First, I had a brilliant idea for a Sunday Chat Topic. But, I didn’t write it down.
Second, the only thing I know about the Superbowl is that the 49rs have nice shiny pants and they bear two of my initials. But, I did not know the game was this
weekend.
I declare an audible, Sunday’s Chat as an Open Topic. Bring your best game face and we will talk about any Writerly thing you have buzzing around your
mind.
Sunday, February 2nd
Happy Imbolc
Imbolc is strongly associated with Saint Brigid (Old Irish: Brigit, modern Irish: Bríd, modern Scottish Gaelic: Brìghde or Brìd, anglicised Bridget). Saint Brigid is thought to have been based on Brigid, a Gaelic goddess. The festival, which celebrates the onset of spring, is
thought to be linked with Brigid in her role as a fertility goddess.
Bios, Blurbs and Excerpts
From the moment you set pen to paper or opened your favorite word processor you stepped into the world of shameless self-promotion.
You want to people to read your book. Even if you give it away you will have stiff competition from other authors offering free books. Sales or marketing, even KDP
books need to catch the eye of a reader. You need to convince your target audience to choose your book from the virtual forest of books online and off.
Part of Shameless Self Promotion is your Bio, Blurb and Excerpt. Three things you will need no matter how you intend to get your book in front of new eyes.
Your bio, blurb and excerpt will be shared and recycled many times during the shelf life of your book. You will use variations for blog tours. If you work on
various Bios, Blurbs and Excerpts for your book, you can put them in your Submission Packet and use them over and over again. You may use them in Press Releases, Book Signing Flyers, Interviews… You will not be sorry you wrote them.
I am ending our Month of Submission Packet items with this Topic Chat about Bios, Blurbs and Excerpts. I am still composting ideas for February.
Here are some links to get you started on Wednesday’s Topic.
It’s one of the most challenging tasks that can be asked of an author, to choose a passage from their book that represents, better yet, encapsulates its
essence. When I owned a PR firm, most of my clients were authors, and I’d select their excerpts all the time. Piece of cake! Then I became an author, and soon discovered, it’s much harder when it’s your book.
If contributing guest posts is part of your content distribution and promotion strategy, you're probably familiar with the following scenario: You write a great
article for a guest publication, and at the end, you’re compensated with a teeny, tiny paragraph about yourself.
When writing a novel, there are few
selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Sure, the cover design creates intrigue. But, if you have caught a potential reader’s attention, the blurb is what will sell your book—and convert readers. When defining a “blurb” it’s important to distinguish between a “description blurb” that you write for the back cover of your book and a “review blurb”. Here, we’ll be focusing on the former. How to write a blurb as an author.
Some of you have already asked why do we need a Cover Letter if we have already sent a Query Letter? I think it is an excellent question, wait for
it..
A COVER LETTER IS NOT A QUERY LETTER. IT IS A LETTER YOU WILL ENCLOSE AS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SUBMISSION PACKET. THIS LETTER GOES INTO THE PACKET WITH YOUR SYNOPSIS OR YOUR COMPLETED MANUSCRIPT.
If your targeted publisher accepts complete manuscripts without the formality of a Query Letter, then you will want to adapt your Cover Letter to include
information about you, as an author. Mention previous publications and expertise. (Include these things only if this is your Cover Letter in this case is your First Contact with the Publisher or Agent). Do not repeat this information if you already sent a Query Letter.
Read the publisher’s guidelines carefully because some of them may have a specific Cover Letter Format. You may be expected to include a Synopsis, and the Same
Blurb you used in your Query Letter. Most agents and publishers are okay to go if you simply say, “Here is the Submission you requested.”
General items you might include in your Cover Letter might be a reminder of your previous Query Letter. This is because the people are generally very busy and the
intern who opens the mail may not realize your Query has been answered and the Manuscript requested.
One last thing to mention in your Cover Letter is if the Manuscript if you snail mailed is disposable. The intern will be glad to know he won’t be putting together
a mailer for your Submission. If you do want it returned you must make it as easy as possible with a postage paid envelope addressed to yourself.
Just remember to adjust the information in the Cover Letter if this is your first contact with the publisher.
Join us Wednesday January 22nd at 8PM ET and we will talk about cover letters.
