Summaries, Taglines and Blurbs, Oh My!

I hate writing "blurbs" (I even hate that word), and taglines are deceptively easy looking, but end up being a pain in the arse. How do you write a few lines (or as few as 12 words) to encompass the whole of the work - and be attractive enough to make people examine your book closer?

Now, I have started the habit of making the blurb and the tagline right after I've written the book/story (sometimes during or even before), and fine-tuning it during editing. Because if you wait to do it months later - it's a pain in the butt to recapture that spirit.

Sometimes, doing blurbs and taglines feels embarrassing. You hear the movie-trailer-voice-guy in your head, and it seems so cheesy. If that happens, you might be taking the thing a little too far.

For taglines (important for ads and quick-mentions), you need something catchy, but clear and concise, and something that will key into the main conflicts/themes.

For Strings Attached, I decided on this tagline:

Josie has always brought home strays. Only, this time the stray is an unwilling Australian.

The line is short, and, for romance readers, it has several big hints to the plot: Do-gooder woman and grouchy Australian (and Australian men are always sexy, even if grouchy) who resists her. It has a light-hearted, fuzzy feel to it. It also refers to home, a key theme in the book, and to stray dogs, which is a major symbol. It also eludes to the lonely rootlessness of Theo (the Australian), establishes Josie as the main character (being the one named), and informs the reader the book takes place on her turf. And, I hope, it gives the potential reader an interest in knowing more.

It also ties in to the "back cover" blurb for the book:

“You want to heal me, like one of your stray dogs...” 

When Canadian rancher Josie Sergeant gets a call from her brother announcing his impetuous decision to marry, she has her reservations. But, when her brother’s would-be brother-in-law swoops in from Australia to stop the wedding, Josie has no choice but to defend the family. 

Theo Sabich is bull-headed and dangerously sexy, but also damaged beyond repair… or so he thinks. He enjoys getting on Josie’s nerves, but when he finds her getting under his skin he must decide - face his demons and grab this last chance for happiness or bury himself in his lonely Outback ranch once and for all. 

Under the northern lights, their attraction ignites beyond their control, and Josie finds that a one-time “no strings attached” release of passion is easier said than done when love is hanging by a thread. 

But how will they bridge the difference between two worlds, let alone conquer the wounds of the past and find the courage to live again?

So, I guess I'm learning how to do them, but that doesn't make me like them any more than I did. However, doing blurbs and taglines, and summaries/synopsis, is just something you will always have to do as long as you publish - especially if you're self-publishing or with a small press. There are many forums out there where you can get advice from other writers on your blurbs, which can save you the costs of seeking professional help, but whichever way you go, it pays to have solid ways to explain your book to potential readers, publishers and reviewers.

Good luck!

University Romance

Most of us in the romance world, readers and writers, are used to the contemporary subgenre "Small Town Romance." Other specific tropes include, "Military Romance," "Alphamale Romance," "Secret Baby," "Urban Romance," "Western Romance," etc. These are sort of categories within the subgenre of contemporary romance. These little labels or handles act as little clues to savvy readers as to what they might expect from the story - certain character types, plots or settings, for example, or a particular "feeling" to the book.

Small Town Romances, for instance, will likely be contemporary romances set in a small town, involving regular people with jobs and normal lives, often with kids and money troubles (vastly different from categories like "Billionaire Mistress" romances). The pace is often slower, cozier, with some sensuality and a lot of heart.

The novel I completed for NaNoWri 2010, currently entitled Textbook Romance, could qualify as a "Small Town Romance," since it technically takes place in a small town in Ohio. But that doesn't really describe it. It's more of what I am now thinking of "University Romance." (I would call it "Campus Romance," but that seems to imply YA or naughty co-eds in my mind.)

In Textbook Romance, a professor who is up for tenure accidentally falls for one of her mature students, which is not only a professional faux pas, but is made even more awkward for her by the fact that her academic rep has been all about revealing how the downfall of society stems from notions of "romance."

The book is largely defined by its university setting; it takes place within that environment, involves stock characters from that world, and much of the conflict comes from the academic profession. That is not to say it is inaccessible to non-academics, I think. Much of the career-related angst is relate-able to many trades (i.e., getting a promotion, impressing the bosses, holding on to your image), and everything is simplified and/or explained as needed. Being a teacher at a university, myself, I inhabit this world in my real life, so this allows me to translate this to the page without much stress.

However, since this isn't a "big category," as readily recognizable as "Christmas Romance," or "Single Father," I'm concerned how well it will be received by acquisition editors. As the book does its rounds to the publishers, I am crossing my fingers, but I know it might be a bit of a long-shot. Perhaps readers don't want to think about profs getting it on? But, maybe they do.

