Write up a back cover blurb for a book you have written or would like to write. It should be short, sweet, yet give a sense of people and events without totally spoiling the ending. NaNoWriMo participation is not required, and the blurb may be for fiction or nonfiction as you see fit.
Being a new member on the Absolute Forum I couldn't help but gravitate to the blogging threads, it's where I'm most comfortable. But I'm jumping out of my comfort zone and unleashing my first book. I have entertained the idea of writing a book but haven't shared the idea with too many people. Unfortunately the idea in my head, the one that must come out, requires quite a bit of research. Don't look for this book to be done any time soon.
Below is my blurb and also a list of the the other participants in the blog chain:
Niles O’Brien sat in the back of the prison van locked in his seat and he waited. For almost two years Niles had waited and continued to believe he would be set free. He was innocent after all and the military would see that, he was a good soldier and this was all a mistake. He would soon be out of maximum security, have his name cleared and be back with his team. Holding on to this hope got him through each intolerable day.
The vans door opened and another man was half dragged in, sat down and locked in place across from Niles. His new companions head was down, his chin rested on his chest and blood trickled down the lip and nose of his face and formed a small puddle on the vans floor.
Niles studied the silent man for a half a minute before he broke the silence. He cocked his head to the side.
“Looks like you put up quite a fight. Did you think you had any chance of getting away?”
After he said it he knew he sounded like a smart ass and from the menacing look he received as the man across from him slowly rose his head and made eye contact with Niles, it kind of confirmed the question came out wrong. So much for first impressions, Niles quickly realized his people skills were sorely lacking during his time of incarceration.
The van began to move, breaking the awkward moment of their first meeting. Their stare continued though and each saw the overwhelming, uneasy feeling that rested in the other’s eyes. They did not know where they were going, nor would they want to.
What Niles and the beaten, bloodied man across from him didn’t know was that they had been targeted for a top-secret military mission from which there was no return. Because of the sacrifices made for this assignment, no one would want to volunteer. No, the time Niles spent in Leavenworth was the preliminary adjustment to his new life. A new life so deeply undercover that he would be dead to the world he knew, his family, friends and his brothers in arms.
Join Niles O’Brien as he struggles with lines he believes have been crossed in the world of advanced scientific discoveries. As he is forced into objectionable partnerships and learns more than he wants to of the threat to our world, the world he has been unwillingly recruited to save.
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
MysteryRiter - http://incessantdroningofaboredwriter.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
AuburnAssassin - http://clairegillian.com/ (link to this month's post)
Jarrah Dale - http://brattysramblings.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
SinisterCola - http://acgatesblog.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
dolores haze - http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Alynza - http://www.alynzasmith.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
Cath - http://www.cathsmith.com/ (link to this month's post)
Inkstrokes - http://drlong67.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
egoodlett - http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
LadyDae - http://ladydaewrites.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
SuzanneSeese - You are here!
Anarchicq - http://anarchicq.com/ (link to this month's post)
Stu Ayris - http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
14 comments:
Sounds more like a short story than a blurb. Like the military angle, but the blurb really begins in the last paragraph. Maybe reduce the above to one paragraph and pair it with the last and then you have yourself a blurb.
This reads more like the beginning or prologue until the last paragraph. The last paragraphs sounds like the beginning of a cover blurb, just not finished. Interesting top secret-ish story here.
Good luck with your novel!!
Okay, I thought I was going about it wrong. I'll have to work on it. Thank you!
Well... again I was beaten to my points by Diane and Ralfast. Curse you two!
Seriously, I absolutely HATE writing cover copy or pitches. It is so hard to distill the essence of the story down to 150-200 words.
Your first paragraph and your last, combined, is the pitch.
Cool idea, though! Military intrigue and a rogue soldier is a great sell and this soldier has a great voice.
I agree that it reads more like an opening sequence -- I think because we're very in-the-moment with the character, whereas a back cover summary blurb would be more of an overview of the hook, or the basic "character wants X, but Y is in his way. He must decide to XYZ" kinda thing.
I do like your writing though! :) this is a good opener
As others have said it's a bit long for a blurb. I like the premise, though. Best of luck with it. And welcome to the blog chain!
Thank you everyone for your kind comments. I was apprehensive to jump into the blog chain, especially with my book idea. So few people know of my plan to write one. This blog is linked to FaceBook so it's out there now.
But I've decided to force myself to take chances with my writing, I've kept it to myself for too long. Time to jump in with both feet.
I'm sure this blurb will be totally different by the time I'm actually ready for it and your suggestions will definitely help.
Thanks again.
The more the merrier Sue! Hop on board anytime. :)
So.. I am gathering you have a MC - Niles O'Brien who is released from prison by a secret government agency (or whatever) to do military dirty work - a job with a low chance of success, and a high chance of death.
along the way, he and the others must discover who's hired them, and what they really want, before he can gain his freedom.
So.... we need more about the evil ones. Are they really evil? *grins*
Welcome to the blog chain! Agree with the other commenters that you could pull the first and last paragraphs into your blurb and probably leave the rest.
Hope you'll play again next month. :)
I'm completely sold... so when does your book come out? lol
As others have stated, this is a little more than just a blurb, but darn it I LOVE it anyways!
Military, secrets, government science experiments, and one bad-ass character: = great read in my opinion!
Keep it up :D
Despite it not being a traditional blurb, it still got my attention!
I'm also writing a story where a secret government experiment is underway (well, it's more like a secret experiment under the government's noses), so it's exciting to see others write with that angle!
Thanks again to all you comments. I'm really excited to get going on this book and you have all been a great help.
I won't repeat what my peers said but will offer a welcome both to the blog chain family and to Absolute Write. I have learned SO MUCH in the nearly 3 yrs I've been a member. I look forward to see more of your work in future blog chains. Cheers!
Post a Comment