“STRAIGHT WITH NO CHASER”

     

                                                Tips For a Great Book Description

 

            The phrase “less is more” is on point. Sometimes, we tend to overdo things. We all know what overcooked food tastes and how it looks, not very appetizing.

Now keep this in mind as it deals with books, writing, synopsis, and book descriptions.

Saying too much is like spilling the greatest of secrets. After all, loose lips have sunk plenty of ships. Fortunately, the Titanic is omitted from this type of blunder.

You’ve listened to reporters set up a scene, tell you what happened and who was involved in less than two minutes. But they always follow up with more details that are yet to come.

Straight away, you don’t want to miss one moment, and stay tuned for the entire story.

The biggest problem with writing a synopsis and book description is saying too much, not knowing when to stop, and giving too much away in the details.

How do I fix that, you might ask. Well, I’m here to help you solve this problem if you haven’t figured it out already.

I understand how much of a task it is to explain as much as possible in the shortest way possible.

Well, the first lesson of writing an excellent book description or synopsis is keeping it short and sweet.

Of course, you need to make it intriguing without vomiting words. Okay, that was gross but still accurate on many levels.

So, I’ll let you in on a little secret, and it isn’t really a secret because if you’ve already written your first or fifty books, then you know how to write descriptively.

Think of it as a movie set, and the first scene is crucial to every other in the whole movie. You want to enable the audience to visualize the story without too much detail but just enough to hook them.

What comes next is equally important because what would any story be without some conflict. So now follow me as I add a few details to help aid the story along.

I always find it helpful to tell the story in the present tense. That immediate action helps readers understand who is speaking, what is being said, and when.

The goal is to keep things engaging throughout the beginning, middle, and end of the description.

If you can keep it to a few paragraphs or one page, then you’re doing great. However, most publishers or Agents suggest around 500 words are enough.

Remember, it’s essential to understand the difference between a summary, a synopsis, and a blurb. And to help you keep all three straight, here are the definitions.

A summary means an abstract or a condensed presentation. In contrast, a synopsis is a brief summary of the significant points of the story. A blurb works more like an hors d’oeuvre or a sample. Not enough to fill you up but a taste of what’s to come.

Was that clear as mud, or have I confused you further? Well, I hope this information was helpful and valuable. So when you’re ready to write a book description or synopsis, you’ll be better equipped to make yours shine and a standout. Either way, I wish you all the success in the world.