The book blurb is one of the most difficult aspects to write, as many authors struggle to find the words to succinctly tease the story without it reading like a summary. It usually takes me a week to be completely satisfied with my blurb, though the total time i spend on it is normally, maybe a couple hours. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. Keep in mind at all times the blurb is what sells the book, so. To set yourself apart is good, to be too different from the rest is not. If youre wondering how to do that and where to start, it involves penning multiple drafts, lots of cutting, losing your sanity, and planning your blurb with the help of these steps. On the other hand, what better time to wrestle with a challenge that will take your mind of how crazy the world has suddenly gotten. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. Movies do this incredibly well in their trailers and descriptions, so it may be an idea to look at some popular movies and see how they do it. Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b. Although ive seen a couple back covers that did something a bit different like quote from the story and since most books are written in past tense the blurb was in past tense. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book by lynn serafinn on july 17th, 20 lynn serafinn shares a template for writing good marketing copy for your wholesalers, and discusses what to put on the back cover and back pages of your book.
Mar 26, 2020 the only thing more challenging than writing the first sentence of your book might just be crafting your back cover blurbs opening line. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. May 27, 2015 book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit. Apr 26, 2018 this is specifically for fiction writers who have a great book and need help showcasing it for an agent or for selfpublishing. Fwiw, many authors write their own blurbs and for most of us, it is horrible. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. This is specifically for fiction writers who have a great book and need help showcasing it for an agent or for selfpublishing. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book.
Introduce the situation and characters in the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. Yes, debbie downer, my book probably wont make it into a bookstore, but i like putting a blurb on the back, so i will.
A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Writing it out fortunately for the fiction writers out there, writing a book blurb for a memoir is incredibly similar to writing a description for a fictional story. New authors sometimes rush this decision, writing the first. Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit. With that in mind, i wrote a logline for my current wip as soon as i began writing. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company. Its ironic, after writing thousands of words to create your novel, that a 100200 word blurb pitching your baby to potential readers could completely stump you. If anyone needs a little help on the back blurb, i hope this helps. How to write a romance blurb blog author rosalind james.
Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. The blurb is the short description on the back of the book.
A back cover blurb is the summary that goes on the back cover of your book. It is time for you to go to your just right reading spot and independently read. In a nonfiction book, you are selling your knowledge, your writing, and yourself, so if the blurb doesnt represent the typical language you use in your book, the reader will feel a disconnect. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. So youve written your book, youve chosen your title and cover design, and youre breathing a sigh of relief. They might flip to the back of your book or to the dust jacket and read the blurb. Not long after that i wrote the back blurb to keep me focused on the main plot line. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind.
Go over to your bookshelf or go to your favorite bookshop and look at the back cover blurb of one of your favorite books. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. Besides the time when i think it up, generally on a. Once your title and cover have drawn the reader in, the. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020.
But thats exactly how i felt after writing the first two books of the conjurors series. Link and close the minilesson by saying, readers, the blurb on the back is such a great place to get information and a overview of the characters and issues in your book. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. I had a ridiculous number of blurb drafts that all seemed cheesy and. While theres no official formula for blurb writing, what youre likely to see is a similar layout on the backs of those books you just looked at. Fifth grade lesson the blurb on the back betterlesson.
Jul 05, 2018 when i was writing a blurb for my most recent book, you cant go home again, i had to spend a little time doing each of these things in order to hit the right note for the audience. In simple terms, a blurb is the short yet descriptive account of the book that goes on the back cover. For ebooks, the description is posted on a book s purchasing page, along with the book cover and price. Jan 14, 2019 the blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. Fail to engage your target readers in that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. The blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy. Aug, 2015 in todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. She has over fifteen years of experience writing compelling marketing copy for a variety of clients. The blurb should include any information that represents the. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. Writing a blurb for your back cover vania margene rheault. How to write a blurb, back cover copy or sales description. A good blurb should also give readers a feel for the main character or main characters.
Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb. How to build the back of a book cover with template. When i was writing a blurb for my most recent book, you cant go home again, i had to spend a little time doing each of these things in order to hit the right note for the audience. Nov 19, 2010 you pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. Besides the time when i think it up, generally on a walk or a run, towards the end of writing the book. As an author herself both traditionally and selfpublished, she also brings the authors perspective to her blurb writing and will ensure your book blurb is original, intriguing, succinct, and designed to entice readers to buy your book. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers.
Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. Add comments for more like this author, back cover blurb, back cover copy, book, collection, compilation novel, how to write, novel, selfpublishing back cover blurb, selfpublishing compilation, short stories, short story, short story collection, short story compilation, writing back cover blurb, writing tips. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb. Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Blurbs are a brief description of a book typically found on the back of a book or within the book sleeve of a hardcover book. Here is an example of a shout line, taken from one of my own books. You pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Most run several paragraphs, but some publishers want them shorter or in a special format so be sure to check with your publishers guidelines before you begin work. Dec 04, 2019 a book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book.
Jul 14, 2016 a simple guide to writing the blurb of a book. Jan 09, 2017 composing the blurb in a rush to meet my publishers deadline wasnt the best way to go about it and i knew i needed to be prepared the next time. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. With some trial and error, time spent working on the voice, and maybe a little crazyglue to keep myself in the chair to completioni think i nailed it. Sep 25, 2016 a blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. The next thing you do is read the back blurb, or if you are online, you read the first excerpt which is usually the same thing. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in formal context i. Think about what goes on the back of most books and how important it is in attracting attention to the title inside. Vintage romantic tales of fright, i struggle with writing back cover copy, also known as, the blurb. Jan 14, 2014 its ironic, after writing thousands of words to create your novel, that a 100200 word blurb pitching your baby to potential readers could completely stump you. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents.
Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b a version without a testimonial. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. The space on the back cover of a book for blurbs, which are brief promotional paragraphs, is one of the more valuable spots for book promotion. How to write a killer book synopsis aka back blurb or. The synopsis is always written in present tense and most back cover blurbs are also written in present tense.
Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. On the back of your book cover, youll want an author bio and website usually but just one or two short sentences. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. It should introduce your main characters, give an insight on conflict, depict genre and arouse interest. The book blurb s main purpose is to lure readers in and captivate them enough to buy the book. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Now you have to decide what goes on the back cover. I talk about how long a blurb should be, what to include in it, and. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. It is also what customers who buy your book online will use to decide if they want to make a purchase.
Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. Jan 14, 2014 and after that, walk away, come back, and polish. A book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book. You have another author bio in the back of the book thats for connecting with readers and making your optin offer. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. How to write a back cover blurb with examples book editing. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. How to write a blurb for your nonfiction book blurb blog.
The only thing more challenging than writing the first sentence of your book might just be crafting your back cover blurbs opening line. In the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. The writing on a back of the cover or dust jacket is sometimes referred to as the book synopsis or blurb as much as i know youd love to read an article about dust jackets, in this article, we will dive deeper into the written matter on the back of the book cover. Fortunately for the fiction writers out there, writing a book blurb for a memoir is incredibly similar to writing a description for a fictional story. The most difficult thing about being a successful independent author is marketing your book, and the back cover blurb is your most visible sales pitch. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. For example, if youve written a nonfiction selfhelp book and the back blurb reads more like a thriller novel, thats going to leave readers more confused than engaged. Worse than the cover, worse than the writing in the book itself, there are a lot of blurbs on amazon that are pretty near atrocious. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. The hook is the first sentence or two of a book blurb, and it should immediately stand out and grab the readers attention. The first is sales copy, the second is relationship building and to get them to take the next step. Give them a few minutes to figure out tricky words and to synthesize the information. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. But there are parts that you can write at any stage of the process.
This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. The blurb should be in the same style as the rest of the book, for example. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. Say, students, read the blurb on the back of your book and be ready to talk about what is happening or what you expect is going to happen in your book based on what the blurb says. Composing the blurb in a rush to meet my publishers deadline wasnt the best way to go about it and i knew i needed to be prepared the next time. Back of book synopsisblurb creative writing forums. Its a yummy book, and you can find it here and read the blurb too if youd like. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof.
A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Polgarus provided me with terrific blurbs on a tightdeadline. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. Movies do this incredibly well in their trailers and descriptions, so it may be an idea to. Introduce the situation and characters in the case of. When writing a back cover blurb, you want it to set you apart from other books in your genre. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. Book blurbs are an oftoverlooked part of a writers marketing. You should have the following goals and ideas in mind.