tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post3428951937005819853..comments2023-02-21T00:26:51.051-08:00Comments on Why Isn't My Book Selling?: In Wilder LandsVictorinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052077366367623323noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-81021665793962963722011-12-13T11:24:23.977-08:002011-12-13T11:24:23.977-08:00Book covers are product packaging. This package se...Book covers are product packaging. This package seems to tell a peaceful story, and one that doesn't seem to tie-in to the title. Think of it as the only chance you'll have to get a potential buyer to pick it up and turn it over...<br /><br />Now, the "product" description, which should be on the back cover if it is a print product, uses the word war five times in three paragraphs which diffuse the effectiveness of the word and also doesn't connect the conflict /threat in a meaningful, personal way, to the MC. This is an important place to set the hook -- pose a "question" the reader can only answer by reading the book, etc.<br /><br />Once the book begins, it starts with a first person dream sequence, which doesn't start the reader off with immediate movement or conflict. It should come later. The first 300 words should tell the reader who the MC is, what the problem is for them, and what they are going to do about it. Unless those things are laid out, there is little motivation to keep reading, unless the narrative is so evocative of place, time, etc. IMHO, of course! These are all things I agonize over daily. In my own work, one re-write usually leads to another, but those first things are critical. I'd tighten up the cover cropping and typography, re-work the blurb, and re-think the opening of the book to create a sense of foreboding and some movement -- leave the introspection for later, even if you have to change the POV. I prefer knowing the MC a bit before reading his or her inner thoughts, so first person right off isd a little annoying for me.Richard Suttonhttp://www.sailletales.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-12179730548851403922011-09-29T12:45:10.339-07:002011-09-29T12:45:10.339-07:00Again, Vicki is really spot on.
Btw, based on th...Again, Vicki is really spot on. <br /><br />Btw, based on the cover, I thought this was historical fiction. It looks like an Indian raid on settlers in the old west to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-7501360386385931182011-09-29T12:10:30.284-07:002011-09-29T12:10:30.284-07:00I thought the cover was beautiful although the tit...I thought the cover was beautiful although the title and author get lost. <br /><br />I've been looking at the covers without looking at the genre first to try to get a feel for what the story is about. The Good Earth and Shangri-La came to my mind. <br /><br />I like short snappy blurbs, and yes, I need to shorten two of mine. Blurb writing is an art which I hope to perfect by the time I publish my 100th book. Watch for repetitive words and things that make sense to you because you know the story but might not make sense to your readers.<br /><br />I don't mind starting with a dream, but a POV switch can throw readers right out of the story. This is a fantasy and fantasies are made of dream worlds.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832055618604176686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-5334735603760172692011-09-29T10:48:59.639-07:002011-09-29T10:48:59.639-07:00Cover needs work seeing how everyone has mentioned...Cover needs work seeing how everyone has mentioned it. My first impression was that it isn't a book cover. The shape is wrong. There have been a few people with square looking covers.<br /><br />I don't like the first 300 words because it contradicts itself. I know what your trying to say, but are remembering these dreams a problem or not?<br /><br />What made my dreams unique was where things went from there and how vividly I could remember them every time I woke.<br />If I was lucky, this was all I would remember when I woke.<br /><br />I also found it hard to read, I can't put my finger on it and I tried reading it out loud as well. It's like there are too many stops or something. Almost like trying to read poetry or something.SBJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457239074744509487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-84087560486932676862011-09-29T10:40:49.429-07:002011-09-29T10:40:49.429-07:00First off, 5 weeks is a very short period of time,...First off, 5 weeks is a very short period of time, so patience might be wise at this point.<br /><br />Cover - I get a vague fantasy sense from it, but it's really hard for my poor eyes to see anything in any detail in the art, and the text is almost unreadable to me.<br /><br />Blurb - I found it generally interesting, but a bit long and rambling. I recommend making it shorter and more focused on Estin, his conflict, his character, etc. The 1st and 4th paragraphs are the weakest. Offer a few more specific details.<br /><br />Opening - I don't love it. It's a narration about a dream, which is really abstract and leaves me waiting for the story to actually start. I always recommend starting with character or action. Give the reader something concrete to introduce them to your world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-91473229076243540922011-09-29T10:24:20.187-07:002011-09-29T10:24:20.187-07:00The cover's main problems are that I can't...The cover's main problems are that I can't really see what's going on (though I do get something of an epic vibe unlike the others), it's a non-standard size, and I can't read the font. In thumbnail I'm betting it's a smear of color, sadly.<br /><br />You start with a dream. Don't do that. You can introduce Estin's backstory more elegantly than that. Your writing isn't bad *at all*, though it needs tightening.<br /><br />The blurb is far too long and a little confusing. I tried to take a run at it and didn't have much success; I'd have to ask too many questions. One thing I will say: Watch the word "wild" and its various forms. Over-used.<br /><br />You've got a story, and probably a good one. Keep working on it.MeiLin Mirandahttp://www.meilinmiranda.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-65161493898162361142011-09-29T10:11:13.245-07:002011-09-29T10:11:13.245-07:00I agree with you the book cover does not look like...I agree with you the book cover does not look like fantasy, let alone epic. It is a nice cover but not for the fantasy genre.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-34240039240545466772011-09-29T08:54:24.236-07:002011-09-29T08:54:24.236-07:00The cover doesn't look like fantasy, much less...The cover doesn't look like fantasy, much less epic fantasy, to me. I wouldn't glance twice at it. <br /><br />I disagree with Vicki on the blurb though. I think it needs to be more than tightened. The blurb is just confusing to me. I don't know what wildlings are or what they have to do with the war. I don't know what this big threat is or what it has to do with wildings. It wouldnt cause me to download the sample.<br /><br />The sample starts with describing a dream. Starting with a dream is one of my least favorite cliches. I hate that. And then it suddenly with no explanation switches from first person to third person point-of-view! <br /><br />I wouldn't be likely to get that far but if I did, I'd stop right there.<br /><br />Sorry to be harsh, but I don't think your opening works. I won't judge the entire work by that but if this is a good sampling then you probably need to have an editor go over it for you.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.com