In this 2nd second instalment of ‘how to write a book blurb and how it’s 100% dependent on what genre you’re writing in’, we look at crime, historical fiction and science fiction / fantasy. And I test your memory in more ways than one, but don’t worry. It’s still fun, I promise…
Christmas is coming, and the Biggest Book Publication Day of the year is already over. What does that mean for self-published authors, or authors with small presses who have a big role in their own marketing? Time to write your blurb, that’s what.
I watched a TV show which packed more excellent writing and publishing advice into 50 minutes than you’d see in 5 literary festivals. And because it involved little or no thought on my part, I collated it into a blog post. You’re welcome.
I had plans for 2018. We don’t talk about them any more. But let me tell you, I have MAJOR plans for 2019. They involve a whole new blog, sort of, a major writing project, and jokes about candles and mental health. If you only knew how excited I was, you’d call a health professional. Fact.
Famous writers are regularly asked to provide glowing blurbs, or one-line reviews, for other people’s books. While many find it difficult to say no, it’s impossible for an Irish writer to say no. So because I am always generous and charitable, I decided to write a few honest blurbs which might help them through this particular diplomatic minefield.
Who reads blogs during the summer months? Particularly if the weather’s nice? Fewer people than watch Love Island, and that’s for sure. This leads me to a little online soul-searching, with the help of such philosophical heavyweights as The Guardian and the, er, Financial Times.
There’s a new trend in successful book covers – but has it made its way into indie publishing, and if not, why not? And on another note, can I interest you in some psychedelic wallpaper designed by Delia Smith in a fever dream?
It snowed a lot in Ireland this week, and nobody could talk about anything else. It’s very difficult to argue about snow, and a major weather event tends to bring people together. Thankfully, though, there’s always somebody online having a book-related brawl, just in case we’re ever in danger of getting too complacent about humanity.
Think you’re happily married, do you? Well, Amazon begs to differ, and they’ll tell you why. Also, how to make a bad break-up even worse; how to be Irish without allowing Ireland to participate; and what I sound like when I’m waffling about books on an even more public forum than this blog.
What does a bookshop do which nobody else can? And what has it got to do with why my bad memory can make even the hardiest, most optimistic author’s heart sink, and whether or not my family ever read this blog?
Tara Sparling writes 