With that I'd like to do here today is a pretty big deal. It's huge for a writing blog these days I think. Something magnificent, Earth shattering and simply stupendous.
I'm actually going to blog about writing.
WTF...is that about?
A blog from an indie writer that doesn't deal with marketing, sales, web prescence, hot Kindle action or some type of Big 6 deathwatch?
I know. I said 2102 was going to be crazy.
It's been pretty quite on the inde-pub news front and when I do publishing business posts it's never out of some ambition to be a Kris Rusch or Passive Guy type of "Biz" blogger. I have neither the time or the inclination to do as much following, research and analysis as they do. Probably never going to either.
I know. I said 2102 was going to be crazy.
It's been pretty quite on the inde-pub news front and when I do publishing business posts it's never out of some ambition to be a Kris Rusch or Passive Guy type of "Biz" blogger. I have neither the time or the inclination to do as much following, research and analysis as they do. Probably never going to either.
Rather, my most recent posts originated when I've come across indie-biz tidbits during my own personal research and following. Things I simply decide to share.
That said, I've been a lot more productive lately and my first "real" novel is finally coming along. I haven't gotten a cover done yet but I have a design concept and I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down a few designer choices as well. I might possibly have scored a very sweet deal on an editor as well
Today I'm rolling out the current blurb for "The Doomsday Door", an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller (wether or not it actualls 'thrills" has yet to be determined I guess). So if you stop by take a look and let me know what you think, wether it be good or bad. I plan to have sample chapters up as well if anyone takes an interest in this.
BTW, this and other blurbs are under the "coming soon" tab above if you'd like to see what else I'm up to.
Incident Day, as it would be known by the survivors, was the begining of the Spawn invasion of Earth and the end of mankind as we had known it. Following a cataclysmic event that shook the world the creatures had appeared. More bio-weapon than animal and virtually impossible to kill, permanently, the Spawn spread across the globe faster than any plague, laying waste to armies, cities and nations.
Centuries in the future, an aging soldier turned scientist, Colonel Laurence, leaves the safe confines of the underground cities, embarking on a potential suicide mission across the barren hell of the surface world. Escorted by an elite squad of hardened operatives his mission will take them through the most dangerous region of the former United States. With both his true destination and mission a secret, he knows that only he has the chance to learn the origin of the Spawn and to perhaps do the impossible; to undo the past.
In our present day, Willard Graves had seen all his dreams and loves slip away over the decades, hitting bottom when his career suddenly ends. Isolated and friendless, Willard faces only emptiness and regret for the rest of his days. Until he has the vision. A vision where an entity, who Willard sees as a God, chooses him to be humanity's savior from a dark future.
But first Willard must bring the new God into our world. First he must build the Doorway.
Within the connection of these two timelines lie the secrets that Colonel Laurence must learn to save humanities future or risk losing what little is left of mankind.
Centuries in the future, an aging soldier turned scientist, Colonel Laurence, leaves the safe confines of the underground cities, embarking on a potential suicide mission across the barren hell of the surface world. Escorted by an elite squad of hardened operatives his mission will take them through the most dangerous region of the former United States. With both his true destination and mission a secret, he knows that only he has the chance to learn the origin of the Spawn and to perhaps do the impossible; to undo the past.
In our present day, Willard Graves had seen all his dreams and loves slip away over the decades, hitting bottom when his career suddenly ends. Isolated and friendless, Willard faces only emptiness and regret for the rest of his days. Until he has the vision. A vision where an entity, who Willard sees as a God, chooses him to be humanity's savior from a dark future.
But first Willard must bring the new God into our world. First he must build the Doorway.
Within the connection of these two timelines lie the secrets that Colonel Laurence must learn to save humanities future or risk losing what little is left of mankind.
So there it is in 3.5 nutshells. As a Blurb I know it may be a little long but this isn't a screenplay or movie pitch (make it 30 words/second or less....or you DIE!) I've seen some pretty long blurbs on Kindle books and, providing the opening sentence or paragraph has some "grab" potential I don't mind reading a long description.
It's also something Fantasy/Sci-Fi writers can get away with given that you don't know what type of world is involved and backdrop is often key to story and not just window dressing.
It's absolutely NOT carved in stone as the final blurb, and I definitely plan to whittle it down to make it more friendly on the eyes. Feel free to offer any advice or critiques wether it be on the blurb itself or the story.
Thanks as always for stopping by.
Dave, I'm definitely no editor, but as I read this I thought maybe these little changes might improve it. If there's any doubt the experts over on the kindle board are so helpful.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I LOVE the title. I think the idea is fantastic and, although it was VERY compelling, I think it was a little too much information for the blurb. It read like a synopsis and you just want to bait the hook for your reader to download a sample or purchase. So this is what I thought sounded good. See what others think.
Incident Day—as it would be known by the survivors—was the beginning of the Spawn invasion of Earth and the end of mankind as we knew it. Following a cataclysmic event that shook the world, the creatures appeared.
More bio-weapon than animal and virtually impossible to kill (permanently), the Spawn spread across the globe faster than any plague— laying waste to armies, cities and nations.
Centuries in the future, an aging soldier turned scientist, Colonel Laurence, leaves the safe confines of the underground cities, embarking on a potential suicide mission across the barren hell of the surface world. Escorted by an elite squad of hardened operatives, his mission will take them through the most dangerous region of the former United States. With both his true destination and mission a secret, he knows that only he has the chance to learn the origin of the Spawn and to perhaps do the impossible; to undo the past.
Within the connection of these two timelines lie the secrets that Colonel Laurence must learn to save humanities future or risk losing what little is left of mankind.
I hope this is helpful :)
Lauren
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, your feedback is greatly appreciated!
It is a lot for a blurb though and I do plan to, in finality, field something much tighter and more concise.
Concerns I have though is that a LOT of negative reviews tend to center around mis-presentation and not so much poor asthetic or craft. A blurb can't just be a grabber but needs to also set the expectation.
It's also a dual-storyline work. This may be risky on my part, because it may lose some readers, but I'm going for s certain kind of story structure. Besides, can't please everyone.
In the final version I'm almost positive I'll need a (shorter and tighter) three paragraph blurb: what happened to the world that sets the stage for the future (and the stakes for the pre-disaster arc) what's going on in the distant future - and why we care? And what's going on pre-apocalypse - and why we care?
Thanks again
Ooh I am curious to read something with a dual-storyline. Your story has a very interesting premise. And the title is very catchy.
ReplyDeleteSara
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly! You might get exactly what you want...I need beta readers outside the friend/family circle.
Lauren waters had some trouble with Blogger so she was kind enough to e-mail me her post...and that she nominated me for a Sunshine award! How sweet of her.
ReplyDeleteLauren sez: You're so right about setting reader's expectations from the get-go. Trust your instincts; you know best.
BTW- I've nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Here's the link: http://laurenwaters.net/2012/02/16/sunshine-award/
Cheers!