Write On: BLURBS AND QUERIES

WRITE ON
Posts about writing practice,
with occasional critiques.

Blurbs (back cover copy) and queries can feel like nasty little word-traps for writers. They need to encapsulate the main plot of your story, giving enough detail to make it sound unique, without veering off into a full synopsis. They should also reflect the voice of your novel, and clearly show the premise, conflict and stakes.


"Sell your novel in 250 words or less, making it stand apart from all other novels. Go!"

"Um, OK. It's about..."

"No! Make it catchy!"

"Ken lived an ordinary life until..."

"I said CATCHY." 

"I was getting to that part."

"CATCHY NAO!!!"

It can be hard to be objective about something you've written. Not just about the strengths or weaknesses, but about what will sell the story to a reader. Sometimes knowing the intricate twists and turns of the plot can make it feel like condensing the story into a query/blurb is the equivalent of stuffing a 12-headed gorgon into a pencil case. So, writers being clever with word economy and all, it can be really tempting to use broad strokes to cover everything within an acceptable word count.

'When the unthinkable happens...'
'When her life is turned upside down...'
'He is faced with an unexpected crisis...'

Any of the 3 examples above could apply to hundreds of novels, and say very little about the story itself except something happens. 

"But I can't go into the whole backstory of Reggie being Ken's long-lost twin who was spotted in a talent contest and adopted by a pop star but then lost everything in a flood and now lives next door to Ken, so I'll just say a blast from the past shows up on Ken's doorstep and that'll cover it..." 

No. No, it won't.

Pulling out the vital information is one thing, but being specific enough to make a reader want to find out exactly how Ken's long-lost twin has ended up living next door is the key. Next, you need to set up your conflict: what does Reggie suddenly showing up mean for Ken? What decision will he have to make? And what are the stakes?

The "stakes" are what Ken will stand to lose or compromise if he chooses one option over the other.

When Reggie shows Ken a map marking the location of their grandfather's missing gold, Ken has to decide whether to go with Reggie on a treasure hunt, or stay behind to attend his audition for the Broadway musical of his dreams. 

Ridiculous stakes, but clear: Ken either has a chance to find a missing fortune, or a shot at stardom. He can't have both, and there isn't an obvious, easy choice. Because they're not really stakes if the choice is easy.

Ken must choose between trusting his brother, or dying a horrible and agonising death. 

"Um, I'm going to go with the horrible and agonising death..." ??!!

And that's kind of it, I think. As a reader, if the choice is hard, and I know the set-up and am genuinely wondering what the MC will decide to do, chances are I'm already making my way over to the checkout to buy the book.

Meeting Other Writers

Being a writer in North Wales can sometimes feel a little cut off from the rest of the writing community. Not that there aren't other writers around here - I'm sure there are a few lurking in my neighbourhood. But when compared with the huge (and fabulous) community of writers on twitter, made up of writing tweeps from all around the world, I do feel a bit out on a limb.

But short of moving to London or New York, or starting a writing commune, there are a few ways besides twitter that I can connect with other writers.

Me & Taryn

It was a huge pleasure to meet YA writer Taryn Albright this week when she stopped over in Wales for a couple of days before continuing on her great European adventure. Taryn is an extremely (scarily) savvy writer and editor who is also represented by agent extraordinaire Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency. I had lots of fun showing Taryn some of the local sights, including a few castles, a walled Roman city, and the UK's smallest house.

Conwy Castle

I was also lucky to be invited by the wonderful Dee Romito to join a writerly Google hangout a couple of weeks ago, and got to talk to some of the writing tweeps I've been tweeting my craziness at for the last 18 months. Not that we really talked that much during the hangout - as there were 9 or 10 of us in the group, we mostly just played with the google apps and gave ourselves beards and cat ears while laughing at each other. But it was lots of fun, and I was stoked to get to 'meet' such awesome writer friends for the first time.

Me. Hanging out on Google. As you do.

