Read Around the Rainbow - Blurbs

It's that time of the month when the Read Around the Rainbow group of queer authors/authors of queer romance get together to discuss the topic of the month. 

It's been a while since I've taken part in one of these. Either the topic hasn't been something I can contribute to or RL has been kicking butt (mostly the latter). But today I find myself with a spare hour and the subject is something no author can really avoid - Blurbs.

Love them, hate them, but you can't ignore them. A blurb is a necessary part of the book writing process. 

When I wrote for publishers there was often a house style. And each were different (I've written for 5 publishers before going fully self pub). Some points that were required:

A paragraph from each pov character then a paragraph to round things up. 

End the final paragraph on a question.

Don't end the final paragraph on a question. 

No spoilers.

Set word count.

Write it in 1st person (even though the book's in 3rd) 

Write it in 3rd person (even if the book's in 1st)

So much conflicting information I never knew if I was coming or going.  Then they'd ask for a short blurb and a tag line. Each required to do a different job, but with a connecting theme. I hated blurb writing and always left it until last. I certainly wouldn't dream of writing the blurb before the book! In fact, the very thought gives me hives. 

Now I'm self-publishing the restrictions on blurbs are only set by my own ideas, but I have a tendency to blather on, so I'll often send the blurb to my beta for trimming or a complete rewrite.

Take Theory Unproven. The tagline is above, a perfect length to fit a graphic and catch attention on Social Media. But what of the blurb?

Short

Working with elephants in their natural habitat has always been Eric Phillips dream. Getting what he’s always desired introduces him to Tyaan Bouwer, the bush pilot that flies in his supplies, and Eric discovers the allure of South Africa goes beyond the wildlife and the scenery.

But in an area where bushveld prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders, realising their love will be a hard fought battle. Keeping hold of it might just kill them.

Long

An unexpected job offer finds zoologist Eric Phillips transported from the elephant house at a zoo just outside London to the wildlife reserves in the South African bushveld. Being able to work with his own herd of elephants, and analysing their behaviour, more than makes up for the remote nature of the research station. The one bright spot on the horizon, quite literally if the sun hits it at the right angle, is the silver freight plane that brings his supplies and half an hour in the company of Tyaan, the gorgeous but taciturn pilot.

With wide open spaces and clear skies, Tyaan Bouwer is never be happier than when he’s flying over the bushveld, the landscape beneath him a changing vista of colour and texture. It’s that view and the freedom to be able to climb in his plane and fly that’s kept him in the small town where he was born and raised. South Africa might be a rainbow nation but in the northern regions where neighbouring countries are far from liberal minded, prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders. Tyaan’s not in the closet, not really. Get him to the city and with his strong, silent routine he can pull a guy without even trying. He’s fine with that as long as they don’t press him into trying to see them again. It’s not like he wants a relationship. And just maybe when he gets home he’s hovering in the doorway of that closet, but he’s never met anyone worth taking the risk for.

The day he’s sent to Limpopo to collect Eric that all changes. He tries to bury the feelings of want that Eric conjures in him, but he can’t resist the bonds of friendship that forms between them.

As a zoologist Eric likes to think that he’s adept at anticipating how a creature will react in any given situation, and they don’t come any more beautiful and skittish than Tyaan. Despite Tyaan’s jittery behaviour Eric has a theory they could be good together but when things go catastrophically wrong it appears their relationship will remain a theory unproven.

The long blurb gives far more information but it's unlikely to hold a reader's attention. The shorter blurb is more punchy. It hints at Eric's profession as well as implies that he's not a South African native. It states Tyaan's profession and hints at homophobia, danger and angst. 

Of course the longer blurb answers one of the commonly asked reader questions: 'What does the title mean?'

As a reader I have to confess I don't place as much importance on blurbs as I probably should. My attraction to a book is based on:

Author 

Cover

Genre - I'm more likely to read a blurb for an historical or urban fantasy. If I see the words mpreg, daddy/little, or puppy/kitten then I'm probably not even reading the blurb unless it's one of those on my author autobuy list. 

Friends recommendation

Blurb

Rating on GR/Amazon 

TikTok - that's a lie. TikTok doesn't even make it to my list. I'm not even on TikTok. 😄

But what should a blurb do? That's a tough one. 

Do you want a feel for the style or the author's voice? That's not really something I look for, author's voice can take some getting used to and can be off putting in such a short piece. 

A list of tropes? Sometimes this can be more effective than a longwinded precis. And it can avoid unwanted surprises. I'm not going to be happy if I'm reading a shifter book and mpreg crops up with no warning, and I'd expect a mention of kink (if not the exact kink) to appear if the kink makes a strong appearance. 

I guess I'm looking for a feel for the story, the type of genre, and a sense of the characters. But let's be honest, by the time I get to the blurb I'm probably already 75% invested.

So there we have it, conclusive proof that, for me, blurbs are more or less a waste of time 🤪

Check out my fellow RAtR authors who I'm sure will have more insightful opinions than I do. 

Nell Iris  - Read Around the Rainbow: On Writing Blurbs

Fiona Glass - Read Around the Rainbow: Writing Blurbs

Amy Spector - Read Around the Rainbow • Thoughts on Writing Blurbs #RAtR

Ellie Thomas - Read Around the Rainbow: How Do You Feel About Blurbs?

Holly Day - Read Around the Rainbow | How Do You Feel About Blurbs?

Addison Albright - READ AROUND THE RAINBOW ~ On Writing Blurbs #RAtR