Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "book-description"
Writing Book Descriptions
There are two things a writer must have before trying to set up a preorder. One is a novel nearing completion. The other is a book description.
When a reader goes looking for a book, the title or the cover may catch an eye. The reader will pick up the book and flip it over to read the book description.
This 150 words or less description of the book is what the reader will use to either take the book home or put it back on the shelf.
Capri Capers needed a book description. The way I thought about the book would not make a good description. I remembered how I started the novel as a cross between a 1930's movie serial and melodrama. The novel has morphed several times since then.
As the advice recommends, I went browsing down the book shelves reading book descriptions. Then I sat down and tried to write one for Capri Capers. No dice. They stunk.
A good book description is written like a publisher trying to sell a book. This is a different mindset from an author immersed in writing the book, sifting through subplots, correcting mistakes, bringing characters to life. None of this fits in 150 words.
I would like to say sitting at my computer all the elements came together and a great book description appeared. No, I tried and tried and got nowhere. Instead I slept on it and flew to my computer in the morning.
Book Description for Capri Capers:
Harriet Zeigenhirt should be living her dream life. After all, she won millions in the lottery, bought her perfect property and her long desired goats.
Instead Harriet's life lurches from crisis to crisis. Even her favorite kid Capri ends up in the thick of thins.
Leroy Rogue and Roscoe Rascal want their share of those millions and will do almost anything to get it.
Dan Janus loves fine restaurants and clothes. This takes money. Harriet needs a husband and he wants it to be him by fair means or foul.
Harriet's friend Deputy Arthur Carlson tries to lead Harriet through this maze of perils in this wild race reminiscent of an old time movie serial.
When a reader goes looking for a book, the title or the cover may catch an eye. The reader will pick up the book and flip it over to read the book description.
This 150 words or less description of the book is what the reader will use to either take the book home or put it back on the shelf.
Capri Capers needed a book description. The way I thought about the book would not make a good description. I remembered how I started the novel as a cross between a 1930's movie serial and melodrama. The novel has morphed several times since then.
As the advice recommends, I went browsing down the book shelves reading book descriptions. Then I sat down and tried to write one for Capri Capers. No dice. They stunk.
A good book description is written like a publisher trying to sell a book. This is a different mindset from an author immersed in writing the book, sifting through subplots, correcting mistakes, bringing characters to life. None of this fits in 150 words.
I would like to say sitting at my computer all the elements came together and a great book description appeared. No, I tried and tried and got nowhere. Instead I slept on it and flew to my computer in the morning.
Book Description for Capri Capers:
Harriet Zeigenhirt should be living her dream life. After all, she won millions in the lottery, bought her perfect property and her long desired goats.
Instead Harriet's life lurches from crisis to crisis. Even her favorite kid Capri ends up in the thick of thins.
Leroy Rogue and Roscoe Rascal want their share of those millions and will do almost anything to get it.
Dan Janus loves fine restaurants and clothes. This takes money. Harriet needs a husband and he wants it to be him by fair means or foul.
Harriet's friend Deputy Arthur Carlson tries to lead Harriet through this maze of perils in this wild race reminiscent of an old time movie serial.