My next face-to-face writerly event is set to be World Fantasy Con 2013, which is happening in Brighton, England, later this year. I have my ticket, I've almost decided on a hotel, and am looking forward to meeting up with even more writers - especially Marieke Nijkamp, who is probably the most well-traveled writer I've met on twitter, and as sweet as she is ruthless with her critiques!

Have you been to any conferences yet this year? Where else do you meet up with writers?

Are YOU going to WFC2013?

The Playlist: BRAWLIN'

THE PLAYLIST
Music to inspire you when writing
different kinds of scenes

For this first playlist, I'm offering up tunes for when you're writing a certain type of fight scene: the brawl. This means chaos, fists flying en masse - the whole nine yards.

Got different tunes you write this kind of scene to? Let me know in the comments and I'll add them to the playlist!

 

Flash Friday: SPLINTERS

FLASH FRIDAY
An end-of-the-week post
featuring flash fiction by me
or a special guest.

This piece of flash fiction is one of mine. Hope you like it!

****

Footsteps like a heartbeat, too fast for one chest. Too many to be anything but bad news.

I flee, scuttling out from under the debris of the bombs, splinters from a wooden crate snagging at my sleeve. It's a warning: Safer to hide. Always safer to hide.

But my feet have already betrayed me. No choice but to move as the beat bears down on me like a freight train. Splashing ash-clogged puddles against alley walls, too fast for street mutts to do more than gnash their teeth as I pass.

I am a bullet.

A ribbon of seconds flutters in my wake, dissolving in a hungry wind.

I am running.

I am running.

Until I’m not. A hand, maybe not, grabs my ankle as I round the corner, and I crumble against the wall. I am a broken bag of bones, too bloody for air to fill my lungs for a moment. A moment too long, I know. The heartbeat is too loud, too close, and they are here. One corner, maybe two corners away.

Fingers like claws rake the dirt around me. My fingers, not giving up like the rest of me. They don’t know.

Scrabbling, digging into dirt. Dust rises in a cloud and I would choke, but my lungs are dust. My body is a bag of bones, my fingers splinters, burying me in the dirt. Maybe they do know.

My eyes don’t close, but darkness does. I am sinking into soil, swallowed, grounded.

Silent, but not quite. The heartbeat is muffled, thundering overhead, an earthquake in another world.

My fingers knew, the splintered part of me.

Safer to hide. Always.

****

Comments welcome :) 

If you'd like to contribute a Flash Friday post, let me know in the comments or email me at katelliswrites at gmail dot com.

Winner of the May "I, Reader" Giveaway

And the winner of a copy of JON FOR SHORT by Malorie Blackman is...

BRIDGET SHEPHERD!

Congratulations, Bridget! Your book will be in the mail to you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

I, Reader: JON FOR SHORT by Malorie Blackman

I, READER
Highlighting a book I've read this month
which has been inspiring
and brilliant, and why.

Thanks to Jani Grey for the idea, I'm going to give away a copy of JON FOR SHORT to one commenter (selected at random). **CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED** Leave your comment (with your twitter handle or email addy) by 9pm GMT on Monday, 6 May for your chance to win!

 For my first I, Reader post I'm choosing a book which I will freely admit I bought because of the cover, and the story just wormed its way into my head and has taken root there. Here is the back cover blurb:

As the blade flashed down in the dim light, it seemed to wink, wink, wink...

Arms came up to ward off the flashes of light, but it did no good. The flashes got harder and faster. 

Harder and Faster...

HARDER AND FASTER...

Jon is in hospital. 

He can't move. 

The doctors have taken his arms and he is sure his legs are next. Will Jon ever escape?

Why did this book stand out?

I've already mentioned the cover, and the illustrations inside are by the same artist - Vladimir Stankovic. I loved the style, and they added a brilliantly murky extra dimension to the story. You can check out more artwork by Vladimir Stankovic here.

The book is only 80 pages long, and JON FOR SHORT was originally published as part of an anthology, but I can see why it was also published as a standalone. It's quick, dark and shocking - a perfect little nightmare of a story. It was also unlike anything else I've ever read, and left me thinking about it for weeks afterwards, so there's that.