Could this be my new niche category? Probably not. I can't see it becoming the next big thing, and I'm not sure I'd want to do it over and over. However, it was great to write about "my world," and bring my two intellectual loves (romance and academics) together in the same book. Contrary to popular misconceptions, there are a lot of academic types who enjoy romance.

It's about time that the Ivory Tower gets a little red roses and violin, too, right?

Summer Wrap-Up: Updates/Forecast on the WIPs

It's been a productive summer, spent editing and writing.

The first month or so was spent re-writing my NaNo 2011 novel, Textbook Romance, with the help of five wonderful betareaders. Then, I spent some time re-editing Unwrapping Scrooge for a Christmas print anthology. Goose and V-Day were re-vamped and released by Rebel Ink.

I did  flurry of new writing in August. The Halloween short, Like Magic, was written, read by a couple sweet people, and submitted to RIP for my holiday shorts series. It's with the editors now. I also managed to finish the Thanksgiving installment, and got it in only a day late. (They were nice to me about that.) The Thanksgiving one, Charity, is a nice, sexy cowboy one; I hope you'll all like it. It started out with another plot, but I had to shelf that beginning and start over with something lighter and more doable in under 15k.

Now, I've outlined and started the New Years one (Bubbly) - this one is a whole lot hotter than the other episodes. It's about a divorced socialite and successful designer who ducks her own New Years party to give life and love another whirl with "the hired help." Just right for a sparkly, fantastic New Years Eve romp!


Textbook Romance is now off to two companies, and I'm submitting it to a third in mid-September or so (staggered according to their response times). I keep revamping the sub letters/synopsis as I go, and tweaking the manuscript. My fingers remain ever-crossed. As always, I'll keep you updated.

The past couple of days have been spent blogging like mad to keep up with all the guest posts and interviews I promised to do over the summer. It doesn't seem like much work when you say yes at the time, but if you let them pile up... Oy!

So, what's next? After Bubbly is submitted for editing at RIP (aiming for September 15, if possible), I'm on to my planned paranormal/shifter dark erotica short/novella, which doesn't have a name yet (though I do have a publisher in mind!). Then, I'll finish the romantic-fantasy novella I started writing back in June but had to put away for other obligations. That one involves an "angel" figure, and has been named After Life. (I have a publisher in mind for that one, as well.) So, that all will likely take me up to nearly-NaNo time! After NaNo, I have plenty more planned - just today, I added a Mountie romance! But, for now, let's just say I'll be busy for a while.

It's insane how fast the year is flying by. This year, so far I've celebrated the release of three books (two of them twice), and am looking forward to at least four more. I got some very nice reviews. I've sold a few, promoted some, and generally kept busy. I am very much looking forward to having more contracts, new covers and releases to share with you throughout the end of 2011 and well into 2012.

If you want to see my complete WIP list, you can find it here.

And, that's a little update on where things are. I'll be in touch as things develop, I'm sure. :)

The Business/Busyness of Submissions

These past few weeks, I have been terribly scattered. Busy, to say the least, but awfully scattered. Mostly, this has been due to Submissions. I have finally submitted my newest full length romance to a publisher. Will they accept it? I don't know. But it feels good to have it off my chest.

To recap, this is the book's history in brief:

• Written during NaNoWriMo 2010 - Winner! 54k written in about three weeks.
• Left to simmer until April 2011
• Re-read
• Edited; now at about 56k
• Decided that the nasty scenes I had originally planned but dropped because they were depressing really needed to be in there, so I re-wrote the ending in May 2011 - now at about 62k
• Re-read
• Write initial blurb and tagline; choose a title (finally!)
• Edited - now down to about 61k
• Sent to three betareaders
• Edited
• Sent to two more betareaders
• Edited
• Re-read
• Proofed - down to 60.5k
• Short synopsis (750 words) and first query written; longer synopsis (2 pages) also written (needed both long and short)
• Submitted to first publisher on list

That's a lot of work to pour into one book, but I have high hopes for this one. I feel like I've finally hit my stride... found my voice... in short, I feel like a real writer now. I think this book can do well, and I want to put equal effort into finding a publisher for it.

I have several publishers on my list for this book, but this first company seems to take the longest to reply, so I started with them. It takes significant time to make each query and submission, so I figured I'd give them the head start while I work on the next, and then the next. Next week, I will likely tackle another. And then another. 

So, why do queries and submissions drive writers crazy?

It takes a while to write and edit your submission materials, even aside from your manuscript. The query letter is your first impression, which is nerve wracking. And synopsis are basically hell on the nerves. To take a 60k book and turn it into 2-5 pages of bare-bones summary, while also making it engaging, charming and exciting... It's not easy, let's just say that. Every part of the submission - the cover email, query letter, character descriptions (if requested), the synopsis, etc - must be "pitch perfect" in order to make your book stand out!

