HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of our INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. Feel free to print these posts to use as a reference. Pass the links along to your writer friends. It’s packed with great information this month. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!

In This Issue:

* * We'll help you get going with BLURBS.

* * Use our teaser to get you writing with THIS ISSUE’S WRITING PROMPT.

* * Read about our NEWEST E-book, entitled UNTANGLING WEB SUBMISSIONS: ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PUBLISHING YOUR WRITING ONLINE. http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Untangling-Web-Submissions-Essential-Guide-To-Publishing-Your-Writing-Online.aspx

* * LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book. Click this link to get our insider's tips and tricks: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/For-Childrens-Book-Authors.aspx.

* * Avoid PRIMER-STYLE LANGUAGE.

* * If you need help PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT (formatting and/or proofreading), you can find out how to get a quote at this link: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Manuscript-Proofreading-and-Formatting.aspx.

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, and CONTESTS. Visit: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx.

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A blurb is a short summation of your book to help readers decide if they want to invest the time in reading it. The blurb can also be a sentence or two of glowing praise written by a fellow author to help market your book, but for this article we'll focus on the copy that appears on the back cover of a book. At Writer's Relief we help our clients prepare submission packets (including formatting, proofreading, tracking, and targeting the best literary agents). We also write blurbs for their books as part of our work in preparing their cover and query letters. We've helped many writers craft query letters that get noticed, and we're pleased to pass on some of our expertise to you.

A blurb is much like a short synopsis—you have approximately 250 words in which to summarize your book in a concise, engaging package. And before you panic, you should know that the traditional publishers have editorial staff to write blurbs for you, or they hire freelance help. But if you're self-publishing or need to write a blurb for promotional purposes, such as for your Web site, that's cause for celebration not panic—you have something to blurb about! Your task is to give potential readers an enticing peek into the nature of your book and leave them wanting more.

Here's how.

Carefully follow the publisher's guidelines for length and for other information that must be included. You may also want to study samples of blurbs on other books they've published. The average length of a blurb is between 100 and 250 words. You don't have much wiggle room, and the blurb is no place to try to cover the entire plot, so make each word count.

Identify your audience. If you've written a book of poetry, sum up the general flavor or tone of your work—it could be "a dark collection of soul-wrenching prose," or perhaps they're poems that focus on relationships or nature or Southwest culture. Either way, potential readers will want to know what they're getting into. If your book is an action-packed adventure, you'll want to focus on the major plot points. And a blurb for a romantic saga with a dashing hero should focus on the element of romance and the heroic character rather than the plot itself, unless the plot is as strong as the element of romance. The setting can also be a crucial detail to include if it is central to your book.

Identify what makes your book unique. If your book has a quirky take on a subject, convey this to your potential readers. Is it a true story or based on actual events? If your book is nonfiction, consider the benefits to the reader—does it teach something important and valuable? Impart unique wisdom? Use whatever hook you've got to engage readers.

Match the tone and style of your book to your blurb. If your book is humorous, make sure your blurb reflects that. A dark, ominous tone works well for a thriller but would scare off readers looking for historical romance.

Once you've sketched out your blurb, check to make sure it's clear, concise, and engaging. A rambling, unfocused, wordy blurb gives the impression that your writing will be more of the same. Test your summary out on fellow writers or friends and colleagues who haven't read your book. You need their honest opinions, specifically: Does the blurb make them want to read more? If it does, you've accomplished your goal. Congratulations!

Write about eating your favorite ice cream dessert, whether it's in a cup or cone. Once you've described all the possible ways you love it, now write about it without your sense of taste and smell. How do you make that hot fudge sundae appealing to someone who has never had fudge or ice cream before? This writing prompt is designed to bring out the poetics and metaphors in you.

Children across America cheered when Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat was first released. It was easy to read and had cool pictures. But best of all, it was interesting. No more "See Jane run. See Spot run. See Jane and Spot run." Theodor Geisel had changed the nature of children's primers by deviating from the traditional monotonous primer style. Instead of using nothing but short, simple, choppy sentences, as children were used to, Geisel worked the same 25 words throughout his text to reinforce vocabulary, and he did this in longer, silly, and varied sentences. It's no wonder his books continue to fly off the shelves today. When a child has a choice between a Dick and Jane primer and Green Eggs and Ham, that child is far more likely to choose "I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!"

Whether or not you're writing for children, you should watch your own writing for signs of primer-style construction. There's nothing wrong with using short sentences, especially when they're used with a variety of other, more complex sentences. Short sentences pack a punch. But if you find that your text is reading choppy, check for the overuse of primer-style construction. Variety and surprise keep the reader alert and interested, and the same goes for the construction of sentences. A text that reads in primer style is often flagged as amateur.

Here are a few examples of how to create more complex sentences, not only making them more suitable for an intelligent audience but also making the most concise and effective use of words.

Combine independent clauses:

We traveled to the desert. We forgot to bring water.
We traveled to the desert but forgot to bring water.
We traveled to the desert; however, we forgot to bring water.

Use a subordinate clause:

Officer Smith had only two years on the job. He was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
Although Officer Smith had only two years on the job, he was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.

Eliminate repetition:

My dog is a Beagle. My dog is named Sally. My dog loves to run along the riverbank.
My dog Sally is a Beagle who loves to run along the riverbank.

Use "and" to join two related ideas:

In school Sally learned to multiply double digits. She also learned how to divide fractions.
In school Sally learned to multiply double digits and divide fractions.

Use "but" to show contrast:

Officer Smith had only two years on the job. He was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
Officer Smith had only two years on the job, but he was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.

Use a participle phrase:

Mr. Jones decided to go bowling without his wife. He wanted to join his friends for a men's night out.
Deciding to go bowling without his wife, Mr. Jones planned to join his friends for a men's night out.

Use an absolute phrase:

Bob clutched his trophy firmly to his chest. He left the bowling alley with a triumphant grin.
His trophy clutched firmly to his chest, Bob left the bowling alley with a triumphant grin.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx