Consider the current novel you're reading.
1. Do you think the author's title is the best choice to sell the story? In what way does it capture the feel or the flavour of the read?
2. Think of an alternate title for the novel. In fact, think of two (2) possible alternate titles that the publisher didn't go with.
3. If the book is one in a series of titles, create another two (2) titles for books in the series. Offer a brief description of what these stories might be about. This will require some imagination and creativity.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The 'Blurb' on the back cover
A blurb is the book description you find on the back cover of a book to describe its contents. Blurbs tend to run several paragraphs, but some publishers prefer a shorter, more succinct blurb, or one that appears in conjunction with specialized artistic / design features.
The blurb is the 2nd-most important selling tool a book can have, so it needs to grab the reader's attention.
A novel may be hundreds of pages long, but it needs to be described in a few short paragraphs that captures the flavour of the story.
Consider the blurb on the back of your current novel.
1. Did you choose this book based on how the blurb made it sound exciting or appealing in some way?
2. What parts of the blurb grabbed your attention? Any particular words or phrases? Offer specific examples.
3. Think back to your first impressions about the book - what was your initial response? Once you'd finished the book, did you feel the blurb gave a fair account of the overall experience?
4. What other aspects (visual / symbolic / colour / design / dimensions etc) of the back cover appealed to you?
5. Now, pretend that the publisher has decided the existing blurb isn't good enough and it needs to be totally re-written. You've been asked to come up with a different, better, more engaging blurb. Write what you think should appear on the book's back cover.
The blurb is the 2nd-most important selling tool a book can have, so it needs to grab the reader's attention.
A novel may be hundreds of pages long, but it needs to be described in a few short paragraphs that captures the flavour of the story.
Consider the blurb on the back of your current novel.
1. Did you choose this book based on how the blurb made it sound exciting or appealing in some way?
2. What parts of the blurb grabbed your attention? Any particular words or phrases? Offer specific examples.
3. Think back to your first impressions about the book - what was your initial response? Once you'd finished the book, did you feel the blurb gave a fair account of the overall experience?
4. What other aspects (visual / symbolic / colour / design / dimensions etc) of the back cover appealed to you?
5. Now, pretend that the publisher has decided the existing blurb isn't good enough and it needs to be totally re-written. You've been asked to come up with a different, better, more engaging blurb. Write what you think should appear on the book's back cover.
Think About Your Reading Experiences
1. Some students struggle to "get into the zone" when it comes to reading, or finding time to read. Do you have a favourite place to read, or somewhere that makes reading especially relaxing or appealing?
2. Is there a particular time of day you find reading enjoyable or easy?
3. Think about the authors whose books you enjoy.
- Who do you like?
- Why do you like them? What is it about their style that attracts you?
- Have you enjoyed all their titles, or only some? Why is that?
4. Do people recommend books to you? Friends, teachers, parents, siblings?
- Do you share similar tastes with them?
- Who have you recommended books to?
- Which books / authors?
- What was their response? What feedback did they give you?
5. Think about the book(s) you've been reading this semester.
- Does the style of a particular author remind you of another author you've read previously?
- Track down some biographical information on two of these 'similar' authors - you may find some similarities in their backgrounds. In your blog, report what you find.
2. Is there a particular time of day you find reading enjoyable or easy?
3. Think about the authors whose books you enjoy.
- Who do you like?
- Why do you like them? What is it about their style that attracts you?
- Have you enjoyed all their titles, or only some? Why is that?
4. Do people recommend books to you? Friends, teachers, parents, siblings?
- Do you share similar tastes with them?
- Who have you recommended books to?
- Which books / authors?
- What was their response? What feedback did they give you?
5. Think about the book(s) you've been reading this semester.
- Does the style of a particular author remind you of another author you've read previously?
- Track down some biographical information on two of these 'similar' authors - you may find some similarities in their backgrounds. In your blog, report what you find.
Electronic Literature
To all those readers keepin' it real in 8E English, check out this digital story website. It's called... http://www.inanimatealice.com
Once you've had a chance to investigate this new kind of story-telling, respond to the following ideas.
1. Does this kind of e-literature appeal to you? (Perhaps moreso than traditional novels.)
2. What features of 'Inanimate Alice' would be attractive to young readers?
3. Think of some of the possible disadvantages of e-literature.
4. Some would say this kind of reading isn't really that different to traditional reading. Explain.
5. What other digital forms of literature have you come across?
6. For you personally, how does this form of reading compare with the old-fashioned way?
Once you've had a chance to investigate this new kind of story-telling, respond to the following ideas.
1. Does this kind of e-literature appeal to you? (Perhaps moreso than traditional novels.)
2. What features of 'Inanimate Alice' would be attractive to young readers?
3. Think of some of the possible disadvantages of e-literature.
4. Some would say this kind of reading isn't really that different to traditional reading. Explain.
5. What other digital forms of literature have you come across?
6. For you personally, how does this form of reading compare with the old-fashioned way?
The Design of the Novel's Cover
Based on the book(s) you're reading this term, pick one of the covers.
1. Write about how the colours / cover design / illustration / imagery / font appealed to you. Ask yourself why you responded favourably.
