My wife wrote a, I guess summary, of my book based on what she's read just to see if she could make it sound interesting.

Aimee Fallon is happy serving in the Imperial Guard of the Empire. What should have been a relatively straightforward mission to kill demons terrorizing a farmstead instead leads to the discovery that the demons are not the problem; they are the manifestation of a far deeper, far graver problem threatening the survival of humanity: the Dead Mountain.

Aimee is discovered by the prince's sister, who then determines to kill Aimee. Aimee is rescued by Holly. Together this unlikely pair must make their way to the Dead Mountain to confront the traitor in their group, end the threat of Dead Mountain and save humanity.

It's very interesting to see this from her perspective. It's also interesting to see how massively far things have emerged from my original plan. Most of the characters in the summary didn't exist in my original plan and one of them didn't exist until I already started the rough draft. I'm still not entirely sure I'm going to keep all the character names I have, but it's hard to change them after 138,000 words. Not from a technical point, from a mental point.

I'd want to add about 2,000 words to that summary, but then it isn't exactly a summary anymore.

Gud, you add about 2K words, you have more of a synopsis. What your wife wrote is more of a back cover blurb. It's all good.

Oy, I'm getting ready to dive back into revisions on Carmen. Again. With an eye towards character development. Which is daunting when you're looking at a fifth... sixth? revision. I know these damned characters-- now I just have to get more of it on the page.

And hope it doesn't suck.

What your wife wrote is more of a back cover blurb. It's all good.

I had fun reading it, but it also sounded kinda hokey to me. Then again the back cover of almost any fantasy or science fiction book sounds hokey to me.

That's the kind of thing that's written with the aim of getting a reader to turn the book back over and open the cover to the first page.

Good cover art + engaging back cover blurb + good first page generally equals up to a sale.

What your wife wrote is more of a back cover blurb.

But you can't give away that many plot points! It's all about enticing but not delivering ... until they spend their money.

But you can't give away that many plot points! It's all about enticing but not delivering ... until they spend their money.

I meant more the general structure than the content. But of course, you're right. Don't give 'em the goodies until they've paid.

I meant more the general structure than the content.

I meant that for Gud, really. I know you know what cover copy is!

I meant that for Gud, really. I know you know what cover copy is!

Yeah, but I wouldn't want to write it! *bows to copy writing goddess*

I meant that for Gud, really.

She just did that for fun mostly. It really isn't supposed to be for anything.

Oh, I know! But if you are ever thinking of submitting, copy like that (but shorter) could be used in a cover letter.

It's interesting to get someone else's perspective, too, huh? Which beats they focus on, which plot points.