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Millennial PR vs Gen Z Socials

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The official Tor account on Instagram did the Millennial vs Gen Z Marketing trend for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me this week, and I was helpless before it.

For the happily offline among us, the meme format is simple: the Millennial Team gives you the earnest, back-cover-copy voice that tries hard. The Gen Z Social peeps release the group-chat vibe check pitch that hooks you in under 3 seconds.

It’s not a dig at either generation, just an acknowledgment that the same content can reach different audiences if captioned accordingly.

I guess I have more in common with Steve than previously assumed, because I immediately had to do it to the other books. It’s Friday, House Andrews are heading to their event, I have access to Canva, and no one stopped me in time.

As your resident Millennial, I have no illusions about my ability to be cool on command. When I try to write promo copy, it’s immediately Cheugystan, and I realise the moment that third sentence starts that I’m a lost cause. I offer my Gen Z voice with humility and the complete expectation that the youths of the Horde will roast me accordingly.

Text in captions for accessibility.

The Inheritance, Breach Wars volume 1:

“single mom solos interdimensional OSHA violation” VS “A gripping sci-fi from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews – perfect for fans of Stargate! Adaline has bills, kids, and a government job that keeps sending her into alien death labyrinths for humanity’s survival. This time, the job goes very wrong.”

The Innkeeper Chronicles:

Millennial “Dina Demille runs a quiet Texas inn for intergalactic visitors. The house is sentient, the neighbor’s a werewolf and everyone who threatens her guests will discover that hospitality can be extremely well armed. A cozy sci-fi from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews.” VS Gen Z’s “b&b & intergalactic drama. early check-in available for philosophical space chickens”

Iron and Magic (Iron Covenant 1)

“warlord villain gets wife-guy’d by an eldritch farm queen” OR “A dark, explosive fantasy set in the world of Kate Daniels. Hugh d’Ambray, freshly-discarded warlord, must protect his Iron Dogs by forging an alliance with Elara Harper, the mysterious White Warlock. They need each other, they do not trust each other, and marriage may be the least dangerous part.”

Hidden Legacy:

“In a world ruled by magical dynasties, the Baylor family runs a private investigator firm with a dangerous case load, powerful enemies, and billionaire Prime allies entirely too used to getting their own way.” OR “houston’s magical nepo babies discover warehouse girlies bite back”

Which version would have made you pick up the book?

Reader Interactions

Comments

      • As a ’99 baby I have to add:

        Kate Daniels (mostly thinking about Magic Bites) slays!

        Technology and magic clocking out randomly while the alleged “lonely girl” collects allies and carries on by PURE AURA. It gives 2000 tutorial urban fantasy and you will be sat.

  4. Love this! I‘m
    Gen X so the Millenial versions suit me better but the the Z ones are so much fun.

    • Ditto on the Gen X (and proud of it – hey we survived childhood!!!!) and getting the Millennial spiel better. The Gen Z PR – so glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee!

    • Also Gen X here, but I was laughing with tears in my eyes for each and every one of these. Mod R rules!!!

    • Same, but GenX. Does anyone in GenZ even know what eldritch means? Sorry, but I’ve seen/heard how they write/speak, so I have my doubts.

      • Gen Z wrote the lyrics to eldritch Jolene, of course they know what it means 😉

        Please do not make me work for the Department of Generational Peacekeeping on a Saturday. Change is a feature of all living languages, Gen Z have efficient wit and this is a silly trend post 🙂

        • Same with mine. And since he’s a reader his vocab is just fine, the way they speak to each other when gaming online makes me giggle.

      • I do. And I’m Gen Z. It’s what you’d use to describe beings like Cthulhu. Something that can’t be explained by human comprehension.

  10. Coffee snort ———— “WIFE-GUY’D” 😀 😀 I’m 1/2 Baby Boomer and 1/2 whatever came next and all in on the Gen Z Social Team. I have recruited my kids and some friends for the BDH using Millennial speak however. Thank you Mod R for giving us alternative recruiting tools!

