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I published my book and forgot to add the most important thing to the blurb..
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Alex wrote: "They don't, it isn't something I had ever considered doing, but now you mention it, it might be something I should think about for future books, and as an adjustment to my current titles."Well, I figured it's important for me to add since I'm a new author and readers have no idea what my writing style is like, you know? And since readers can only read a sample AFTER the books goes live, this is the fastest way for me to get them to see what I have to offer :)
Nope. Bad enough writing a blurb without having to choose an excerpt. (You got my short story for the anthology right?)
Amy wrote: "Nope. Bad enough writing a blurb without having to choose an excerpt. (You got my short story for the anthology right?)"
Yes, I did!
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Really cool idea, especially since Amazon supports html tags.
Be too many body parts in mine. Ah that's not true there's some quality non naked stuff.
I don't have excerpts in my blurb but I put them in the back matter of the book as a teaser for the next book. I try to keep the blurbs as short and sweet as possible :D. Maybe a good place for an excerpt would be in the "From the Author" or "From the Back" sections on the product page. These are entered via Author Central instead of KDP.
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I did similar. The first chapter of the second book is at the back of the first book.
No, I never add an excerpt to the blurb. Because the blurb is actually an excerpt from the book in a few short words (a portion of an original quote from my book spoken by one of the characters in my book who's not of this world....). At least for my latest novel.
Marie Silk wrote: "I don't have excerpts in my blurb but I put them in the back matter of the book as a teaser for the next book. I try to keep the blurbs as short and sweet as possible :D. Maybe a good place for an ..."I thought about adding the first chapter of the next book to this one but I've been seeing reviews of people complaining that the "real" book ends at 70% for this book by NM Silber that I was reading and I decided against doing it.
Yeah I'm not crazy about a book ending at 50% or 70% with lots of filler in the back. I just include an excerpt that's a page and a half long.
Marie Silk wrote: "Yeah I'm not crazy about a book ending at 50% or 70% with lots of filler in the back. I just include an excerpt that's a page and a half long."Oh yeah, that could work!
I will definitely add the pre order link for the next one in this novella lol
I've never included an excerpt in my blurb. Maybe a tag line from the books? I know people who add excerpts/first chapters to the next book in a series.
Marie Silk wrote: "Yeah I'm not crazy about a book ending at 50% or 70% with lots of filler in the back. I just include an excerpt that's a page and a half long."Agree with this. It shouldn't take over the book you're currently reading.
I never thought of adding an excerpt. But that's a good idea.
Marie Silk wrote: "Yeah I'm not crazy about a book ending at 50% or 70% with lots of filler in the back. I just include an excerpt that's a page and a half long."I think adding a first chapter or excerpt of a second book at the end of the first is a recent thing. It's certainly encouraged on Smashwords. It's not something I've found until recent years. Personally I'd like to not bother!
Groovy wrote: "I never thought of adding an excerpt. But that's a good idea."It's only useful for pre orders though, I think. People can just download a sample after the book is out of course
Alexis wrote: "Groovy wrote: "I never thought of adding an excerpt. But that's a good idea."It's only useful for pre orders though, I think. People can just download a sample after the book is out of course"
Good idea! If only I can get myself to remember all these wonderful tips. I have sticky notes all over the place and the right one usually surfaces after I've done something.
It is a lot to keep up with, Anna. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with all I have to remember. I can just imagine your sticky notes everywhere--LOL!
Amy wrote: "...a first chapter or excerpt of a second book at the end of the first..."I've stopped reading those. Rather than enticing me to read the next book, I feel as though I've already read the next book when I start it. Then I have to push past the "pre-read" part to see if I've actually read the book or not. Because it feels as if I've already read it, there's a strong chance I'll set it aside and move to the next in my TBR list.
I've ignored the Smashwords advice which quoted a certain percentage I think and I've changed mine to be two pages. Easily avoidable for those not interested and also only two extra pages I'll have to pay for in the pb version.
Honestly? I don't read excerpts in blurbs. I'm either intrigued by the blurb itself or I'm not, you know? And scrolling past like 1k words to get to the reviews (which I usually skim read) is actually a bit annoying.However, I still put the first chapter of the next book into the current book, because I want people to buy the next one right away. Fewer people are going to bother going to Amazon after finishing my book, looking around for the next one, downloading the sample, reading it, going back to buy the thing... etc. If I cut out like three of those steps, I think I'm more likely to have follow-through. Same reason why I always link directly to the Amazon page of my books, rather than my website page for it or the Goodreads one. The fewer steps, the more likely that people will follow them to the end. Just my two cents!
I always love to read Kresley Cole's, Shelly Laurenston's (http://shellylaurenston.com/books/the...) and Julia Quinn's excerpts. I promised myself that when the day comes when I'm ready submit the blurb to Goodreads do not forget to add an excerpt. Completely forgot to add it.
Do your blurbs include an excerpt? If not, why not?