Thursday, November 5, 2009

Bad Blurb

In my quest for inspiration in writing my own blurb, I've come across some real doozies. I thought I would take a second to share with you in my opinion, the best and worst.

First up, the worst - TRANSFORMERS REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. Granted, movies aren't known for having great blurbs, but I think this one is awful.

The battle for Earth continues in this action-packed blockbuster from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg. When college-bound Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBouf) learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers, he must accept his destiny and join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in their epic battle against the Decepticons, who have returned stronger than ever with a plan to destroy our world.

Tell me something I don't already know. The only detail I really got out of this was that Sam's going off to college. The rest was same o same o. It's a Transformer's movie - of course the fate of the world is in their hands. But why? Because Sam learned their origins? And how? What specifically are they fighting for on Earth. Why do they want the planet? I want more details!

Now for my favorite. Tops honors goes to Victoria Laurie - DEMONS ARE A GHOUL'S BEST FRIEND.

Every school has its bullies, but Northern Boarding School near Lake Placid, New York, houses a real whopper: a lean, mean, and deadly demonic ghost named Hatchet Jack. M.J.'s good friend Karen has asked her--along with partners Gilley and handsome Dr. Steven Sable--to send Hatchet Jack back to the portal he came from.

With renovations at the school starting in a week, there isn't much time for ghost hunting. Plus M.J. has to deal with an uncooperative dean, Gilley being paranormally prayed upon, and the tempting Dr. Delicious distracting her. But Hatchet Jack is M.J's biggest threat, and with a demonic disturbance of this magnitude she must show no mercy and see to it that Hatchet Jack gets detention for eternity--in hell.


Fabulous, right? Not only does it cover all the blurb basics, but it also has a great voice and I love the alliteration (i.e., deadly demonic ghost, Dr. Delicious distracting & paranormally preyed upon). It's all good stuff.

So what about you? Any blurbs that you love? Or better yet, can't stand? Do tell.

2 comments:

Laura Martone said...

I'm one of those people who actually enjoyed THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (despite many plot flaws), and I think the back blurb is effective:

A most untraditional love story, this is the celebrated tale of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who involuntarily travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate affair endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and basks in the bonds of love.

True, it's a bit melodramatic and full of cliches, but it still compelled me to read the novel... so I guess it worked.

Stephanie Damore said...

I really wanted to see that movie, and read the book, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I remember when the movie came out I ran to library to check the book out and I was number 45 in the que. I wonder what number I am now?

Thanks for sharing your blurb. Regardless of the cliches, the description was well written.