    • I’m a full Baby Boomer but agree +1000 on the recruiting tools.😉 Millennial speak is my go to…I’d get eye rolls if I tried GenZ.

    • They call us Generation Jones, Gwen.

      Generation Jones refers to the demographic cohort born between 1954 and 1965, positioned between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. This generation is characterized by unique cultural and economic experiences, often marked by a sense of disillusionment and pragmatism shaped by events like Watergate and the energy crisis of the 1970s.

    • I absolutely adore you Mod R! This was a nice laugh after a long week. As an old millennial or xennial, not sure I’m qualified to judge, but would totally read any of them based on your snippets. And three sentences max makes me clutch my pearls, although my colleagues will tell you to ask me for something only if prepared for the novel of an email that will include your answer.

  13. Thank you Mod R. This got me giggling on Friday afternoon. Wife-Guy’d. Seriously

  14. I’m not gen z so I can’t judge but I think you knocked it out of the park! I laughed out loud at every one.

    Let the inner-Steve be FREEEEEE.

  18. Oh. My. Gosh. Hugh wife-guy’d. Yep, he certainly was, is, and forever. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

    For people who haven’t heard of these books (I hear the loud gasp of the Horde), the millennial side is a good synopsis of the books.

    For those of us in the Horde (new and existing), the Gen Z side, especially “Houston nepo babies” with the picture of either toenails or fingernails being painted, are the quick way to get attention.

    Both sides are funny to read. I’m with the Gen X bunch in the Horde. The things we got away with back in the day…people can only dream about now. 😁

  20. This Elder Millennial approves all messages! Bravo, Mod R, and I felt personally attacked with that, “by the third sentence,” deep truth.

  21. These are awesome. I have learned to put my coffee down before I read the blog, otherwise . . . yeah, it wouldn’t be pretty. 🙂

    And yes, sometimes you just need to channel your inner Steve.

  22. I’d choose from millennial, I actually want a bit of info in my blurbs. Yours are good btw. And at least your Gen Z were funny and interesting, unlike Tors’ Gen Z offerings, which I found to be really oh who cares. Does Gen Z really have that short of an attention span?

  23. Interesting. Can we have GenX ones, too, please? I am scared to ask but also insanely curious at the same time, lol

    • Technically, those would be the official blurbs! And I did actually link them, woot 😂 so three generation spanned!

  24. I feel so old, like Gen Z is speaking another language entirely! At least I can understand the Milkenial version. 🤷‍♀️

  25. I’m laughing so hard at “osha violation”. Does gen z know what osha is? I thought they were all unemployed because of the economy? (/joking)

  26. Millennial PR Team

    Their comments on The Inheritance, Breach Wars volume 1 was great because I loved Stargate.

  27. We did the whole “which generation are you” quiz at the latest company get together and I basically turned out to be a Millennial identifying as Gen X with hints of Boomer, so honestly, I’m plain confused 🙈 The Gen Z stuff above made me laugh, and in the “blind date with a book” schtick those would work for me, but the rest of the time I prefer more info…

  28. Im milenial, never read that text on books, the Gen Z was so usefull, all books should have one sentence like that. So much bullshit in the millenial one.

  29. Definitely millennial lol
    I need more info before picking up new to me authors

    happy Friday & it’s national pizza day

      • Nepo is short for nepotism. A nepo baby is someone whose parents are famous. It is often used as a negative to say someone is successful or famous only because their parents are important or famous.

        • Not necessarily famous in terms of celebrity 🙂 – just very well established and connected in the same industry that their children also launch in, with the perceived automatic advantage of the name recognition, support and connections of the parent.

          In this case, the House ‘aristocracy’ system. We’ve seen several of them looking down on people for not being magically powerful or connected, or being from smaller Houses – and they paying for it 😉

  32. I’m Gen X and live ALL the copy! All of them would hook me up I lol’ed at The Inheritance and the Hidden Legacy Gen Z copy, especially

  35. I loved the early check-in! And the nepo babies. I’m totally boomer, but Mod R, you rock!

  39. Mod R. I saw those in my Instagram feed, and they are genius. I might just steal the idea to use for promos for my own books.

