Blurb First?

I write a query letter before I start writing anything else. If, in the query, it turns out difficult to explain what is original or worthy, thats a good sign that I need to come up with something better. But some people say this makes me a sell out, that it means I am too concerned with whats commercial and what isn't. They may be right, but you can be certain the agents and publishers are thinking about it.

I do this sometimes, more in my head than writing it out usually. It certainly can't hurt, and it can only help focus the story and help you figure out what it's actually about.

Have you considered doing a sort of list outline? As in, writing down events that you know will happen, but not pinning them down to any set timeframe?

I did it for my current WIP, and I found it quite helpful. I'm using an outline too, but I did the query before I even got to the outline. It was a quick and dirty way for me to nail down the story.

And as a bonus, when people ask me what my book's about (why do people do this? They don't honestly want me to start Talking About My Novel, do they?), I can tell them in a couple sentences without getting into a ten-minute explanation that they probably don't want.

I work on the "hook" and longer synopses as I write my first draft. Yes it does help when i am asked what my book is about. I have found out however (to my chagrin) that most who ask only want to know if it's a mystery/fantasy/commercial fiction etc. They do NOT want a run down of the plot.
The more you talk about your wip the more it eludes you -- like energy is dissipated verbally and lost.

Please, please, don't write a faux-marketing-speak blurb that's trying to sound like the back cover of a paperback.


That isn't a synopsis, and it doesn't belong in a cover letter.

Jordygirl said:

So does that mean I shouldn't write something like you might see on the inside flap or back cover of a book? Less vague of course, but something that tells what the story is about without doing a full synopsis?
Or is that what you were talking about?

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You can write whatever you like if it helps you get a handle on your story. I think what Uncle Jim meant is not to write a faux-blurb for your actual query letter or synopsis. A synopsis is a straightforward telling of the entire plot (in present tense), and a query letter should introduce your protagonist and main conflict in a way that makes your story sound interesting and original. Neither synopsis or query should be cheesy, clichéd or use vague 'hand-waving' phrases that don't reveal your story.

Myself, I find I don't really know what the story's about until I've done the first rough draft (even though I outline!). I use the query/synopsis technique after I've read the draft, when I want to sum it up so I can revise it. But YMMV - we all write differently. I'd say, give it a go, but don't stress about it if you can't crack it on a first attempt.

HTH

ORION said:

The more you talk about your wip the more it eludes you -- like energy is dissipated verbally and lost.

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Exactly how I feel.

I don't talk about the thing until it's done. I've jinxed many a project by talking to my wife about how "great" it's going.

Jordygirl said:

I don't outline, but I'm wondering if it's a good idea to do a mock query letter before I really get into my novel - just so I'll have a vague idea of where I want it to go and what I want to happen. Or maybe not even a query letter, just a blurb.
Has anyone done this before? Has it helped you?

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I did this and yes, it helped immensely. It made me really excited to get to work and start writing.

I have one written in my head for my next project. It reminds me of the scene from Amadeus. "It's all up here in my noodle. The rest is just scribbling...scribbling and bibbling, bibbling and scribbling."

*ahem*

Anyway, yeah, I could see how it could work.