Insecure Writer's Support Group

 

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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: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29790427-broken-angel

Lyon's Legacy: Catalyst Chronicles by Sandra Ulbrich  Almazan: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13604740-lyon-s-legacy