  40. I will pick up any book that Mod R recommends. As a fellow millennial, I have no chill and I support all of Mod R vibes. 6 7

  41. As an elder millennial, both grab me strongly, but gen Z is a try and millennial is a BUY.

  42. Those are hysterical. I can’t say I would buy it, but after knowing the books it is very fun.

  43. Baby Boomers: for any of the books

    “ Recommended by your kids”
    “ They know you will love it”

  47. Being Gen X, instead of either of these I want movie trailer guy voice. For Iron and Magic I can hear

    They kicked him out of his own army and thought he was defeated. After years on the run she found her own ground. Enemies gather on all sides, as this duo doubles down to defend their own. Magic sparks and swords fly in this blockbuster that shows what happens when the Iron Dog meets his White Lady

  48. I am a Boomer and am in awe of your way of succinctly describing each book! Having already read them I find the Gen Z absolutely hilarious. Thank you for the lmao’s !

  50. As the Gen X parent to a couple of Gen Z members of the BDH (you’re welcome), the millennial copy resonated but I had to laugh at the Gen Z-isms. Well played.

  51. You are so talented. Writing a blurb is an art in itself.
    As a Baby Boomer I need the Millennial on the back cover and the Gen Z’s which are hysterical on the front cover.

  54. As Gen X, I’d need the Millennial detail to actually choose the book but the Gen Z made me laugh. I did have to google “wife-guy’d” to get the joke so now I feel extra old on my birthday.

  55. *if* [BIG if] I can understand the Gen Z Social Team’s jargon, I definitely like it better. I have no idea what iskai’d means, but intergalactic B&B with early check in for space chickens & nepo babies get their ass kicked is perfect!

    • Isekai is the genre name for This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, it’s portal fantasy but Asian flavour :). Isekai’d is basically using the noun as a verb.

    • Was scrolling the comments to figure this out, too. Thanks Mod R, you are an excellent writer and we don’t deserve you!

  56. I had to laugh, I enjoyed ModR”s input because they were funny even while a couple flew a few miles over my head. My gen type has three labels Silent, Traditional and Builder.
    Silent is predominant.

    HA books are fantastically excellent. I have read all of them.

    Let the children enjoy themselves in the sandbox of words. Don’t need a computer or a television to describe them, all you need is an imagination.

  57. No one puts Mod R in a corner and she should frequently be left unattended with various tools and apps! These are brilliant.

    “Wife-guy’d” is great but Burn for me is the best! “warehouse girlies bite back” with the nail polish emoji is chef’s kiss. 👩🏻‍🍳💯

    • I had to look up Gen Jones as I have never heard of it before. Hey, fellow microgen! I’m an Xennial.

      I like the Millenial version, but prefer Gen Z myself. I’m a champion over explainer (AuDHD), but I prefer the less is more explanations. Probably because I admire it since I can’t seem to do it myself. 😂

  60. I’m gen X so I’d read the longer Millennial text, but “Philosophical Space Chickens” would make me look twice.
    The “Solo OSHA violation” almost made choke on my coffee!

  61. Sorry, but reading the space chicken bit and then seeing the Iron and Magic cover. Elena is a chicken centaur!

  62. OMG!! Warehouse girlies bite back! That is awesome.

    I don’t know where I am as an oldie boomer but I enjoyed it all.

    I think it’s time for my 5th relisten to Inheritance just on those prompts

  63. Much prefer the Millenial, but I’m a boomer and a fairly Luddite boomer at that!

  64. As someone squarely in the middle of the millenial horde, I probably would go for the millenial copy, but ‘wife guy’d by an eldritch farm queen’ would 100% get me, no question. Also, I’d probably fall for ‘Houston nepo babies’, but that’s because I’m from Texas and have actually met some Houston-area nepo babies and would, in fact, like to see some of them go up against the Baylors. I just think it would be fun to watch XD

  67. I’m older than both generations, so I’ll take the Millineal version. I can’t even on the Tor site Gen Z descriptions! I would have to Google what everything means! 🤣

  71. Boomer here. I actually had to look up some of the references in the Gen Z text, which made them even more hilarious. Great job, Mod R! Thanks for the laughs.

