Self-Publishing Diary: The "About the Author" and "About the Book" Blurbs
I’m sure that many writers—and people in general—would agree that writing about yourself can be pretty cringe-worthy. You don’t want to sound too narcissistic, but you also want people to know fun, important, stand-out things about you. This week in my self-publishing journey, I’ve been tasked with writing blurbs for myself and my book.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to write either of them from scratch. My editor provided copy for both, but I had the discretion to go through and edit whatever I wanted. Which, as it turns out, was quite a bit on one of the blurbs.
I think I’ve just about gotten them both print-ready. Read on to see examples of both.
Self-Publishing Diary: “About the Book” Blurb
The “about the book” blurb that my editor sent over was fantastic. I loved it. It made me really want to read my book even though I’m the one who wrote it. However, it also made me question: Was my book really as compelling as the description? The answer is yes, but it’s hard to stop doubtful thoughts from creeping in 100% of the time.
I edited the summary a bit, but not much. I only added the final paragraph and shuffled a few sentences around, used different adjectives, etc.
Here’s the potential summary:
Margot Moss, a gregarious and witty woman, lives her life with abandon. She knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to pounce after it with full-throttle ferocity. Although, she can’t quite seem to get it right.
When a coveted promotion falls through, Margot finds herself struggling to actualize her dreams and is forced to reconsider her so-called fabulous future. However, when one catwalk ends, another begins. A job in New York City comes knocking and Margot doesn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity, setting out on a wild adventure towards love, success, and self-discovery.
Unfortunately, nothing is how she imagined it—not the company, the city, or the people. Awaiting Margot is a drama-addicted boss who may or may not be out to get her, and a whirlwind of wealthy men, scams, and scandals. Caught in a cotton candy cloud of sparkling rosé, Margot determinedly navigates her (many) dilemmas with the help of her saucy friends and a healthy dose of buzz-worthy gossip.
Yet, as if that weren’t enough, Margot’s life is made even more complicated when a steamy new beau enters the picture—and even he isn’t what he seems.
Overflowing with fashion and champagne bubbles, The Manhattan Mishap is a hilarious, stylish, and heartfelt novel that oozes confidence and reminds us that leopards never truly change their spots.
Self-Publishing Diary: “About the Author” Blurb
When my editor passed along my “about the author” blurb, I was… underwhelmed. Most of the info was taken from my website, which is totally fair because she’s never met me in-person before. And I have a lot of info to take from here. However, I felt like it was less sharp than a butter knife.
Two sentences were dedicated to talking about what I studied at university and companies that I’ve worked with/for during my career. Of course, it’s great info, but to me, it didn’t really pop. You know? It felt mundane and borderline boring. Almost braggadocious.
I wanted to inject some more personality into it. So, I got down to business and tweaked a few things. What do you think?
Here’s what will tentatively be printed in my novel:
“Melina Maria Morry is a full-time writer and editor. She does her most scandalous writing in top-to-toe vintage, with a crystal coupe of champagne and an early 2000s playlist. After living and studying in Sydney, Melina currently resides in Toronto with a closet full of animal prints, sky-high stacks of fashion magazines, and a jungle of houseplants. The Manhattan Mishap is her début novel. To learn more, visit www.melinamorry.com or @melinamorry on social media.”
Next up: Designing the interior layout.
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