Writing a back of the book blurb

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. 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. A book blurb also called a back cover 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. 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. It should introduce your main characters, give an insight on conflict, depict genre and arouse interest. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal.

Its a yummy book, and you can find it here and read the blurb too if youd like. How to write an irresistible book cover blurb ignite. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. She has over fifteen years of experience writing compelling marketing copy for a variety of clients. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Ideally, your back cover blurb should be 100200 words and contain line breaks. Writing a blurb for your back cover vania margene rheault. This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list.

Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. Nov 19, 2010 you pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information.

A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. 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. The next thing you do is read the back blurb, or if you are online, you read the first excerpt which is. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. To set yourself apart is good, to be too different from the rest is not. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. Now you have to decide what goes on the back cover.

Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. Here are six rules to be mindful of before you put pen to paper on your back book cover blurb. 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. Dec 04, 2019 a book blurb also called a back cover 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. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. As already noted, writing a back book blurb is a marketing exercise. That way you dont overwhelm your readers with a wall of text or too much information. 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 simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. Aug, 2015 in todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. 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. Keep in mind at all times the blurb is what sells the book, so.

Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. Apr 26, 2018 aka a book blurb or synopsis this is specifically for fiction writers who have a great book and need help showcasing it for an agent or for selfpublishing. 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. Its one of the first opportunities you have to convince your reader to buy your book. I had a ridiculous number of blurb drafts that all seemed cheesy and. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in.

But thats exactly how i felt after writing the first two books of the conjurors series. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. 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. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others.

Im not gonna lie though, writing that blurb was hard. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. When writing a back cover blurb, you want it to set you apart from other books in your genre. You have to write one anyway, so might as well copy and paste it on there. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. You should have the following goals and ideas in mind. 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. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question.

There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. Sep 25, 2016 a blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools. Fifth grade lesson the blurb on the back betterlesson. Blurb, back cover copy, jacket copy, or promotional copy whatever you call it, a great book description is your second best marketing tool your cover is number one. Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells. Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. Fail to engage your target readers in that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Jan 14, 2014 and after that, walk away, come back, and polish.

The blurb should be in the same style as the rest of the book, for example. How to write a killer book synopsis aka back blurb or. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. Fiction or nonfiction basic blurbcover copyproduct description for fiction or nonfiction extended product description. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. With that in mind, i wrote a logline for my current wip as soon as i began writing. How to write a romance blurb blog author rosalind james. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. Once your title and cover have drawn the reader in, the blurb is what is going to make the difference between a missed opportunity and a sale. 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. Back of book synopsisblurb creative writing forums. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so.

A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. This means all the focus needs to be on the reader their needs and expectations. 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. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb. 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. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere.

You have another author bio in the back of the book thats for connecting with readers and making your optin offer. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. Which is why today i want to share with you what i learned about writing a blurb so that hopefully youll have an easier time of it than i did. 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. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb.

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. 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. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. 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. Blurb create, print, and sell professionalquality photo. On the back of your book cover, youll want an author bio and website usually but just one or two short sentences. 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. My 4step process for writing a nonfiction book blurb that sells.

Not long after that i wrote the back blurb to keep me focused on the main plot line. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. How to write an irresistible book cover blurb ignite your. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs.

How to write a blurb, back cover copy or sales description. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Yes, debbie downer, my book probably wont make it into a bookstore, but i like putting a blurb on the back, so i will. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. 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. Everyone knows about the summary of text on the back of the book that convinces readers, yes. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more.

A book blurb also called a back cover blurb or a book description is a short description of the book s 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. It is time for you to go to your just right reading spot and independently read. The blurb is a promotional description, found 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. 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. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. 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. A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. The blurb of your book is the second thing a potential reader will look at after the cover so take the time to get it right. 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.

Besides the time when i think it up, generally on a walk or a run, towards the end of writing the book. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. The synopsis is always written in present tense and most back cover blurbs are also written in present tense. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. The blurb is the short description on the back of the book. New authors sometimes rush this decision, writing the first. 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. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. So youve written your book, youve chosen your title and cover design, and youre breathing a sigh of relief. Polgarus provided me with terrific blurbs on a tightdeadline.

Give them a few minutes to figure out tricky words and to synthesize the information. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. As i near the release date of death before daylight, i remember more topics that i can talk about due to the tasks i must complete beforehand. Jan 14, 2019 the blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. Your back cover is not just a summary, its a special form of ad copy. There are three key areas you need to focus on when writing your back cover. Above the list, speak directly to the readers, and give them the primary reason why they should read your book. With this in mind, lets go over how you can create a killer back cover blurb and sell more books. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a.

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. Sep 03, 2018 briggs hits many other keys to a successful description of a book in this example. How to write an amazing back cover blurb for your book. Writing industry caitlin berve august 27, 2018 ignited ink writing, llc book covers, book cover design, back book cover, book blurb, author bio, fonts, emotion, emily st. Aka a book blurb or synopsis this is specifically for fiction writers who have a great book and need help showcasing it for an agent or for selfpublishing. The first is sales copy, the second is relationship building and to get them to take the next step. Put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover.