THAT'S Gonna Be a Problem
In the last four weeks or so, I have been approached by three or four authors who want help polishing their books. I accepted work with one because he seems driven and ambitious and so far, I haven't regretted working with him for an instant. What's interesting to me is that being a Book Doctor is a bit like being a therapist. I usually let the writer tell me about their project at length, and there's always a point in the conversation where I go Ah-Ha . . . THAT'S gonna be a problem.
What do I mean? I think every author, before they get too far into their book, should write the back cover copy for their novel in less than 200 words. Not a synopsis, their MARKETING copy. Four paragraphs, max. And a tag line.
Then step back.
Show it to people.
You are not allowed to add anything when you show it. No back story. You don't get to pitch it. This is a blind test. No fancy cover. Just the copy. Don't just show it to friends. And definitely show it to some writers. Better yet? If you have access to a good editor . . . show them.
I think two things often happen. One . . . what you wrote will sound an AWFUL lot like someone else's book . . . so much so that it doesn't leap off the page/cover. It adds nothing new. At its heart, it's a story about . . . a vampire, a werewolf, a bride, a P.I., a cop, a doctor, a soldier . . . a . . . and there on that back cover is a problem because it's just NOT FRESH.
Or two . . . there's a fatal flaw in there, something that RIGHT NOW, as you envision the book, will be hard to overcome when you pitch it to agents, and then for those agents, editors . . . and then . . . for those editors . . . the marketing people who actually have to WRITE your actual back cover copy and sell it to the bookstores.
And in this era of Kindle, or Nook, and people tossing things up--you know what? You still have to market--direct to readers perhaps. And if you have something to significantly overcome, best do it NOW.
Anyone care to try? It's not a synopsis. How are you going to market your book?