It is marketed as being suitable for readers with dyslexia, which caught my attention - I'd never come across this sticker on a book before, and was intrigued to see what was different. I could see certain things which made sense of the sticker as I read - read it, you'll see for yourself what I mean.

I really recommend checking out this book if you like a quick, scary read with fantastic illustrations.

Have you read JON FOR SHORT? What did you think? 

Or if you haven't read it yet, will you be checking it out?

EYRE HOUSE by Cait Greer - Cover Reveal!

Happy First of May! And it really is a happy one, because I get to help unleash this little beauty on the world...

Cait Greer's fantastic NA Southern Gothic EYRE HOUSE will be available to buy in July, but until then, here's the cover blurb to whet your appetite - with a sneaky teaser to boot!

When eighteen-year-old orphan Evan Richardson signed up to work at Eyre House, on the sleepy tourist getaway of Edisto Island, SC, he never expected to find himself dodging ghosts. But Eyre House seems to have more than its fair share of things that go bump in the night, and most of them seem to surround his employer’s daughter.

Back from her freshman year of college, Ginny Eyre is dangerous from word one. She’s a bad girl with ghosts of her own, and trouble seems to follow her everywhere she goes. But living or dead, trouble isn’t just stalking Ginny. When her ex-boyfriend is found murdered in the pool, Evan knows he’s got two choices – figure out what’s going on, or become the next ghost to haunt Ginny Eyre.

You can add EYRE HOUSE to your Goodreads list right now - and you really should, because that Evan is definitely word-candy!

Here's a little teaser, as promised, courtesy of Ms Greer herself:

“What if I don’t believe –”

“Evan.” She closed her eyes for half a second. When they opened, pure golden temptation stared back at me. “Just hush and relax, will you?”

***

WOOHOO! Do leave some cover-love in the comments :) Check Cait out on twitter and her blog, too, to show you have excellent taste. 

The New Schedule

I've been a little quiet lately, sitting in my writing room, swirling ruby port around a glass and gazing into the roaring blaze in my fireplace... OK, so I haven't, but I've been quietly considering a new direction for this blog. Or, more specifically, a new schedule. And because I want to give a sneaky preview of what you can expect if you're following my blog, here's the new posting schedule I'll be following each month...

Week 1: I, READER
Highlighting a book I've read in the previous month which has been inspiring and brilliant, and why. **UPDATE: I will also give away a copy of the book to one random commenter each month. YAY!**

Week 2: FLASH FRIDAY
An end-of-the-week post where I offer up a piece of flash fiction, written by me or a special guest.

Week 3: THE PLAYLIST
Each of these posts will offer up a playlist for writing specific kinds of scenes - action, kissing, heartbreak, chase scenes...all the music.

Week 4: WRITE ON
This will be a spot dedicated to posts on important things like writing news, writing practice, editing, querying, and occasionally pitch or query critiques, if I get any willing victims...uh, I mean volunteers.

So that's the schedule for each month, beginning in May. I may post things in between as they crop up.

What do you guys think?

Zombies, Betta Betas and the Bologna Affair

Sorry I've been a bit absent of late, both here and on twitter. I'm sure if you read my posts about drafting and editing and such over the past few months, you figured I was off polishing up my latest MS, and you'd be right. So, what else is new?

I'm a Zombie. Or I was.

I had the great privilege of being one of the slush zombies for Pitch Madness, and it was awesome seeing all the requests flying with darts and favourites on pitches for PitMad and everything. Now I get to sit back and watch over the next few weeks and months as those requests from agents turn into offers and signings. That's always my favourite part of any contest!

A couple of the other zombies posted their reflections on the whole Pitch Madness event, and I really had nothing new or insightful to add beyond their wisdom, so I did the lazy thing and just copied their links here for you.

