:29
Perhaps begin with: “Tropical waters turn tumultuous in this travel memoir.” And hint at why. You want strong words in the description of the memoir. It’s important to provide specifics in the back matter of books. It’s not so much that you’re telling them what will happen, but rather a sense of specific place [global?], emotion, culture, timeframe. You have “tumultuous” tropical waters, remember? Is it an island-hopping [port-hopping] adventure, both emotionally and physically?
Try to weed out the weak words like “that,” “slightly,” “floating about.” These are vague words and on the back cover, every word counts. By the way, Liesbet, I have NO IDEA what I’ll say on the back cover of my college memoir. Bravo to you to be at this point. Oh and you look beautiful no matter what. An outside photo is best–especially for your story. For some reason, I can no longer “like” your post. The box comes up blank but disappears instantly. It’s probably my incompetence, but I thought I’d mention it to you.
September 6, 2020 at 12:12
Hello Victoria! Thank you for your input and advice. I appreciate your knowledge about this. The weak words will have to go! 🙂
I tried to do another photo shoot yesterday, but only after checking the photos (which I, again, didn’t like), I realized I forgot to put the necklace on that I wanted to wear since it represents a story in the memoir. 🙁 I think I’ll give it one more try in the same location (which is a twenty-minute walk from here) and then try my mother-in-law’s garden.
Not sure why the “liking” of the page doesn’t work anymore. I have the same issue with some other WordPress blogs as well. Something must have changed on the back end of things. I have no clue how to fix that. Sorry!!!
September 6, 2020 at 07:24
Well, there’s not a lot I can add, because everyone above has said it, but through my own experience I’ve been advised to use less words – so less gets you, your writing and your readers more!
And, yes, don’t skimp on a book-cover designer. I’ve seem some awful homemade book covers that will have probably put off a lot of potential readers straight away. If it’s eye-catching, people will want to pick it up and read what’s on the back-cover (which is just as important as the front of the book).
Good luck with what’s left to do, Liesbet.
September 6, 2020 at 12:16
Less is more in so many cases! I’ll heed everyone’s advice about that, despite me being a wordy writer. 🙂
I really liked the covers of your two books, Hugh, and have written down the name and website address of your cover artist. I soon hope to make some progress with putting a request together and picking the photo(s) I want on the cover. Hopefully the coming week. I’m really lagging behind on the cover front and have been “procrastinating” that entire event for some reason…
Thank you for the encouragement!! I’m getting there.
September 7, 2020 at 06:52
It was the rewrites that had me procrastinating, Liesbet.
Thank you for the lovely feedback on my two book covers. My book cover designer was recommended to me and I’m so glad I contacted him.
September 7, 2020 at 09:16
🙂
September 6, 2020 at 15:12
So have you grown to love your editor? I never thought about how influential an editor is on a book. I now wonder if books I’ve disliked have been due to bad editing.
Ok – I’m going to weigh in on the blurb too. I think the second paragraph is a little confusing. The word “partner” can be kind of ambiguous. I think “boyfriend” is a lot clearer but I’m not sure if you use the word “boyfriend” in the book. Also I think maybe saying “current boyfriend” would indicate that we are talking about more than one guy. Also when you say, “…with her partner, a free-spirited – and slightly naive –…” it sounds like your partner is free-spirited and slightly naive until I read on.
I’m looking forward to finding out what happens after the first 4 pages!
September 7, 2020 at 09:11
A copy editor makes sure the manuscript reads fluently and doesn’t have any mistakes or flaws. That’s what she is checking on now. But, I also hired an editor (the same one) to give me feedback about the content and she’s been really good answering other questions I have. Since I’m so new in regard to (by the way, I always used to write “in regards to” – one of the things she taught me :-)) writing a book that I was happy to pay a professional to guide me a bit more (especially on items I wasn’t sure about). She’s been happy to weigh in on things beyond an editor’s job. 🙂
Thanks for your input on the blurb, Duwan. Good point about the “partner”. I might have used that word because “boyfriend” was already mentioned somewhere else in the original blurb/query. I’ve changed it now. And, yes, I use the word boyfriend in that first chapter, so that word is certainly okay to use. (My editor noted the correct spelling is “okay” instead of “OK”.)
