I have been struggling with making a catchy blurb. Tell me, do you hate it or like it? Does it make you want to read it? No, 1, 2 or 3, neither or a mix?
Blurb 1: A confident, sassy consultant, happily married and successful is mystified when an inexplicable, overnight transformation in her husband’s behavior while overseas, forces her to abandon her previous life in an attempt to solve the situation. Taking her across countries and cultures, encountering medical men and monks, she is forced to take an inner and outer journey to analyse her previous life and relationships in a new light.
Blurb 2: A coming of age novel and love-story, this novel will appeal to readers interested in diverse cultures and countries, science and spirituality and human behavior in crisis. It will appeal to people interested in India and travel, in spirituality-the patient, the carer, the guru and the disciple alike. This novel is an uplifting and motivating story that takes an honest look at how a tender marriage bears the unexpected burden of severe illness when the vows taken in every marriage are life-long and ‘to be together always in sickness and in health.’ It deals unflinchingly with the testing of all ties at times of crisis.
Blurb 3: A confident, sassy consultant sets out on a voyage of self-discovery in her bid to save her husband who displays an inexplicable overnight transformation in behavior and character while travelling. The young wife’s effort to resurrect their life together takes her on a journey through different countries and cultures. She receives support from unexpected quarters while perceptions about what brings value to her life are dramatically altered.
Emma thanks for your prompt response and drawing my attention to the first sentence being so long. I had missed that. Also, for telling me the story sounds interesting, as you say too Charley ; ).
Jonathan thanks for your very helpful message. My novel would fit into Literary Fiction, but not Chic-lit (I hope). I just put the Lit Fic tag on my genre classifications and also checked what it exactly means, which is on our Q&A section. It IS very difficult to write a blurb, and I quite like your idea of inserting the MC name, but why would you say that putting the name fits more into chic-lit than any standard blurb? I will take your advise and write a few more versions, after taking a break and not thinking of blurbs for at least a week.
I prefer Blurb two. I think it is a gender issue.
I prefer 1 as a blurb, as long as this isn't going to agents. Number 2 reads like a section of your covering letter or perhaps the synopsis. I feel as 3 was longer for no particular reason.
Good luck! Vxx