Wednesday, November 3, 2021

 


Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

IWSG November 3rd


Greetings Fellow Insecure Writers, 

First off, just wanted to let you know:
The IWSG is looking for an IWSG Instagram admin. 
If you are an IWSG member, good with Instagram, and are interested:

CONTACT: Alex at alexjcavanaughATgmail.com OR at the IWSG adminATinsecurewriterssupportgroup.com. 

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 


Remember, the question is optional!


November 3 question - What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

I think they are both equally tricky. The blurb is probably my first pick as for me it is the hardest to figure out. The blurb's job is not to tell the story of your book. Its job is to hook the reader, intrigue with key elements of the story (not spoilers), and remove their resistance to clicking buy to sell the book.   

When posting the blurb on Amazon, your best bits and the hook are in the first paragraph, which is above the fold, meaning, it the first little bit that shows on the page when they go in to read the blurb.  To see more you have to click on read more. 

This is an example of a good blurb that made me buy from one of my favorite authors, Darydna Jones. The blurb that is visible when you first click on the book: 

The Betwixt Series:
A Paranormal Women's Fiction with a bit of class, and a lot of sass, for anyone who feels like age is just a number!

Divorced, desperate, and destitute, former restaurateur Defiance Dayne finds out she has been bequeathed a house by a complete stranger. She is surprised, to say the least, and her curiosity gets the better of her. She leaves her beloved Phoenix and heads to one of the most infamous towns in America: Salem, Massachusetts.

That first line has a keyword SEO word in it naturally, Paranormal Women's Fiction. Anyone searching for new reads in this genre will probably get this recommendation on their Google search page. So she is clearly targeting a certain reading audience.  

The blurb also appeals to women over a certain age, and then continues with tidbits about life that most of us have experienced in one form or another.  Then she adds in the location which is another hook, Salem, Massachusetts.  And if you love reading paranormal light hearted stories involving witches, well, it got me.  

So far, I have read every book in the series, and waiting for more.  The big thing about it is the heroine is relatable and dealing things we deal with, in a interesting place that promises adventure with lots of problems (conflict is implied).  And who wouldn't be interested in a house that was just given to them, and by family you didn't even know you had.   Yes, one I highly recommend.  

I posted this on my blog here as well. 



Support your fellow insecure writers. Our November IWSG Goodreads Book Club Member Reads are below—Discussion Day Nov. 25th.



 Broken Angel by Sylvia Ney: 
Lyon's Legacy: Catalyst Chronicles by Sandra Ulbrich  Almazan: 

14 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for the example of the first paragraph of a blurb. It's a good one.

Nancy Gideon said...

Wonderful post, Juneta! Darynda is an awesome writer I'm proud to call a friend. She never disappoints.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Hi Juneta! Those are some great blurbs on Amazon. That's usually my first defence. Thanks for the post.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That blurb does cover all the bases.
Hopefully we get a new admin!

Juneta key said...

LOL, okay Nancy Gideon now I'm jealous j/k. That is so cool you can call her friend. I wanna call her friend. I watch any interview I can find about her because she is just great. Inspiring and I awesome storyteller. I have been reading her since the first Charlie Davidson novel.

You're welcome Natalie.

Yes, there are Joylene, and not that easy to do well either. I guess once you get the knack it gets easier.

I hope we do too Alex.

Happy Writing and IWSG DAy Everyone,

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Good tip!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Keywords are so important.

cleemckenzie said...

You're doing double-duty today, Juneta! Great job, but I'd expect no less from you. Thanks.

Leigh Caron said...

You're great at what you do. And I find it's SO nice to have someone else write my blurb.

newsstand pilgrim said...

Even without seeing your name, I knew this was your post, Juneta...Paranormal Romance, and all. Thanks for sharing this info...didn't think about SEO words in the first line.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Good point about how to make that first paragraph really good because of Amazon.
Those keywords are so important.

talklady said...

Thanks for the example of the first paragraph of a blurb, Alex. While I've been assisted in writing great blurbs/loglines, no one has ever mentioned placing the genre front and center!

I love this support group - I always learn something new while I bolster by insecure self...

Happy Turkey Day!

Anonymous said...

Excellent example! I first found Darynda with First Grave on the Right. Also, many of her books are available on Kindle Unlimited, which is a nice perk.

Unknown said...

Great post, thank you! Blurbs are tough. (Titles not so much for me ... I usually come up with several I really like and have trouble picking one).