I just recently updated and re-wrote my quick pitch since I will need a good one for my e-book and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to write a book jacket synopsis when your book doesn't fall into plot norms. Most books follow a standard plot that can be summed up in 1 or 2 short sentences called a logline. If someone asks what your book is about you can tell them in a single breath. It goes something like this: Molly, a skydive loving control freak, has to win the cross country race of a lifetime and collect the prize money before the bank forfeits on her family's 400 year old farm. It has a brief introduction of the main character, a dilemma or choice that she must make and consequences if she fails. Not so hard right?
Well, not all books are set up this way. If you have been reading AMARANTHINE you'll know by now this formula doesn't work for me. The first half of the book is dominated by character development, and the choice she has to make doesn't appear until about the midway mark. And if I talk about the choice she has to make it's a huge spoiler that pretty much gives away the ending. So what's a girl to do? Well this girl tore her hair out and put it off for about 5 years but, meh, that's just me.
But I can't avoid it any longer. I need that book jacket synopsis. I sat down this morning and finally figured something out. It's not perfect, and I may tweak it a bit still, but I think I managed to portray the characters, indicate the main dilemma of the first part of the book, which is Astral's awaking love of Davn, and also hint at the scary ending where her life is seriously in danger. It's the best version I've come up with till now anyway, so at least there is progress.
Now I just have to memorize the 10 or so lines I came up with, so the next time someone asks me what my book is about I can tell them instead of saying what I usually say which is: "duuuh, it's about a girl in 1885, and stuff happens."
Well, not all books are set up this way. If you have been reading AMARANTHINE you'll know by now this formula doesn't work for me. The first half of the book is dominated by character development, and the choice she has to make doesn't appear until about the midway mark. And if I talk about the choice she has to make it's a huge spoiler that pretty much gives away the ending. So what's a girl to do? Well this girl tore her hair out and put it off for about 5 years but, meh, that's just me.
But I can't avoid it any longer. I need that book jacket synopsis. I sat down this morning and finally figured something out. It's not perfect, and I may tweak it a bit still, but I think I managed to portray the characters, indicate the main dilemma of the first part of the book, which is Astral's awaking love of Davn, and also hint at the scary ending where her life is seriously in danger. It's the best version I've come up with till now anyway, so at least there is progress.
Now I just have to memorize the 10 or so lines I came up with, so the next time someone asks me what my book is about I can tell them instead of saying what I usually say which is: "duuuh, it's about a girl in 1885, and stuff happens."
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