《Writer's Guide》How To Write a Blurb + Tips
Advertisement
Hellooo! I'm back again!
Soooo I'm not sure if I've talked about this at all (I feel like I did briefly), but I decided I could give you guys some advice about writing a blurb.
A good story blurb should have the following:
It shouldn't be very vague. If it's really vague, then it's harder to get potential readers interested in your story.
This is obvious. Readers want to know who the story is about.
The setting is almost always important to the story. And if you're using a real town/city/village as your setting and that area is known for something, it may help the readers get a better understanding of what's happening. For example, To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Alabama during the Great Depression (1930s, for those who didn't know when the Great Depression was). Discrimination towards black people was bad during that time, and the Great Depression is said to have been especially bad in Alabama (I believe). This gives the readers more background information. Am I making sense?
This is usually the last sentence of the blurb. An example of this is, "(Insert question)? (Insert another question)? Find out in (insert story name)."
Now that I've gone over what should be included in your story description, I'm going to give you some other tips for when you're writing it.
I don't like it when authors (mainly here on Wattpad) just put a quote for the story description. It's really vague and, in my opinion, annoying. It makes me not want to read the story because what's one quote going to tell me about the plot and the characters and the important stuff that should be in the description.
If you want to include a quote in your story description, that's totally fine. I mean, I've seen writers (mainly on Wattpad) put a quote and an actual description in the blurb. If you want to use a quote in your blurb, I think you should still put an actual description of the story.
Advertisement
I wouldn't do this unless you've already completed the chapter that the exerpt is from. Don't write a scene as the description and then not include the scene in the story.
Now, I wouldn't necesarily use an exerpt as the description. I still think it's a bit too vague. Yes, it may leave the readers curious as to what happened before and after the exerpt, but still. Some professional writers will have both an exerpt from their story and an actual description. That is what I think is best.
According to thecreativepenn.com, most blurbs seem to be 100-150 words long, but you can obviously make it a bit shorter or longer. I would say maybe four sentences minimum and, like, fifteen sentences maximum.
I've seen some book blurbs that are so detailed and long that it's almost exhausting to read. You want to give the readers a short plot description, not a loooong one. I'll write an example of what I'm talking about. Let's say this is a story about a guy who has a crush on another guy who is a werewolf.
Example
Sixteen year old Derek Isaac has a crush on Martin Borman, the captain of the football team and the most popular boy in school. He thinks that Martin doesn't know he exists, but Martin does, and he feels the same way. So, one day, Martin asks Derek out. Derek is ecstatic! However, he doesn't know that Martin is keeping a dark secret from him. Martin is a werewolf.
One night on a full moon, Martin loses control and attacks Derek while he's out on a late-night walk. When Martin realizes what he's done, he takes Derek back to his house, where his pack lives. He and some of his packmates patch Derek up while he's unconscious.
Advertisement
When Derek wakes up, Martin tells him the truth.
After that, Derek is introduced to an entire world of supernatural creatures that he thought weren't real. The couple face many struggles and have to fight to keep their relationship under control. Will they make it out together? Find out in The Wolf Pack.
See how I've basically told you guys so much of the story? See how long it is? This type of story description is something I think you should avoid writing.
Anyway, that's it. I hope this helped you guys, or was at least a little interesting.
What do you guys think I should write about next? Comment below.
Samantha
P.S. I can't believe this has gotten over 100 views! Awesome!
Advertisement
- In Serial148 Chapters
Upheaval - The Gentle Apocalypse
The world is changing, but people carry on. Early in the summer, the world started changing. It is not known who first found out, but magic was real, or had become real. Of course, with the world as interconnected as it is, it took only two days for most people to know about it. Online groups sprang up, eager to test humanity’s collective new toy. Quickly, it was found out that it was all but harmless; there were (unconfirmed) reports of deaths as soon as the first day. Nevertheless, it is a novelty to most, trying it out like you’d try sports or a game. The world marches on as scientists set out to study this new phenomenon, to use it for furthering our collective knowledge and to understand it. But that won’t show any results any time soon; it is only five days since the “Reveal” meanwhile I’m out camping. I had planned this since March, to unwind from sixteen years of studying. Finally! Finally I am done with school! Getting a job is another matter… So I figured, with this magic stuff, why not try out meditating on it? I’ve enjoyed more than enough books and other media that at least some of the magic methods should be viable. Turns out, the world might not let me relax. R15+ Coarse language and adult themes. This story is finished.
8 321 - In Serial10 Chapters
Loose Talk Around Tables
Just outside of Hometown, down the road a ways, a lonely, middle-aged woodworking monster lives alone in an old house. Still moving past his own troubles in life and taking his typical two shots of whiskey a day at his favorite bar and grill, he suddenly notices one late night that someone just across the road has troubles of her own- a rough-looking girl named Susie. Takes place in the world of Toby Fox's Deltarune, the spiritual successor to his game Undertale.
8 199 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Many Misadventures of Madam Carpenter's Imaginarium
Known far and wide throughout Poset, Madam Carpenter's Imaginarium are a band of adventurers and circus performers of the highest order. Their adventures aren't always the most glamorous as they try to save marriages, buy truffle finding pigs, and more. Each story pulls a different character from the ensemble and follows them on one of their adventures. No story is quite the same as the Imaginarium grow and change together seeking fame, fortune, and a weird amount of butter.
8 190 - In Serial18 Chapters
His Stubborn (BoyxBoy) ( Complete)
Jimin is stubbornly teasing Jungkook in every way he gets, Jungkook in the other hand doesn't like to be teased... specially by Jimin.this is my second work I hope you'll support this too like how you support the other one. love lots, enjoy reading.Thank you in advance
8 125 - In Serial13 Chapters
Children of The Sky: Heartcore
In the realm of Yggdrasil, there exist nine worlds. Each and every world has unique stories to tell, but there was one that stood out--The Floating World of Speir. In the land of Speir, the impossible does not exist; this world has given birth to thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of tales, fables, and legends. The fight for the fate of the world is a common occurrence and the neverending stories of the people which reside in it were all, by itself, always unique and interesting. Now, after many aeons have passed, the world has changed. Not only the power of magic could shape reality, technology also has the ability to change the world with just a thought. And from the world where futuristic technology meets magic, I have chosen to tell you a story, a story picked from countless others. This is the story of a boy who recently entered the prestigious, and the most powerful academy in all of the nine worlds--Yggdrasil Academy, to fufill his dream. What is his dream, you might ask. Well, allow me to show you the life of Reynard Foxtale, one of The Children of The Sky. *Warning. For those who don't like lengthy explanations or long talks, this might not suit your taste. However, the setting of my story does not adhere to most of the main stream fantasy/sci-fi settings. So, you might find my ideas unique or a little too weird and complicated or both. Whatever opinions you might have, I truly thank all of you who are willing to spend your time to read my story. *The cover (which is a picture I do not own) is not in any way an accurate depiction of the world in the story. P/S I will post this story on FictionPress as well. P/P/S I'm relatively new to this website, so if I made any obvious (to regulars) mistakes, please tell me. P/P/P/S Will update every two weeks. *Important: In Hiatus for now. **13/7/2017 Update. Check chapter nine (and maybe ten) post-chapter note.
8 155 - In Serial103 Chapters
101 voicemails
"hey, it's me again..."//now available for physical copies! https://www.amazon.com/101-voicemails-marley-bookout/dp/1387378368
8 76