Yes, I’ve grown to love my editor, as I have learned a lot and have become less stubborn about “my ways”.
September 6, 2020 at 22:41
This is a great question, Liesbet and similar to one we have in one of our writing groups. This year I also have been reading many books written by friends. I am not getting tired of your updates. I continue to send all the good thoughts and karma I can muster your way. I also really like and respect Pam. Excellent words of wisdom from you, Liesbet for writing a memoir and any writing. I believe you look cute, adorable and great in the photos! I find your blurb very compelling yet listen to the experts in the comments. Great phrase “personal storms.” I believe it is an arduous road to complete and publish this memoir. I also believe it is worth it. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I am a fan. xx
September 7, 2020 at 09:16
Thanks again for your encouraging words, Erica. I think the hardest part about this writing and publishing journey is that I have no idea about what I’m doing and whether I’m doing it right. For that reason, I hoped and preferred the traditional publishing route – to be able to learn from the pros and have an editor at my disposal 24 hours a day. I need someone to hold my hand. Also, because I’m not a fan of research and there are so many valuable resources out there about anything related to the craft of writing. It’s all very overwhelming, but I will get there. It is so nice to have a group of cheerleaders in my court! 🙂
September 7, 2020 at 11:55
Liesbet I have just finished reading your post and then all of the great advice. My only suggestion, having never written a book, would be to ensure you are staying in the same tense. Also I totally agree with Diane about using a bright but overcast day. Harsh light is brutal to work with.
I admire your perseverance and dedication. Very much looking forward to reading !
September 9, 2020 at 10:26
Thank you, Sue. The blurb and memoir are written in the present tense as one of my main objectives is to take the reader with me when facing decisions and experiencing events. But, there are a few flashbacks as well – in the past tense. 🙂 So much to do still. I am currently utterly overwhelmed.
September 7, 2020 at 22:42
Look at your girl, crossing the finish line, yay you! As many have mentioned yes, the blurb needs tightening. Work with the formula – Protagonist + Antagonist + conflict + stakes + finish with a question or something to want more. While we’re on the subject, see my tomorrow post, I’m reblogging an amazing detailed post from a screenwriter on loglines and blurbs! <3
September 9, 2020 at 10:32
Thanks, Debby! I wish your enthusiasm was contagious!! 🙂 I have come to the conclusion that I better (partly) rewrite the entire blurb, as people have given contradictory advice and some people who know me feel it is not “controversial” enough. Others did like it… Yes! I will read your reblogged post about the topic soon.
October 27, 2020 at 18:41
Liesbet, how wonderful that you had a whole month to really focus on your rewrites. I know I’m coming to this way after the fact, but if you haven’t finalized your back cover blurb yet, I really liked Hilary’s abbreviated version. I have pasted it below with a couple more small edits. One final thought: there is no perfect version, subtitle, cover, blurb, etc. You do the best you can do, and then make a choice and move on.
“Welcome aboard Plunge — a nomad’s travel memoir through tumultuous waters.
Falling in love with the guy next door while on an RV trip with her boyfriend, Liesbet faces a choice between two passions: whether to continue traveling or stay with her new lover. Her decision sends her on a tempest of love and loss… at sea. As she co-exists 24/7 with her captain and his two dogs, she must overcome seasickness, personal storms and moments when their survival hangs in the balance, navigating her relationship as they sail around the world.”
I think this captures most of your key ideas in a concise way.
Jude
October 28, 2020 at 10:21
Thanks for your input here, Jude. I’m at that point where the blurb is done and I am moving on. I can honestly say that writing this short piece was much harder than writing the entire book. And almost as time consuming! So much tweaking. I’ve had a lot of help and feedback from other authors, which improved the final version. You’ll have to keep reading my blogs to catch up on the post with my current – and final – blurb. 🙂
October 27, 2020 at 18:46
One more thought. It should be: “her decision sends her into a tempest of love and loss…”
Jude
October 28, 2020 at 10:22
Thanks, Jude. That blurb is saying a lot in a few sentences!