Why you need the perfect book blurb and how to write it. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. At the end well deconstruct blurb examples for books in seven bestselling nonfiction categories on amazon. 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. Aug 08, 2009 examples of blurbs to share in your primary classroom. Jan 14, 2014 which means that writing blurbs for my books was a piece of cake, right. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb. The howto of writing the perfect blurb for your book or novel is a cocktail of creating suspense while revealing the main characters or conflict.
I had to learn how to do it, because writing one type of copy isnt the same as writing another. The blurb is often referred to as a synopsis or simply book description. Lets take a look at the 5 core elements of a good book blurb and how you. Top tips on writing a book blurb that really sells nicholas. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. To do this, you should first create several different drafts or potential book blurbs. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. Which means that writing blurbs for my books was a piece of cake, right. How is it that a writer can write a story spanning tens of thousands of words but stumble at a 250300 word book blurb describing it. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count.
How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. Every blurb needs a standout, meat, and an emotional payoff. Firstly, highlighting your success in the bookwriting world. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools.
The blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know them. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. Writing book blurbs and synopses rayne halls guide not only shows you stepbystep how to perfect your blurb but also shows you five other short forms that help sell your book. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. Sticking with mark dawsons book descriptions as an example, here is part of a blurb from another one of his thrillers. Writing the book description is a rather daunting task, which is why many authors would rather avoid it. The cover and blurb are crucial in drawing in potential readers, sparking their interest and, in many cases, can be the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. Reference your bookwriting or professional status, if it relates to your book. For nonfiction, the blurb generally summarizes the content, not focusing on attentiongetting teasers. Just as a sales professional would finetune and hone his or her sales pitch, youll need to put the same time and energy into making sure your book s blurb is the best it can possibly be.
How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. It is the piece of writing that potential readers will see first and inform their. Sometimes coming up with the right words for a book blurb can be more stressful than writing the ebook itself. Your confidential guide to the perfect book blurb 1. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. Before jumping into the blurb, a lot of authors count on the sentence trio to create impact and generate interest for their target readers. In this series, i hope to help you find your way through the mass of information on book. Get a more indepth look at these three elements and see examples from real amazon book pages in our post on writing an irresistible blurb for your novel. When it comes time to market your book, youll be thankful you did. Then, write 12 additional sentences that explain the plot of the story in a general way. Nov 15, 2019 when you need to write a blurb for a movie, book, or other project, start by writing a clever and catchy hook that introduces some of the characters and setting of the topic.
A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb september 25, 2016 september 25, 2016 kaitlin hillerich in my last post, i mentioned that ive been working on a novella and shared some reasons why you should write. Firstly, highlighting your success in the book writing world. Introduce your main character s at its core, novels are a storytelling medium. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. But fear not, because theres a secret science to writing the perfect book blurb. Here are six rules to be mindful of before you put pen to paper on your back book cover blurb. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. While theres no perfect formula for writing the best blurb for your novel, there are some patterns worth noting. Dont worry, in this article, well walk you through the important points to keep in mind while writing your book s blurb, as well as give you a simple blurb template that sells and some bestseller examples for different genres. Another tip to consider before getting started on your book blurb is to write a 300 to 500word summary of your story then create a wordcloud out of that summary. The occult art of the poetry book blurb on taking up writing it had not once occurred to me that one of the tasks of being a writer might be to come up with those concise, quippy phrases on the covers of books. Your confidential guide to the perfect book blurb standout books. My 4step process for writing a nonfiction book blurb that.
How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Why you need the perfect book blurb and how to write it november 4, 2019 welcome back to my occasional series on marketing your book. Oct 04, 20 an easytofollow, practical guide to writing the best blurb to sell your selfpublished book, provided by ya author sarah juckes of completelynovel. In this article, we will talk about some features of a good blurb and share tips on how to write a compelling book blurb. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. Mar 02, 2016 great ideas to write a blurb that works for your book. Dont worry, in this article, well walk you through the important points to keep in mind while writing your books blurb, as well as give you a simple blurb template that sells and some bestseller examples for different genres. Go over to your bookshelf or go to your favorite bookshop and look at the back cover blurb of one of your favorite books. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. Make it so droolworthy that everybody will want to buy a copy of your book. Mar, 2019 sometimes coming up with the right words for a book blurb can be more stressful than writing the ebook itself. In this post, we tell you how to write a book blurb in five easy steps. As already noted, writing a back book blurb is a marketing exercise.
This means all the focus needs to be on the reader their needs and expectations. Nov 19, 2017 writing the dreaded book blurb every author faces this last crucial challenge. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells. To write a good blurb, you have to make it short and exciting, yet relevant. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur.
