Bryan Cohen

Ready to convert that fizzled book synopsis into a sizzling book sale?

I know. I’ve been there.

You’ve written a great book. You’ve got a crazy cool cover. You want to hit “Publish” but that little voice tells you “Not so fast, my chickadee, you’re not done…yet.”

Yup, you still need to write your book description.

You sigh as the fear and loathing build… After a period of procrastination, desperation kicks in and you…settle. Sure, your tagline is short and snappy but when show more you hit that dreaded synopsis, you’re just not sure what to include, what to exclude and suddenly you find yourself reverting to synopsis overkill—too much plot, too many characters, subplots, locations, how the protagonist likes his coffee or what he puts on his toast—basically everything you should have reserved for the actual reading experience. The potential buyer reacts like you’ve served him burnt toast and subpar coffee. And he moves on. The result: dismal sales…day after day after day.

Ok, this scenario may be a bit extreme but at the end of the day, condensing your book—the one you’ve sacrificed months of blood, sweat, tears and face time with your family for—into a couple hundred words, is H-A-R-D...

But it doesn’t have to be.

In How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis, Bryan helps you identify the parts of your book’s plot you should include, how to simplify them and yet make them compelling and engaging, all in step-by-step system that is easy to follow and supported by a plethora of concrete examples in a variety of genres you can reference when crafting your own. He also discusses the length of your synopsis (and why it comes down to sound and emotional impact), how it should be formatted, where it should be utilized, and additionally touches on the other components that make up your book’s description, e.g. tagline, selling paragraph and call to action. And, if all of that isn’t enough to convince you, it’s also fantastically easy to digest, with actionable tips that can be immediately implemented into your own synopsis.

So, my author friend, if you’re ready to ditch the fear and loathing you’ve typically associated with writing your book’s blurb and are psyched about converting those casual browsers into buyers—and eventually avid fans—grab a copy of How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis—both your book description and future book sales will thank you. show less

I’m a novelist and so read this through that filter, but as Cohen & Jones point out in the Preface, song-writers, teachers, bloggers, parents working with their children, poets, dramatists… can all make use of the prompts using their own filters. I found dipping into the book is also an ideal start to a groggy day’s Morning Pages, that initial ten minute ‘write and do not stop’ to get the creative juices flowing. C&J cover this concept in the Preface, too, as a neat spur to show more readers’ thought processes.

Could some of the prompts be used to kick-start an entire novel? Oh yes, that’s why it’s taken me a while to finish the book, as on more than one occasion I spent an hour or two letting my imagination extrapolate from a prompt. Many of them set up a sentence or two of a scenario and then start asking questions. Questions – what if? – are the lifeblood of fiction, and the authors understand that this is implicit in the creative process. There are no bald four word phrases here.

There are seven chapters in the linked Table of Contents: Time & Place, People & Creatures, Body & Brain, Concepts, Money, Love & Entertainment, Mixed Bag… and a bonus ten of Words. Each is further broken down into sections, which I would have preferred listed in the Table of Contents, but this is a small quibble.

From the absurd to the deadly series, C&J have it covered. An ideal accompaniment to any writer’s digital or physical shelf. Highly recommended.

Note: I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review because I am the author of "Reading A Writer’s Mind: Exploring Short Fiction - First Thought To Finished Story". show less

This is YA/middle grade fiction at its best. Tongue-in-cheek humor, unexpected super-powers, internet fame, scary threats to the world, and a trio of wholly human, honest, confusing and awkward teens at the center of it all.

Of course, when Natalie breaks up with Ted, the trio could fall apart. But Dhiraj might get brave enough to ask Jennifer out. And then there’s Erika, but she’s... Well, you’ll have to read it to find out what's happened to her. Suffice it to say, when blue light show more shines over your skin, your whole perception of reality might change.

With wholly age-appropriate attractions, real-world dangers combining with immortal combat, high school terrors contrasted with nightmares dreamed at the end of the world, or on the computer screen, Ted Saves the World presents an awkward, inept, intelligent teen with some seriously scary choices, and keeps the reader glued to the page as the story reveals itself. Of course, there are still lots of questions to be answered when the tale comes to an end. This is a convincing, exciting, and really enjoyable standalone novel, with a whole wealth of mysteries to fuel a series too. It's highly recommended.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review. show less

As a writer, blogger, and teacher I am always looking for writing prompts. I have had this set for quite some time and used it extensively. I decided it was time to write a review. These prompts cover everything from seasons, holidays, senses to literature. There is literally something for everyone in this set. Saying that, I would not give this to my middle school students as some of the prompts are for more mature audiences. However, I have found enough prompts in here to use or I have show more used them to inspire me to write something similar for my students. If you want to start a writing habit I highly recommend this product to help you on that path. show less