Super Blue Moon and writing

This was the week of what is called the Super Blue Moon. Super because the moon is closer to earth than other times. Blue Moon because it's the second full moon in the month. Some consider it to have spiritual power. It definitely influences the tides, which led to concern for the recent hurricane coming out of the Caribbean, hitting Cuba, then heading for a side of Florida that doesn't usually get forceful hurricanes, like a Type 4.  

Because I've been writing blurbs for when we bring out the Arizona historical romances, as new books after having to pull them, I thought maybe some were not aware of the difference between a synopsis and a blurb. 

A synopsis uses the basic outline of the book and with more words, lets a possible agent or book publisher know the story. It follows the entire plot, with minimal words and has the ending also. It is, of course, intended to make the book sound good; so words are carefully chosen to tell the tale but in a way flattering to the story. If someone wrote a solid outline first, it makes the synopsis easier.

A blurb, on the other hand, doesn't want to tell too much. It's intended to intrigue a reader and make them curious as to what happens. They are not easy to write, in my experience.

 

Writing eight of them, one after the other, was more difficult; but, I did it with the idea it was a rough draft. It was made easier that I had just edited all but two of the books. They will come out one a month or maybe three weeks between. I have time for the last blurbs to be improved.

The way I do a blurb would not suit all books, but I think they best let the reader know the gist of the characters' issues as well as make them wonder what makes it difficult. The nature of romance tells the reader the couple will get together. What makes it worth the reader's time to find out how that happens.

I start with the female protagonist for a paragraph, then comes a paragraph for her possible love interest. The final lines will relate to what it would take for these two to make it together-- without giving away the whole thing. When a book has violence or is spicy, this is also the place to let readers know. 

(The Super Blue Moon photos are from our Tucson home)