Learning the Craft
Okay. You’ve got the fifty word heart of your novel. What do you do with it? Expand it out to ten pages? No. You now use this distillation to write a three or four paragraph back-of-the-book teaser first.
There are three excellent reasons to write the teaser now.
- To look at the work as a reader not a writer.
- To analyze the work from the perspective of a buyer.
- To accentuate the work’s point of difference in the market.
We’re not going to get it all done today. In fact, it will take three sessions to complete the back-cover blurb. In this session we’ll discuss the first aspect; looking at the work as a reader not a writer.
As readers we’re familiar with back cover teasers. Our bookshelves are full of them. We know how to do one. A back cover teaser covers four basic points. It:
- Introduces the heroine and her compelling need.
- Introduces the hero and his compelling need.
- Presents the external situation that causes the main characters and their agendas to clash.
- Hints at the major conflict they face in order to mesh, settle their interpersonal tensions, complete their own internal journeys, and resolve the external plot.
Here’s my example again, made slightly more specific.
A crusader (Alexis Bradford) with a heart-breaking secret (Flaw) is blackmailed (Life-changing event) by a manipulative psychotic (Miles Brigham) in order to advance his criminal lifestyle. However, when an enigmatic stranger (Philip Knight) offers her a chance to be free, she must make a choice which might lose her all she holds most precious. (Battle)
Now, I’m going to extend that example using the four point outline above.
1. Introduces the heroine and her compelling need.
My crusading heroine, Alexis Bradford, spends her life in the public arena fighting for justice.
Her compelling need–the thing that she is prepared to go to any lengths in order to attain–is redemption (associated with her heart-breaking secret [Flaw], but we don’t have to elaborate on it at this stage).
2. Introduces the hero and his compelling need.
My enigmatic hero, Philip Knight, spends his life in a private world pursuing and acquiring knowledge. His compelling need is to seek, find, and be given truth–in every area of life (a strength–and weakness–associated with his own Flaw).
3. Presents the external situation that causes the main characters and their agendas to clash.
The external situation that causes Alexis and Philip to clash–and their compelling needs and consequent flaws and fears to collide–is when Alexis discovers her own darkest truths have fallen into the hands of Miles Brigham, who is a master of manipulation…and Philip’s uncle and mentor.
4. Hints at the major conflict they face in order to mesh, settle their interpersonal tensions, complete their own internal journeys, and resolve the external plot.
Alexis is attracted to Philip but she has a lot to lose–and even more to hide. She can’t allow herself to love a man who lives to uncover secrets and expects her to be absolutely honest with him. She also isn’t sure if he’s involved in his uncle’s plans for her or not. Although Philip is attracted to Alexis he senses she isn’t being honest in her dealings with him. He fights against once again falling for a woman who could betray him, and reveal his family’s mysterious history. But he knows she’s in trouble and needs help. And his uncle’s attitude towards Alexis is worrying.
This is not the finished blurb. It’s merely the first step towards creating it.
Your turn. Take your fifty words and, under each of the four headings above, create your own main points. One paragraph per heading. Don’t get frustrated with yourself or your work, and don’t expect it to be easy. Just take it slow, and don’t panic.
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Tags: Blurb, Character Goal, Character Motivation, Conflict, Marketing, Plotting, Synopsis
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