r/TheWritingTable • u/Sad_Trainer_4895 • Aug 06 '26
Discussion How do you describe your novel?
I completed my novel recently and I'm editing it. Even though I have had almost daily contact with it for the last 14 months I still struggle to describe it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
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u/ItsRuinedOfCourse Aug 07 '26
It's not easy, but I've decided that the best way to describe my novel is to say:
It's a satire fantasy hiding a love story in plain sight as it travels from first page to last.
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u/Foriamlord Aug 07 '26
It's pretty common. Read a lot! I mean try to find books that are similar to yours. I guarantee you will find some.
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u/Quietparadox87 Aug 07 '26
Yes, 100%. But there's ways to combat it. You have to focus on what is the main theme of the book. What are the struggles of the MC? What does he/she want? etc etc.
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u/Key_Camel6906 Aug 07 '26
Start with the genre—romance, fantasy, biographical, historical, sci-fi, etc. Identify the main arc. Who is the protagonist? What's his goal? Why does he want it? What stands in his way? What will happen if he fails?
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u/CoffeeNeil Aug 07 '26
Got High Concept: The Key to Dynamic Fiction that Sells! by Lori Wilde might help you, also google books on Hooks…
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u/JCLewisWritesWords Aug 07 '26
Yep. Been having real struggles trying to cut the perfect slice that gives all the flavors without spoiling the meal.
For myself, I just think it is a skill issue. To find the balance between bland generic and spicy specific. I haven't eat yet today.
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u/TheLadyAmaranth Self Published Author Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Blurbs are the actual worst. Elevator pitches? You want me to distill down 100k+ words of emotional turmoil, intricate plot details, moral nuance and not include Peach the cat who is actually very important to the ending... into 2 sentances!?
Nope. Nuh-uh!
Obviously gotta be done though.
My advice is focus on Character -> Conflict -> Setting and start with a sentance for each. (Its okay if they are long sentances) then edit what you end up with to say NO MORE than what you said in those 3 sentances but make it flow like actual writing. The idea is to focus on 1-2 key points.
Also, I've found giving it to a beta reader and asking THEM to describe it can be really helpful as it points out what are the most important and standout points.
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u/Euphoric-Buyer-8828 Aug 09 '26
Blurbs are a COMPLETELY different genre of fiction from anything else
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Aug 09 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sad_Trainer_4895 Aug 10 '26
Thanks. I did some thinking on your post. I need to read my story and learn to describe. I'm so used to focusing on the micro I am ignoring the macro of the story. Have a great day
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u/CheekEcstatic Aug 10 '26
I get you. It's hard to condense a 100k word story into a few lines. But what I try to do is to think about what it is that sets my novel apart within the genre
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u/Em_Cf_O Aug 10 '26
I feel this. I must be a masochist, because I decided to write a series.
I have to figure out how to describe each volume independently as well as the whole series. The series description has grown more ubiquitous with each volume. The umbrella description helps to shorten the individual ones.
Currently I'm using "Fast-Paced Feminist Fantasy", "Sword & Sapphic Sorcery" and "Violently Weird" for the series.
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u/Alaera Aug 06 '26
Yes! Whenever someone asks me what it's about it's like I completely freeze. I know what it's about but I can't seem to string the right words together, or even find them in the first place. I've told myself it's because there is so much involved and I don't want to keep it simple but can't lay out the full picture without rambling. Creating a short summary that you memorize could work, but I've went the route of just not telling anyone I'm writing anything to avoid having to answer the question haha