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Andrea Torrey Balsara

IWSG: Coming up With a Book Title Vs. Writing the blurb



November’s IWSG Question:


"What’s harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

Ummm….do I have to choose? Both are excruciating! Occasionally, though, inspiration will strike for the perfect book title, whereas writing the blurb is a slow, t o r t u r o u s process of picking through the bones of my story and figuring out what it is I actually wrote! So, the blurb wins (or loses).


As I’ve grown smarter with age, I’ve realized that coming up with the blurb FIRST is easier on the nerves, and a way to shorten the writing process considerably, but that only works if you are a planner and an outliner. If you’re a “pantser,” writing by the seat of your pants, planning everything beforehand takes the fun out of it! I would say that I’m a planning-pantser, so usually whatever I outline now will look different by the end of the book. Not sure I’m any further ahead on my blurb writing!

What about you?

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7 Comments


Guest
Nov 07, 2021

I like the idea of coming up with a blurb first--might try that next time. A belated happy IWSG Day!

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andrea9103
Nov 22, 2021
Replying to

Thanks! Sorry for the belated response!!!

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Guest
Nov 03, 2021

I've heard many writers say they come up with the blurb first and use it as an outline.

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andrea9103
Nov 22, 2021
Replying to

Hi Alex--I'm trying to make it so people don't have to sign up as guests/members but I'm still working the kinks out. Thanks for your comment!!

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Guest
Nov 03, 2021

Titles are much easier for me! I'm a planner, but my characters do not always cooperate, so I am often surprised along the way. Distilling 90,000+ words into a couple of paragraphs is, indeed, torturous! 😆 Lee Lowery @ A Taste for Murder

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andrea9103
Nov 22, 2021
Replying to

Couldn't agree more! I find I am in between planner and pantser, so trying to write the blurb is already like pulling teeth, but trying to right it FIRST is close to impossible for me.

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