Writing a back of the book blurb

How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. Go over to your bookshelf or go to your favorite bookshop and look at the back cover blurb of one of your favorite books. To set yourself apart is good, to be too different from the rest is not. Fifth grade lesson the blurb on the back betterlesson. The blurb should be in the same style as the rest of the book, for example. 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. The synopsis is always written in present tense and most back cover blurbs are also written in present tense.

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. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question. 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. It should introduce your main characters, give an insight on conflict, depict genre and arouse interest. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. 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.

How to write a romance blurb blog author rosalind james. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. How to write a killer book synopsis aka back blurb or. Back of book synopsisblurb creative writing forums. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. So youve written your book, youve chosen your title and cover design, and youre breathing a sigh of relief. 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. 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. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. Give them a few minutes to figure out tricky words and to synthesize the information.

Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. As already noted, writing a back book blurb is a marketing exercise. Keep in mind at all times the blurb is what sells the book, so. Jan 14, 2019 the blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. Jan 14, 2014 and after that, walk away, come back, and polish.

A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. 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. Sep 25, 2016 a blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. How to write a blurb, back cover copy or sales description. 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. 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. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. Besides the time when i think it up, generally on a walk or a run, towards the end of writing the book. 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. Put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover. Not long after that i wrote the back blurb to keep me focused on the main plot line. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective.

With that in mind, i wrote a logline for my current wip as soon as i began writing. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells. You have another author bio in the back of the book thats for connecting with readers and making your optin offer. The next thing you do is read the back blurb, or if you are online, you read the first excerpt which is. 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. 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. 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. I had a ridiculous number of blurb drafts that all seemed cheesy and.

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. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. 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.

Its one of the first opportunities you have to convince your reader to buy your book. 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. 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. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. 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. Here are six rules to be mindful of before you put pen to paper on your back book cover blurb. Nov 19, 2010 you pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. Polgarus provided me with terrific blurbs on a tightdeadline. 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. The first is sales copy, the second is relationship building and to get them to take the next step.

This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list. On the back of your book cover, youll want an author bio and website usually but just one or two short sentences. Aug, 2015 in todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. You should have the following goals and ideas in mind. Im not gonna lie though, writing that blurb was hard. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. 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. 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. That way you dont overwhelm your readers with a wall of text or too much information.

Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. 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. When writing a back cover blurb, you want it to set you apart from other books in your genre. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. 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.

A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. Blurb create, print, and sell professionalquality photo. Its a yummy book, and you can find it here and read the blurb too if youd like. You have to write one anyway, so might as well copy and paste it on there. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. She has over fifteen years of experience writing compelling marketing copy for a variety of clients. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. 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. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. 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. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket 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. Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. There are three key areas you need to focus on when writing your back cover. 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. Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. It is time for you to go to your just right reading spot and independently read. How to write an irresistible book cover blurb ignite your. Your back cover is not just a summary, its a special form of ad copy. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise.

Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. New authors sometimes rush this decision, writing the first. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more. Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. Fiction or nonfiction basic blurbcover copyproduct description for fiction or nonfiction extended product description. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. This means all the focus needs to be on the reader their needs and expectations. Yes, debbie downer, my book probably wont make it into a bookstore, but i like putting a blurb on the back, so i will. 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. The blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book.

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. Introduce the situation and characters in the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. Everyone knows about the summary of text on the back of the book that convinces readers, yes. You pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. Ideally, your back cover blurb should be 100200 words and contain line breaks. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. 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.

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. Above the list, speak directly to the readers, and give them the primary reason why they should read your book. My 4step process for writing a nonfiction book blurb that sells. But thats exactly how i felt after writing the first two books of the conjurors series. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. 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. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools.

With this in mind, lets go over how you can create a killer back cover blurb and sell more books. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. How to write an irresistible book cover blurb ignite. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. 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.

But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. 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. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal. 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. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites.