The Sword and Laser discussion

so the blurb was misleading but I know we have some really good authors here, let's see how you do, write a good blurb for Gideon the ninth!

a snarky thrilling gothic mystery full of skeletons, neromancers and cavaliers that is full of swordfight and action but never takes itseft to seriously. Lee (the book butcher)

mine doesn't really count I'm just a butcher from Georgia. just wanted to get it started. I know y'all can do better

Oh, that's a fun idea.

I'll go with

"It has fencing, fighting, torture, dark mysteries, necromancers, skeletons, betrayal, loyalty, true snark and fun... This is not a kissing book!" - Jan

;-)

Goth girls who might be lesbians do stuff that could be construed as in space.

...yeah, I got nothin

"Lesbiannnnnnnnnns in spaaaaaaaaaace"
-Charles Stross


-Tamsyn Muir

I still think Warren Ellis won the blurb war for me on this book. I've been trying to come up with something around a necromatic Kim Deal (from the Pixies) screaming "Bone Machine" while sweating blood, but failing.....

https://youtu.be/yJM576_1UX4

Snarky Goth sword-fighting necromancers in space on a deadly video game-like quest to achieve immortality and unlimited magical power...

Only working together can they achieve success. But can they trust each other when they all have conflicting agendas and many of them are not who they seem?

that good, that real good buzz!

Thanks!

except it's not a blurb, it's a summary. So is Lee's, above.

They're fine for the back copy, but if you are trying to replace the Stross blurb you get one short sentence. Maybe 6-7 words.

Blurbs are not plot summaries or really marketing copy in the sense most people mean that. They are meant to get you to pick the book up and that's a combination of pithy impactful words plus an author known in the market.

That's why Stross' blurb coming from him was impactful. Coming from Jane UnknownAuthor it wouldn't be.

stross' blurb serves it's purpose then. but so does the cover, I was at the book store the other day and the cover really stood out. bought it for my wife she thought is was so cool. she is not much of a reader but I think S&L helped me find something she will like!

Yep, Lee. I'm not saying that to put people down, but to point out that a blurb has a really specific function and they're actually kind of hard to do well without being generic, e.g. "A fun space romp!" or something. I mean, for all the complaints about male gaze etc... no one has written a good blurb here.

Well, Rick, "not saying that to put people down, but" is basically "I don't want to be rude, but" - it doesn't change that you *are* doing it. ;-)

I mean, nobody here wanted to write an actual blurb but do something silly and creative - and you sucked the fun right out of it... *lol*

Rick wrote: "Yep, Lee. I'm not saying that to put people down, but to point out that ...no one has written a good blurb here."

I noticed Lee that you jumped in and criticized all our "blurbs" but didn't bother to amaze us with your literary brilliance by offering one of your own. Just sayin'.

Buzz wrote: "Rick wrote: "Yep, Lee. I'm not saying that to put people down, but to point out that ...no one has written a good blurb here."

I noticed Lee that you jumped in and criticized all our "blurbs" but ..."

not me buzz, I thought you and Jan did a great job. mine stunk though!

A hufflepuff and slythrin struggle to become drft compatible.

I'm about half way through and i'm assuming my blurb is wrong. oh well.

Lee wrote: "not me buzz, I thought you and Jan did a great job. mine stunk though! ..."

Sorry Lee! I meant that for Rick, also known as the "Blurb Troll" lol

Ah so we're down to name calling, eh? Very mature Buzz.

Look, you all complained about the Stross blurb. Then proceeded to write things that aren't blurbs, illustrating that, despite all of the crying about Stross' blurb, you didn't actually have a clue as to what a blurb is or should do. And pointing that out makes me the bad guy? If you all want to try to 'write a better blurb' then write an actual blurb, not a freaking essay.

Rick wrote: "Ah so we're down to name calling, eh? Very mature Buzz. Look, you all complained about the Stross blurb. Then proceeded to write things that aren't blurbs, illustrating that, despite all of the crying about Stross' blurb, you didn't actually have a clue as to what a blurb is or should do. And pointing that out makes me the bad guy? If you all want to try to 'write a better blurb' then write an actual blurb, not a freaking essay."

Blurb Troll was meant as a lighthearted joke. You're essentially calling us all ignorant and completely missing the spirit of the discussion lol.

Rick, you gotta let it go, man. Let it go lol!