  72. Solidly millennial here – and the millennial blurbs would get me to buy (if I didn’t already own at least one copy of every one of these!), but every Gen Z blurb made me LOL

  73. I wouldn’t have pick up any book by the gen Z social team. Only bcse I don’t have any clue what the he** they’re talking about.
    I only get the gist bcse I’ve already read them. Trust me, gen Z still reads the synopsis on the back of the books to see if it’s worth reading. (GenZ still in habitation)

  74. If I had never read them, the Millennium version. Since I have read all several times, Mod R clicks the “I have to go reread this NOW” button. Heehee

  76. Oh, the Warehouse Girlies in Burn for me got me laughing. So true to the book.

  79. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Love these!

  81. I’m a millennial, so perhaps that has already locked me into Slot A, but most of the Gen Z promo stuff would have left me with: “Yeeaah, I have no idea what this book is about. Somebody please explain it to me.” Then I would have read the Millennial blurb and been like “Oh, well, that actually sounds interesting.”

  82. This Z is a Boomer…and I preferred the Millennial versions, but the Gen Z explanations were kinda cute! Sparse, but cute.

  84. Really like these! But, I have one thought. I’d submit that Gertrude Hunt is truly sapient, not just sentient. I mean, shrimp and mice are sentient. Surely our favorite “building” is far, far more than them.

  85. As a late boomer, I didn’t even understand most of the Gen Z speak.
    For me it’s the Millennial versions.
    I can do without the New York Times bestseller pitch, though.
    It seems every author is on it, so it doesn’t add much.
    Plus, I don’t care in general whether other people like a book or not.
    Just tell me what it’s about and I’ll decide for myself if I want to spend money.

  86. The funny thing is I am drawn to the Millennial blurb for the ones done by Mod R, but the Tor blurb mentions Game of Thrones so that would be an instant turn off for me. If I didn’t know their other books I wouldn’t try this one based on that blurb. I am caught between the Gen X and Boomer generations, just FYI. I did read the book (borrowed it from my local library), and enjoyed most of it. Reserving judgment on the rest until the sequel is available…

    • yeah, I dislike the way a lot of publishers add unrelated titles like that. I loathed Outlander and GOT will probably never be finished. If I went by those I’d never read it.

  87. Being a Boomer, I am totally impressed at how well spoken and on point the Millennial ads are but the Gen Z way of putting things just made me laugh. I am in the Gen Z camp even if I have to look up every other word.

  89. Gen Z comercials are way cooler but Millenials get better information.
    I’m old – I want information

  90. Seems like my Millenial mind ‘goes boomer’ on Gen Z… “this youth today, I don’t unterstand it” XD

  91. Gen X feeling completely validated LMAO

    Please do the rest to the books …. So made me smile

  95. The millennial ones all the way, the gen Z ones aren’t detailed enough, they don’t grab me.

  96. I would’ve definitely picked the Gen Z version as a nod to my daughter!😁

    BTW, I’m (just barely) a Boomer (1959) but I’m starting college in August to get my Associates of Arts degree (no reason just feel like it) so maybe I’m an Honorary Gen Z? 😂

  98. Mod R, I have to say that your images made it to the email, if someone hasn’t whooped on that yet, then, Whoop! Whoop!

    I just stopped by the blog to see the Instagram post. As a Gen X, I just sit back and let the later gens do their thing. I’ll just wander off when it gets to be too much. I got plants to water, coffee to drink, sweaters to finish, books to read, people to avoid, and stuff.

  100. I’m a Gen X’er too and appreciate bullet points at work. The Gen Z had me laughing, but I had to google the slang. Thanks for my morning laugh!