2. Did you choose that novel based on something that sprang out at you from the front cover? Were you won over by the packaging of the 'read'? Explain.
3. What elements make for a good front cover? What makes for an unappealing front cover? Explain.
4. Have you ever been won over by a book's front cover, only to find that the story turns out to be nothing like you expected? Explain.
5. Ask the student next to you if you can have a look at the current novel he's reading. Check out the front cover. On first glance, what impressions do you form about the story? Explain. What visual elements stand out? In what way do you think they're effective? Or not effective?
1. Write about how the colours / cover design / illustration / imagery / font appealed to you. Ask yourself why you responded favourably.
2. Did you choose that novel based on something that sprang out at you from the front cover? Were you won over by the packaging of the 'read'? Explain.
3. What elements make for a good front cover? What makes for an unappealing front cover? Explain.
4. Have you ever been won over by a book's front cover, only to find that the story turns out to be nothing like you expected? Explain.
5. Ask the student next to you if you can have a look at the current novel he's reading. Check out the front cover. On first glance, what impressions do you form about the story? Explain. What visual elements stand out? In what way do you think they're effective? Or not effective?
LEARNING ABOUT AUTHORS
Here are some weblinks that track six Australian authors. There are links that will take you to their website or there are a few web articles about how they got their start as writers. You may wish to visit the links and respond to these questions in your blog.
1. Have a look at what's on their site. How have they designed their site in a way that tries to appeal to their readers?
2. Authors often remark about how they began their careers in writing. Compare how these Australian authors got their start, when they started, their inspiration for writing.
3. Every writer is different. Choose 2 different authors and find out what makes their style their own and what people enjoy about their writing.
4. Think about the book you're currently reading (or maybe the previous one). Track down this author's website and record a summary about him/her. Perhaps there are some interesting tales they tell about their early writing days.
James Roy
http://jamesroy.com.au/james_roy_-_australian_writer/Welcome.html
Michael Gerard Bauer
http://www.scholastic.com.au/common/books/contributor_profile.asp?ContributorID=527
http://michaelgerardbauer.wordpress.com/
Steph Bowe
http://heyteenager.blogspot.com/
LM Fuge
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/teen-novelist-true-to-her-word/story-e6frebsu-1225839652780
Steven Herrick
http://randomhouseaustralia.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/my-writer’s-desk-by-steven-herrick/
Michael Hyde
http://www.vulgar.com.au/maxphoto.html
1. Have a look at what's on their site. How have they designed their site in a way that tries to appeal to their readers?
2. Authors often remark about how they began their careers in writing. Compare how these Australian authors got their start, when they started, their inspiration for writing.
3. Every writer is different. Choose 2 different authors and find out what makes their style their own and what people enjoy about their writing.
4. Think about the book you're currently reading (or maybe the previous one). Track down this author's website and record a summary about him/her. Perhaps there are some interesting tales they tell about their early writing days.
James Roy
http://jamesroy.com.au/james_roy_-_australian_writer/Welcome.html
Michael Gerard Bauer
http://www.scholastic.com.au/common/books/contributor_profile.asp?ContributorID=527
http://michaelgerardbauer.wordpress.com/
Steph Bowe
http://heyteenager.blogspot.com/
LM Fuge
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/teen-novelist-true-to-her-word/story-e6frebsu-1225839652780
Steven Herrick
http://randomhouseaustralia.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/my-writer’s-desk-by-steven-herrick/
Michael Hyde
http://www.vulgar.com.au/maxphoto.html
Write about an image you've found on the web
I found a random picture on the web (try 'Google Images' or Flickr). I felt the image really triggered my imagination and I found myself thinking about what kind of story could grow out of this simple moment "suspended in time". The following is what I wrote. I want you to try it too. Find two (2) images, use each as a stimulus for two (2) totally original stories.
It had been a sprint. Hadn't run that fast since Dougie Clothier terrorized me, daily, back in '83 when I was the skinniest kid at St Monica's. But that was another history of mine, relegated now to the long, long ago. I figured late at night down Bakker Alley was going be my safe place. I'd taken short cuts through here, coincidentally back during the terrifying Clothier reign. No-one would know the ins and outs of this part of town better than me. The great plugholes of darkness here would more than adequately hide me, my cheap Russell Athletic hoodie and my clapped-out Wild Rhinos. Avoid the light. No light. Must stay out of the light.
Skidding and sloshing through puddles on my way, I momentarily catch reflections of myself. "Who am I kidding?" Even I think I look guilty." No wonder they're chasing me. In the 12 minutes since I slipped those cuffs, they've probably recruited every low-life and deadbeat in the borough to hunt me down. As I scrunch in behind the big industrial bins that scream Mainwaring Waste Management in thick yellow lettering, I wonder if I'm going to live long enough to see the headlines in tomorrow's paper. God forbid, my name appears on that same front page!
My wondering quickly stops as the smell of the festering trash invades first my left nostril, then the right. They take it in turns being pummelled by the stench of what I can only assume is three-day-old meat scraps. That, or the maggot-ridden corpse of a wharf rat. I hope I'm not soon to be joining it in the 'dead' category. Right this minute, above me, behind me, all around me, every brick in Bakker Alley is grimy, wet and silent. I think to myself - I, too, and all those three things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)