A Step Backwards... and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 29

           This past week I took a step or two backwards, writer-wise.

           I got a rejection letter on a major WIP. The manuscript I had worked on for more than a few years got a "Thanks but no thanks." It would have gotten tossed into the circular file.... if it hadn't been sent via email.

            I'll admit. My eyes welled up when I went to bed that night. After all, I was planning on getting an in-ground pool with the advance I was going to get. I mean, it was going to be James Patterson money--I was sure of it. Thankfully, I was so exhausted, my pity party soon sequed into snoring.

             After licking my wounds, I started thinking about what my next move will be. Broach another local publisher? Get some feedback from friends and family?

             We'll see. What I know I won't do is give up. 

              And now onto the fun of book blurb...

• Look at the photo below. (Whoops! Blogger is not allowing me to insert a photo right now. You can go to this link, scroll down to the end of the post, and you'll see the photo.)That is the cover of your book.
• You choose the genre. Chick lit? A romance? Nonfiction? You decide.
• Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project  and this past summer, her third novel Love to Win debuted. Currently, Lisa's too busy to host Book Blurb Friday anymore. Her baby girl is getting married--in less than two weeks. In Florida. (I think the couple is getting the stormy weather out of the way before they're married. After surviving a wedding in the middle of a hurricane, marriage will be smooth sailing.)
• Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. 
• Link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is.
• Check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.
• And have fun with it. Think of it as a way to take a break from the truly important writing you do... like a bit of a warm-up.
• 
  

From Sinking to Smooth Sailing: Bringing a Business Back to Life in Ten Not-So-Easy Ways

            Randy’s donut business was failing. His profits were sinking, just like the donuts did in the fryer when he needed to change the oil. Worried, Randy tried different recipes.
          He made intricate designs with sprinkles. He encrusted the donuts with bacon. Randy injected espresso into the middle of the donuts. Nothing worked.

          Karaoke in his tiny donut shop was a brilliant idea… or so he thought it was brilliant. Would people sing for donuts? Apparently they do-nut, because his bank account continued to plummet.

          But accidentally, he stumbled upon the solution. There Randy was, squatting in front of the campfire, a donut in one hand and a stick with something roasting over the fire in the other. When he stood up, he tripped… and an incredible combination was created.

          What was the marvelous mash-up? And what funny name did Randy come up with? Read this sweet story to find out… (150 words)

And for those who think ahead and aren't such pantsers like me, here is the photo for next week (10/14):

Males and Snails and Puppydog Tails

         Did you know dogs' nostrils are independent of each other? Like our eyes, a pooch's sniff-holes can move in different directions... which help make them incredible at tracking.

* The writer and the editor in you needs to--sometimes--be independent agents. There are times when you just need to write--dump everything you can onto the page, paying no attention to the inner critic within. At other times, you need to be a pure editor, and let the words you've fallen in love with fall into the "delete" file, without moaning (in a writer's voice) "But I worked so hard on that part."

       Did you know as they move along, snails leave behind a trail of mucus which lubricates and reduces the surface friction? This also allows the snail to move along upside down.

*  As writers, don't we leave behind a trail of discarded lines, pages that end up with huge Xs Sharpied across them? And the stuff I discard... well, mucus is a more complimentary than I would normally use.

           Did you know that most teen aged boys love to write? They bubble over when given the chance to engage in some creative writing. There is nothing they love better than digging open a vein and letting their feelings flow all over the page.

            Sometimes I even make myself laugh hysterically. And I laugh and I laugh and I laugh until only a shot from a tranquilizer gun will stop the hysteria.

            Okay, most of them, when listing things they want to do, put writing right under getting their teeth pulled... which is ironic, because sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get them to get something down on paper.

*  Today (or sometime when I wasn't watching) one of my male students really put some thought and effort into a memoir he's drafting. I conferred with him last week. He had a great story, but had glossed over (as well as left out) most of the details that would really make the story shine. I thought he was going to take the easy way out and say, "I'm finished," but today's conference was a pleasant surprise. The story unfolds with enough details and voice to carry it along. 

What connections have you made to other people or nature this week?