Did you know “blurb” is actually a made-up word? I’m such a word nerd, and I like to make up words, so this tidbit makes me happier than it probably should. Let me just give you a little history about the word “blurb”.
According to wordorigins.org, it was invented in 1907 by a humorist named Gelett Burgess. Apparently it was a tradition at the annual trade association dinner for the publisher to distribute copies of books with a special jacket extolling the book’s praises. Mr. Burgess created his own book jacket, which shows a woman, her hand cupped to her mouth as if she’s delivering an important message, with the caption, “Miss Belinda Blurb, In the Act of Blurbing”. It was all done tongue-in-cheek, to make fun of how books were described in such lofty language, as if no other reading material could hope to measure up to THIS particular book’s wonderfulness.
Nowadays a blurb’s purpose is to hook readers, using elements of the story and characters to make the book so irresistible, the reader rushes to click "buy now" without thinking twice.
So how do we create a blurb? It’s easy. Just step over here to my patented Blurb-O-Matic, and throw in some story elements, a character or two, maybe a few unexpected twists, and–-yeah, that would be great to have on the kitchen counter, wouldn’t it? Maybe we’ll have to explore this in a different fashion.
Let’s start with a basic question in a story: What happens?
How about an earthquake. Or a kidnapping. Or somebody falling in love.
Okay, those are some good events, and maybe they actually get your story started. But—yawn—I don’t really care that much. At least, not until I know WHO it happens to.
So we could have a scientist. Or a Highland bride. Or how about a man with a lot of ex-wives.
Now I care a little bit more. Still, not as much as when I learn WHY these events and people are connected.
Maybe a scientist miscalculates where the next earthquake will occur.
A Highland bride kidnaps a handsome young man to take the place of her betrothed.
A man with a lot of ex-wives falls in love with his marriage-counselor neighbor.
Now we have a premise. It’s a starting point, and it contains certain presumptions, all of it leading to the most important question in a blurb: WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
With the scientist, obviously professional credibility is important, so a reader can guess at the calamity that might ensue by making a wrong prediction. But we don’t know if this is the scientist’s fourteenth mess up, or if the fault line is hiding underneath a nuclear reactor. If those hints are given, there is a sense of urgency to the story that increases the need to know what happens next.
The Highland bride? Well, we know she’s not interested in the man she’s meant to marry, if she’s kidnapping a different one. Maybe the young man ends up with amnesia from her inept kidnapping techniques. Or maybe HE has a betrothed who will be charging after them. All kinds of intriguing possibilities, even without knowing specifically WHY she wants/needs a new man.
And then there’s the man who can’t stay married who falls for someone counseling people just like him. A marriage counselor has seen and heard it all, so would she even consider a man who has that many notches on his marital belt? How about if he had been married to her best friend?
An important thing to remember about a blurb: it RAISES the question, but it does NOT answer it. Oh, no. This is a seduction, and you’re the temptress. Think in terms of come-hither language, and promises of wonderful things between the covers (of the book).
You want the reader to see your blurb and think, “OMG, I will lose my freakin’ mind if I don’t find out what’s going to happen next.”
When your blurb does that, it doesn't need anything else.
Interesting! You have me intrigued by your premise examples, especially of the man with a lot of ex-wives who falls in love with his marriage-counselor neighbor. I can just imagine that will be an uphill battle! Are you writing this one? I hope. :)
I actually like writing blurbs, but my next worry is that I've promised more than I can deliver. There's always something to worry about. LOL
Posted by: Melissa | December 19, 2011 at 09:18 AM
Melissa, I'm not actually writing any of those stories. At least I hadn't planned to. LOL You never know what my brain will decide to do though!
I hadn't thought about promising more than I can deliver. I always worry about making it sound too generic -- like it could be any story by anybody. LOL
And you're right -- there IS always something to worry about. We'll never run out of stuff to fret over.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 19, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Donna, your patented Blurb-O-Matic sounds jolly useful!
I must have written hundreds of blurbs (abstracts) for scientific papers and lectures. There is always a temptation to describe what you would like to achieve rather than what has actually been achieved. This is particularly the case for conferences where the abstract is submitted well in advance and often before the work is completed.
I assume that the Blurb-O-Matic would correct for that. LOL
Like Melissa, I love the irony in the man with a lot of ex-wives who falls in love with his marriage-counsellor
I sense the germ of a best seller there. LOL
Posted by: Quantum | December 20, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Q, being tempted by what you want to achieve -- I can definitely see how that could happen! But hey, it's not your fault if they're asking for info that far in advance. :)
And yes, I'll make sure there's a patch with the new Blurb-O-Matic that will fix that particular software glitch. LOL
Since both you and Melissa like my marriage counselor story, I might actually have to come up with something now. Mmm. I'll have to call you two Muse-O-Matic from now on!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 20, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Muse-O-Matic...I like that. LOL Yes, do write that one! Just don't get all contrary and think it's an assignment now because we put in our request. LOL! It's YOUR idea!
Posted by: Melissa | December 20, 2011 at 06:15 PM
LOL -- you know me too well. I do have that mile-wide contrary streak, and now you guys get to deal with it too. :) I've got a few other things I'm trying to work on, so I'm sure this idea will shove its way to the front of the line. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | December 20, 2011 at 06:56 PM