Stephanie Diaz's Slushpile Lessons (part 2)

Mina Vaughn's Tales from the Slushpile and How to Twitter Pitch

Facing the New Frontier

I'm venturing into unexplored territory (for me) with my next writing project. I don't want to say too much about it at this point, because then I'd have to spit and spin in a circle and what-have-you to avoid jinxing it, but suffice to say it's not my usual robots/magic type stuff. Once I'm a little further into it, I'll give an update about how it's going and whether I'd rather be tearing out my own teeth with pliers.

Being a Betta Beta

I also have 2 beta/CP projects to finish before I dive back into my own writing (I'm still trying to stick to my new year's resolution to be a better CP), and they're both by incredible writer friends who I feel lucky to know and be able to read for. They are Jani Grey and Jeanmarie Anaya, in case you're not watching them like hawks already. Because you really should be.

The Bologna Affair

I've been keeping my own hawk eyes on Bologna Children's Book Fair (you can check out the tweets from the fair under the hashtag #BCBF13) because this is really the first year I've had an inkling about what goes on there. I think I've mentioned previously I'm a bit of a doof when it comes to knowing about the publishing process beyond getting an agent, but I'm trying to fix that, and learning about one of the key events in the children's publishing calendar is a good step. My agent Molly Ker Hawn and her colleague Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency have posted some fabulous posts about it, which I recommend you read right NOW.

Molly's post about the fair.

Gemma's posts about what goes on at Bologna and about Bologna book fair meetings.

So, what's new with you guys??

Picking the Right Comparators

Whether you're writing a query, a pitch, or a blurb, picking the right comparators for your novel can be tricky. But if you get it right, it can be really effective.

There are two reasons for this: firstly, it can it can help an agent/editor/whoever mentally place your novel in the publishing market, and shows you know your shiz. Secondly, it'll set up your story, and help whoever's reading it to know something about the content/tone before they start. An example of how each of these works...

Place in the market

"My novel will appeal to fans of THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers and UNWIND by Neal Shusterman."

Now, one is a zombie novel about a group of teens who spend a large portion of the story trapped inside a school, trying to survive. The other is a dystopian story about three teens in very different situations who face being 'unwound' - a process by which their body parts are essentially recycled while they're alive. OK, so they're both SF (I know some will argue that zombies aren't SF, but if the reason behind the zombification is medical or a bio-weapon or some other kind of science, then I'm holding your stare and kicking you under the table) but otherwise pretty different.

So how does this help place your story?

Well, there are common themes: fight for survival, dealing with death, betrayal. There is also a similar tone, in my opinion: dark, with a frantic pace. So while these two novels may not at first glance be all that similar, they will help to give an idea of where you see your novel sitting in the bookstore, what themes you might be tackling, what the tone of your story is like. It also shows that you haven't just randomly picked 2 or 3 stories about zombies as your comparators. THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers, ASHES by Ilsa J Bick, and THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan are all zombie stories, but really very different in every other way. Setting, characterisation, pace, tone. Listing these as your comparators would look more like you'd googled a list of zombie stories and picked the 3 titles which stood out most.

Do your reading. Read within your genre, of course, but read outside of it too - especially the books which are really making an impact, the 'breakout' novels. If you want to stand out in the market, you need to know what you're standing up against first.

Setting up your story

"PRIDE AND PREJUDICE in space."

"ALICE IN WONDERLAND meets TANK GIRL."

"A modern retelling of GONE WITH THE WIND, set in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina."

These one-liners (awful as they may be) tell you a lot about the story in very few words, so can be really effective in a short pitch, or in the intro/summary of your query.

One more thing...

Don't just go for the big boys. 

"My novel will appeal to fans of HARRY POTTER, TWILIGHT and CODE NAME VERITY."

"My novel is THE HUNGER GAMES meets WARM BODIES with a side of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES."

Really? Just...really?

Again, you want to show that you know the market and your genre, so aim for the stars - but make sure they're the right stars. Do your research, and find the RIGHT books to compare yours to.

Think comparators are useful? Do you use them in your queries/pitches? Please share your thoughts :)