First off, your cover letter needs to be informative, yet concise - a difficult balance to strike. Even more difficult, it also must give them some sense of individuality in a very short medium. Secondly, your query must entice them to read the synopsis. Thirdly, your synopsis must inspire them to read or ask for the full manuscript.

If any of these steps fail to engage, or to move the editor on to the next step, the book will be rejected - often, before the acquisition editor has even had a chance to open the MS!

For these submissions, all unsolicited and all unagented, I am fighting several tides. These publishers get tons and tons of competent submissions every week. Yes, they get some incompetent ones, as well, but the majority of the books they see are likely "okay." Therefore, they have the luxury of choosing only books that are well beyond "okay" levels.

This is different from the submissions I've had to Rebel Ink recently, such as the Halloween story I submitted on August 15th. Those stories are already contracted, so I'm not fighting to get my foot in the door. Obviously, I am still working towards having the quality up to standards, but they at least know who I am and are expecting the stories. These don't require the same level of pizzazz to get them to even read the thing.

This is why the "cold submits" are quite stressful.

While my betareaders enjoyed this book, I really have no way of knowing if these particular editors will find my book (as introduced by the letter and synopsis) more than okay. I can only hope my query and synopsis please whoever receives them. I can only hope the book is right for them, doesn't conflict with other books they are planning to release, etc, etc, etc - there are many, many more variables to being accepted/rejected than just, "We hated this book."

Therefore, this is why I've decided to go with more than one company for submission.

In the past, I have always just submitted to one publisher at a time, but this time I am doing a handful. It makes me feel weird - like I am cheating on one with the others. I decided to do it this way with the idea, "Well, if all or nearly all reject me, I need to cast a wide net." I never actually stopped to think what I will do if they all accept, until a friend asked me what happens in that event.

I am not too concerned, though. At this point, I'm not sure I can even hope for acceptance from them all.

All it takes is one, though.

*fingers crossed*

So, after you write your excellent query letter and breathtaking synopsis, and send it off to your choice companies (usually along with the full MS, or sample pages, or the first three chapters, or whatever they ask for - always follow their exact instructions, and tailor your submission package), what happens then?

Then, you wait...

And wait...

With some companies, if you never hear from them, that means they don't want it. With others, they actually take the time to send you a rejection, which is rather nice of them. Sometimes, they even give you feedback as to why they've rejected it, but this is a bonus. If your book had potential in their eyes, you might get a "rework and resubmit" invitation, which means they're willing to look at it again with some changes. Sometimes, you get an outright acceptance, which is the happy dance moment.

We'll see what we see. I have two or three other companies I will be submitting to before classes resume, and I have a list of about 12 to try, overall, between now and spring 2012. I have a good feeling it will be accepted by someone along the line - that it will reach the right editor at the right time, at the right company, who likes what I do.

If not, it's back to the drawing board, and in the meantime, I'm on to writing many other things.

Just keep moving forward, and hope for the best!

Daily Dose of Frustration: Non-"Zany" Need Not Apply

Right now, I looking for a publisher for my new novel - my NaNo story, which is currently in editing and re-writing. I am hoping to submit by the fall, so I'm casting around for the best shot for publishing. I am looking for something mid-class this time - not too small, but not too lofty, either. Some company that sees half decent sales, makes some token effort at marketing and can help me produce a quality book. Not too huge a list of wants.

This week, I came across this lovely little snippet on a submission instructions page of a mid-range ebook pub:

Contemporary Romance: Fun and whimsical, these books should showcase your sense of humor and focus on a modern couple in a zany situation.

"Zany"?

Really?

Zany only, huh?

Damn you Bridget Jones. Damn you.

So, fine. I understand that people like zany. I can appreciate that. I love Bridget Jones, actually. But, honestly, is this the only market out there? Readers only want to read zany romance (if it doesn't involve sulky vampires, that is)?

My NaNo novel is not a zany romance, nor is Strings Attached. Now, this does not mean I am devoid of humour (in fact, my new WIP is a comedy), but these first couple of full lengths are serious contemporary romances. Not quite melodrama, but focusing on honest emotions and mature, realistic people. Not zany people.

(Zany people are, like, girls who wear red dresses a lot, which randomly get blown up by the wind, right, and inexplicably carry bunches of daisies way too often? Zany guys, I can only assume, wear a messenger bag all the time.)

(Yeah, I don't have any of those.)

So, it seems I am simply not zany enough for the category of contemporary romance in today's market.

Perhaps I should see if I can re-write into it a pouty nosferatu as Plan B...