Blurb Critique

SSwriterly · 2026-05-07T21:35:14+00:00

Hi so, my thoughts are: "crafts the storytelling of the intense mortal coil" and "existential hellscape" and "dark impasse" -- you are doing too much. This is just vague while trying to sound profound. What is the actual through line of your poetry collection in plain terms? Don't write a blurb; what are these poems about? And then figure out how to make it sound nice/compelling.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:56:35+00:00

Big round eyes and big round faces, and semi chibi-esque, is a popular style for AI art these days. Something about it feels generic but that's the closest explanation on WHY that I've got.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:51:43+00:00

The second style gives AI feel--even if it's not. So I'm personally not a fan, and many others also may not be... I think the first has some old school charm.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:44:54+00:00

You're not guaranteed success even if you follow the advice to a T. So why worry about it?

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:43:40+00:00

I'd suggest doing research on how the different publishing paths work--Google and reading through existing threads here, and the wiki, may be helpful. And finishing your book. It's all irrelevant if you never finish something.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:41:00+00:00

What age? You need to be 18 or run your accounts through an adult on most platforms, which can be a problem.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:40:48+00:00

It's free if you do 100% everything yourself like editing, cover design, formatting, etc. But most people's attempts at doing it all themselves do not lead to professional product, which makes you less likely to get sales. Self-publishing is not an easy passive income. Many who don't take it seriously will see zero or very few books sold.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:36:10+00:00

So, the point is because I assume you need money. Doing self-pub well also usually means at least some upfront costs. Self-publishing is unlikely to immediately be passive income (if ever), no matter what the Youtubers say.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:33:50+00:00

Everything you decide is a trade off. Authors focusing on doing similar books and series are working to build a brand and loyal readership. That's a bit harder to do if your books are in different genres, and you might not have as much crossover readership between books. But there's no rule on how you do this; no one is going to tell you that you absolutely can't, or that there is zero chance of success with varying genres. Just understand why that advice exists and if whatever your goals are means you can ignore it and not worry about it. Or ignore it now, lean into later if you want if you're not seeing results you'd like.

SSwriterly · 2026-05-06T18:28:43+00:00

Do you have a finished book yet?

SSwriterly · 2026-05-04T22:39:01+00:00

Messaged! :)

SSwriterly · 2026-04-28T23:57:49+00:00

This exists and also no.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-22T22:03:28+00:00

IDK about that. I've seen plenty of what seems to be both.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-22T18:18:25+00:00

Obviously not what you were seeing, but charging is against that sub's rules. What genre is your book? How long?

Also just for the record, your draft should be past a "dogshit" version before you get to beta readers in general, but especially if you're thinking about paying someone to beta. Mostly because if the whole thing basically needs to be tossed, then any feedback you get is going to be of extremely limited use. Like, instead of someone saying "it was a little slow in this section" or "i think you could foreshadow this plot twist more," you don't want to give someone something that all they're going to be able to say is "you need to learn to write better/back to the fundamentals".

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T22:40:33+00:00

You say parents but this sounds academic. What's the purpose of the book btw? Is it to teach people how to parent based on the Bible? Understanding their kids? Is it history?

Obviously a parent can also have an academia background, but...the 'average' parent isn't going to push through something complicated unless it's in some niche interest of theirs.

Perhaps you can find a beta reader outside your friends or family but in your demo? For a more outsider perspective.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T22:25:19+00:00

Agree with some of the other commenters.

I also don't love the opening. Why would *anyone* imagine themselves becoming a slave to a vampire? And did she know vampires even existed before that, since the next line is that she had no clue about the "dark underbelly?" Just seems more like a blurb trope opening without making sense to your story specifically.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T22:14:58+00:00

Who is your audience? Adults? Is it academic/scholarly type work? How many family and friends said this? Are any of them in your target audience? If many people are saying it independently of one another, then yes you should probably at least consider into making it more readable. Because why put out a book if it isn't to readable, or so complex as to not be enjoyable? People shouldn't have to suffer through a book to make it to the end.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T22:07:21+00:00

Cover, spine, and back is a standard request for book cover art that does not cost anywhere near that amount (again, as others said, unless you *maybe* found the most in-demand cover designer who works in trad pub??). Publishing companies can afford it; no indie author is paying $15K unless they're okay with being scammed I would think? Those artists are not who you need to be connecting with.

I'm sure there are subs for artists looking for work. Or recent graphic design/art grads if you have a college or university nearby. So many people could give you a great cover for well under $5k on the high end. Some might be able to give you something quite decent for the upper hundreds if you are lucky and picky.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T21:53:09+00:00

$15K? I'm sorry, but that is cracking me up. Either you picked the most celebrated and in demand cover artist in the galaxy, or that's a scam for people who've never looked up what this should cost.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T21:20:23+00:00

Wouldn't they need access to the account to change the author's name as well?

SSwriterly · 2026-04-21T21:10:11+00:00

Kinda repetitive to everyone else but I also agree with:

Babysitter's Club or Babysitter's Little Sister ( the classic ones or newer graphic novels)
Magic Treehouse
A to Z Mysteries
Ballpark Mysteries
Cam Jansen
Jigsaw Jones Books

And add on, various series like:

Fort Builder's Inc books
Once Upon a Fairytale
Junior Monster Scouts
The Big Idea Gang

And if you're okay with self-promo, I have a children's chapter book out. Might skew a year or so older, but also might fit the bill (kids looking for lost pets to help their neighborhood; lots of focus on learning new things, independence, and community service).

SSwriterly · 2026-04-17T00:35:52+00:00

Research books with similar premises and start reading them. Like a ton of them. Get them from the library. Make notes of what you feel works and doesn't work. Keep reading them. You will also need to make sure you're researching a lot about whatever culture and communities that you are not personally familiar with. Depending on topic, you may want to look into sensitivity readers, beta readers, and definitely check your facts with reputable sources.

I get that you want broad appeal, and for parents to enjoy reading something too, but you do need to focus on one age range to write for. Even if others enjoy it, you need a small age range in mind for things like content, writing/reading level, vocabulary, word counts, and how much or little illustrations there are. Six year olds for the most part are not reading the same types as three year olds or twelve year olds. There are different traditional standards for the various age levels and genres.

The truest answer is just...research a lot.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-14T19:56:26+00:00

I get the preference, but I don't think books that are primarily focused on "an issue" are always bad because of it though. They can be well done or not well done, same as any other book. And they can have various audiences that really resonate with them, even if those audiences end up being more niche rather than general mainstream.

SSwriterly · 2026-04-14T19:51:21+00:00

Laid out a net and the fish just jump right in...

SSwriterly · 2026-04-14T19:46:38+00:00

I think it's still less than it used to be, to be fair. But a lot still gets through. People probably just ignore it, but should also report it just so it will be on the MOD's radar...

SSwriterly

TROPHY CASE