Amanda Patterson writes a mean blog over at Writers Write! Here’s her method of writing a great book blurb.
She calls it SCOPE:
- S=Setting. Detail where and when the story takes place, in as few words as possible
- C=Conflict. A good way to start this section of the blurb is with “But” or “However.”
- O=Objective. Detail what your characters need to achieve.
- P=Possible Solution. Give one idea how the protagonist can overcome the conflict. Give the readers a reason to pick up the book and read it.
- E=Emotional Promise. Tell the readers how the book will make them feel. Set the mood.
Let’s see how this would work.
London. The late 1800’s. Scrooge is a sour old miser who hates Christmas. But he’s given a chance to change, to see the good in life. A chance offered by the visits of three spirits on Christmas Eve. Can Scrooge change his attitude, or will his own spirit suffer through eternity the way his former partner suffers? A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a heart-warming tale of Christmas cheer and good will toward all men.
One good tip is to read over what you wrote the day before. You might also try starting the day by copying a few paragraphs that you wrote the day before, just to get into the writing spirit. Or, you can just free-write, where you write down whatever comes into your mind – including thoughts like “I just can’t seem to get my head clear today” or “This is silly.”