Friday, July 27, 2012

Shaping Up

I might have shared a few months ago that I had finally worked my way back into shape. A few orthopedic issues had sidelined me for over a year but all was good. It is hard work at my advanced age. I remember the days of not working out for months and then deciding to pick it up again and go out on the road for five miles. That was 'back in the day.'

But I'm not writing today about physical fitness. I'm writing about writing. I recently received my third book back from my wonderful personal editor and decades old friends(she's much younger than me) and worked to fix all the things she marked for me. Did I tell you she's wonderful. No, I won't share her with you. I'm now waiting to get my artwork from my cover specialist, Gayle. Gotta love those young people who are magicians on their computers. It's all shaping up.

My WIP is coming along like a race horse. It's already at 23K and I hope to have it finished by the time I return to teaching at the end of August and send to New Concepts Publisher, my romance publisher.

 For both Beneath the Mountain, Book #3 of The Futhark Chronicles and for Heart of Stone, I'm going to have to come up with some one-liners and attention grabbing blurbs. I don't hate writing blurbs as much as I dread writing a synopsis, but I don't enjoy. Tada ......

Stephen Tremp to the rescue. Stephen, a success author and promoter, is running a blogfest in August for blurbs. I'll be able to get feedback for my blurbs, read lots of other examples of blurbs. I learn by studying examples. I'll get those blurbs of mine in shape. You can sign up to be part of it.

So how is your writing shaping up recently? Are you going to check out Stephen's blurb fest? Are you good at writing those blurbs?

15 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I recently gave a blurb to Nancy Thompson's publisher for her upcoming book and it was tough!

Golden Eagle said...

Not really. :P I've experimented with writing blurbs for books I've written or planned, and I always feel like I'm hopelessly overdramatizing or leaving too much out.

Cate Masters said...

What a cool idea to have a blurb blog hop! I've been holding blurb fests at TBR twice a month, so you should check those out as well. This weekend is the Military/Espionage blurb fest - I've been trying to mix up the genres quite a bit, as you can tell. :)

Gina Gao said...

I'm not really good at writing blurbs, but I can always try it out.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

I'll have to chaeck out Stephen's blurb-fest. I've got a WIP that has me stumped right now, but I'll work through it. I have to be patient with myself.

Tonja said...

I'll check out the blurb-fest. Congratulations on your progress with your WIP.

David P. King said...

Congrats, Susan! You won in my giveaway. Come claim your prize! :)

Arlee Bird said...

Go, Susan, go! You sound like you are on writer's fire.

I'll have to check out Stephen's blogfest though I don't guess I can participate since my blog has been hijacked by guest bloggers until October.

Lee
Wrote By Rote

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thank you, David! That is so generous of you. Lee,I've dropping by. You've had some great 'hijackers.'
Alex, I'm sure you're blurb will look great on a book no matter what you said.
Cate, you've come up with so many different categories for TBR, I love trying to guess what might be next.

Ava Quinn said...

Great news on the getting in shape fronts, Sue!

My writing is in its usual stalled place. Sigh. Someday I'll get my act together and take it as seriously as I'd secretly like to!

Christine Rains said...

Wonderful news! I'll have to check out this blurb blogfest. Thanks!

jan said...

I'm so stuck right now. I envy people like you who seem to fly through their WIPs!

Talli Roland said...

I actually LOVE writing blurbs - I think it comes from my PR background! I've done a few for people here and there and I really enjoy it.

Sounds like you've been very busy!

nutschell said...

i love this blurb blog hop idea. :)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

momto8 said...

wow..you are hot!! good for you. I do not even know what a blurb is, so I guess I am not very good at writing it.