Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Hi all,

The topic about people reading, or not reading, self published authors brought another question to my mind.

Book blurbs and author bios: how many have used a professional service for it, and how many authors here just wrote it themselves? For those who did DIY, what kind of feedback, if any, did you receive on them?

I attended a few workshops on blurbs, read many book jackets, and used what I learned to write my own blurbs. Critique. partners and the professional editor I hired to edit my novel also gave me feedback on the blurb.
I wrote my own bio after reading the bios of other writers in conference brochures etc.
my day job is in Human Resources so writing the bio came pretty naturally

Thanks for the comment Carol.

I'm thinking I should have had the blurb and bio looked over by a professional, but at the time, the books had already been written and edited.

I didn't think my english was that bad that it needed a professional copyeditor. Clearly I may have been wrong.

Talking about yourself isn't hard...but I let my critique partner boil down my book blurb,,.because I never know what to say....and she's pretty good at getting them neat and tight. So another pair of eyes is always a good thing.

Thanks Arabella.

Here I was so sure with all the edits and reading what not to do would have been enough. Head met wall.

I can't stand writing blurbs. I get lots of feedback because I know they need serious help.

Many writers try to put to much into the blurb. They treat it like a synopsis. Find other big name books in your genre and read their blurbs. Pattern yours after the ones you find most appealing. Be very careful of questions of the 'Will he survive?' variety or 'Find out how...' Sorry if these seem trite, but I've seen them on too many books. If you have a FB or Web following, you can ask your followers to judge three or four options to help you choose which one works best.

I did my own. I passed the idea around to a few people and my publisher before finalizing what I wanted to say on the back of the book; the bio was easier.

A few months ago, I wrote a little something about blurbs. All right, it's on Wattpad, so you may or may not want to think of this website as anything "serious", but I wrote my article with serious aims in mind. I'm not going to copy and paste everything, because it's too long, so if you're interested, here's the link: http://www.wattpad.com/22196697-much-...

(I don't think this is against GR policy, but if it is, I'll remove it. It's not some lame advertisement on my part. This is serious advice I gathered from observation, other authors, and a couple of websites, and I hope it can be useful. At least, when I applied it to my own blurbs, it did help me.)

Hi all,

Lots of great ideas and advice. Yzabel, I enjoyed the article, especially the part about helping to correct the blurb, and not write it when asking for advice.

My initial blurb was more about the world building of my book, and not so much about the characters. I have since yanked them, with an intent on re-working both it and the bio.

Yzabel wrote: "A few months ago, I wrote a little something about blurbs. All right, it's on Wattpad, so you may or may not want to think of this website as anything "serious", but I wrote my article with serious..."

Hey Yzabel! Don't apologize for Wattpad. Writing is writing and the more you do, the better you get. Don't let the 'highbrows' make you feel like you're not 'serious'. We all have to make our own path to success.

My publisher wanted a book blurb for my latest book. Here is the info she wanted in the blurb:

Write a 300 word or less blurb that focuses on the main characters, their conflict, and their romance. This isn’t a plot summary. It’s a sales synopsis. Think sizzle. If you read it, would YOU buy the book?

Richard Brawer
www.silklegacy.com

Richard wrote: "My publisher wanted a book blurb for my latest book. Here is the info she wanted in the blurb:

Write a 300 word or less blurb that focuses on the main characters, their conflict, and their romance..."
Absolutely, Richard. That blurb is the 'hook'. I remember reading that you have under 20 seconds to sell a book between cover and blurb.

Jacqueline wrote: "Hey Yzabel! Don't apologize for Wattpad. Writing is writing and the more you do, the better you get. Don't let the 'highbrows' make you feel like you're not 'serious'. We all have to make our own path to success. "

Oh, I do things my own way, no worries here. But there is a lot of crap on WP, and I'll be the first one to admit it. Fortunately, a lot of its users are also still pretty young, so there's hope that they'll go on writing, develop their skills, and do something good with them later on.

I've found book blurbs and author bios to be easy to write but at times find them dull and dry. Given, if you do a lot of interviews and guest posts and they ask for them its always good to have more then one to use. Using the same bio and blurb can be boring and if you want to reach a new crowd it would be best to change it up every once in a while.

Yzabel wrote: "A few months ago, I wrote a little something about blurbs. All right, it's on Wattpad, so you may or may not want to think of this website as anything "serious", but I wrote my article with serious..."This was very helpful! Thanks.

Great advice from Yzabel. Writing the blurb is, I find, the hardest part of writing.
Writing it and then leaving it for a day or two is also good advice.
Bios I find easier, but sometimes I think I don't put enough 'interesting' stuff in.

Hi all,

If you would like a professionally written book blurb, consider my pitching services. I will read your manuscript and write for you a blurb, a 100-200 word synopsis, and a 1-2 sentence elevator pitch.
This will help prepare you for querying agents and/or marketing your book.

If you are interested, I am currently having a sale of 25% off for authors who book services in April (quote the code 'Goodreads248' in your email).

Take a look at my website and services: swspublishing.com

and get in contact via email:
[email protected]

Maddy Glenn

Hi all,

I can help develop your query lettings by writing for you a pitch, a blurb, and a synopsis.

I have been a professional freelance editor for 2 years. I have previously been the Chief Editor of a university magazine and have published works of poetry. I have a degree in English Literature and Philosophy and I am currently studying a Masters in English Literature. I have also done the Writer's Bureau course in Proofreading and Copy Editing.

I have two slots now available in April and August.

My prices are very affordable, starting from only £50!

If you're interested in working with me, PM me or get in contact via email:

[email protected]

and check out my website:

www.swspublishing.com

I look forward to hearing from you!