What's in a blurb?

[Rider of scaled wing]

We've all seen them, perhaps they're why we bought that one book, wether or not it was a good story inside was something else.

But what IS that abbreviation on the back of a book SUPPOSED to contain, really?

My take so far is a brief overview of the book's opening to it's midpoint, glossing generally over the central plotline, while showing noting about any subplots.

Anyone else?

[AlexM]

I honestly have no idea to :P its generally the overview of the plot without giving away the ending i think. 3 main points you really have to include though: main character/s, What its about and a conclusion.

Well thats my thought.

Cheers,

Alex

[JDP]

Yep, they're usually a teaser of the story, written in such a way as to convey the themes and tone of the novel. Simple, then, eh!?! I don't think there are any hard-and-fast rules.

If you're asking the question as an aspiring writer who wants to be published, I think that generally marketing/publicity departments of the publishing house write the blurb, not the author (but I could be wrong!).

[Overread]

JDP is right the author often has nothing to do with the blurb (which can lead to disasters like one of Raymond E.Feists work which has a blurb which is completly wrong on the back - Macos the Black is leading his Undead army - never happened!)
its a quick gloss over of the story made by someone in the publishers offices based on a skim read of the story

[Selati]

Originally Posted by Overread

JDP is right the author often has nothing to do with the blurb (which can lead to disasters like one of Raymond E.Feists work which has a blurb which is completly wrong on the back - Macos the Black is leading his Undead army - never happened!)
its a quick gloss over of the story made by someone in the publishers offices based on a skim read of the story

I don't like the sound of that much.. I'd much rather have the added job of thinking what to put in a blurb than have someone else do it who might get it wrong! I think the publishers should let the authors write them or at least have a say in what goes in them as they’re a very important factor for some people when they choose which book to buy.

[JDP]

I think it's a rare occassion that they get a blurb that wrong.

The author doesn't have any tangible control over much of a book apart from the actual prose. Covers, blurbs etc. are all in the (often capable) hands of the publishers.

I'm not sure about maps, as found in fantasy tomes, as far as author input (obviously, there must be some, or the map would be all wrong )?

[Teresa Edgerton]

Some publishers do send the cover copy to the author early enough to suggest changes -- although they aren't likely to follow the author's suggestions unless something is very wrong, or the author makes a very good argument for the change.

[anthorn]

The blurb is what makes you pick up and go. "Wow this looks good and original."

Or "Wow, this books a complete Tolkien rewrite. "

[Overread]

Originally Posted by anthorn

The blurb is what makes you pick up and go. "Wow this looks good and original."

honestly for me its cover art that does that
so far I have given up with blurbs, they never seem to get the important bits of the hook of a story out and they always seem to simplistic and cheesy for worth reading -- so I stick to covers and chrons

[JDP]

Originally Posted by Overread

so I stick to covers and chrons

It's a potent combination

[The Curious Orange]

The blurb is there for one purpose and one purpose only - to sell the book.

Ideally, it should give you a flavour of the book, let you know it's themes and whether it's the type of story that would appeal to you.

Favourite blurb - Peter F Hamilton's The Reality Dysfunction (UK edition at least). An almost impossible to explain plot, and the blurb gives nothing away.

Least favourite - Robin Hobb's The Golden Fool. Fantastic spoiler for anyone who's not yet finished book one.

Honourable mention - GRRM's AFFC - For describing Sansa as Joffrey's widow. Did I miss something?

[Ghost of Harrenhal]

Whenever I try writing a possible blurb for my writings it usually ends up sounding more cliché than my actual material

I'll have something like "...and then he is thrown into a world of violence and treachery were nothing is black and white; just different shades of grey." While it may reflect to some extent what actually happens in the book, it makes it all sound so predictable.