Writing the perfect back cover copy blurb for your book written by andrew knighton good cover copy, the description of your book that appears on the back and on the pages of online stores, is critical. In this post, three publishing editors have shared their secret behind writing the best blurb. The occult art of the poetry book blurb rachael mead. Fox emm shares how to write an effective book blurb for your memoir, or any piece of writing. Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb. Writing the perfect blurb for your book no longer has to be a struggle, with the help of the wonderful advice in this book.
But maybe it was a little easier and less scary to learn. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. The author breaks it down step by step in an easy to follow manner that will help you to write the best blurb for your book. Writing the dreaded book blurb every author faces this last crucial challenge. How to write an irresistible book synopsis youtube. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb. In this series, i hope to help you find your way through the mass of information on book marketing and find a route through that works for you. In doing this, youre likely to discover the perfect formula for a blurb that works in your favor for successful marketing strategy. Nov 04, 2019 why you need the perfect book blurb and how to write it november 4, 2019 welcome back to my occasional series on marketing your book. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. Author confessions how to write the perfect blurb for your book novel 1 it took me about a week to get it right.
How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. Writing a book blurb can be tricky and intimidating but with a little. Copywriting is a completely different skillset to creating fiction, and im here to help you get that blurb in tiptop shape, whether youve already published and want to straighten out your catalogue, or youd like to get it pitch perfect before you publish for the first time. While theres no official formula for blurb writing, what youre likely to see is a similar layout on the backs of those books. Sep 25, 2016 a simple outline for writing a killer book blurb september 25, 2016 september 25, 2016 kaitlin hillerich in my last post, i mentioned that ive been working on a novella and shared some reasons why you should write one of your own. The perfect back cover blurb january 9, 2017 by sophie masson does it even exist, that perfect enticement to readers, that perfect pearl of a teaser which makes you. Jan 14, 2019 before jumping into the blurb, a lot of authors count on the sentence trio to create impact and generate interest for their target readers. Yes, its still difficult and yes, its much harder to do for your own work, but it is possible. As some folks know, i spent my misguided youthall right, all right, my misguided middle ageas a copywriter. Ive written blurbs for my nonfiction books and abstracts for numerous scholarly articles, but composing a blurb for my first novel, psychotropics, presented unique challenges.
Your book blurb must be wellwritten to get a readers attention. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Fail to engage your target readers in that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. Top tips on writing a book blurb that really sells. Jan 14, 2014 how to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb posted on january 14, 2014 by conjurors 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. And last but not least, referencing the central point of conflict. Its function is to get a readers attention and hopefully entice them into purchasing your book. By following the formulas above and splittesting writing several blurbs, you may well be on your way to writing.
Check out our examples of blurbs, and the dos, and donts to help you craft the best blurb. Every blurb writer needs to know their audience and what the reader is looking to buy. They say not to judge a book by its cover but lets be honest, we all do exactly that. Writing the perfect back cover copy blurb for your book written by andrew knighton good cover copy, the description of your book that appears on the back and on the pages of online. An easytofollow, practical guide to writing the best blurb to sell your selfpublished book, provided by ya author sarah juckes of completelynovel. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb posted on january 14, 2014 by conjurors its ironic, after writing thousands of words to create your novel, that a 100200 word blurb. It is the piece of writing that potential readers will see first and inform their decision on whether to buy it after all. Worse than the cover, worse than the writing in the book itself, there are a lot of blurbs.
Youve already spent untold hours researching, writing and editing your book. So, ok, here are my tips for writing your kickass romance blurb. Ultimately, your book s blurb should be an elevator pitch to your potential readers. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. How to write a romance blurb blog author rosalind james. How to write an effective blurb for a selfpublished book. How to write an irresistible book blurb in 5 easy steps. That elusive quest to capture 100,000 words and years of work in 100150 words. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either.
Writing the perfect book blurb in 25 words the teri tome. Writing the perfect back cover copy blurb for your book. The book blurb s main purpose is to lure readers in and captivate them enough to buy the book. I have my urban fantasy novel written and edited but im finding the writing of the blurb to be strangely daunting. Armed with a killer introduction, lovable characters, and the perfect word count, your blurb can mean the difference between a book that sells well and a book that, well, doesnt. Tips for nonfiction when it comes to telling readers what your nonfiction book is about, its not the time for a birds eye view.
Chose from several free tools or use adobe indesign or adobe lightroom. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb. Focus on the core dilemma the main character faces. Here are four steps for writing a blurb to boost your books success. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. If youre looking for great nonfiction book blurb examples, youve come to the right place.
All that remains is the book blurb, the opening salvo in the promotional war. If youd rather have someone else write you an amazing blurb then let us know, but if you want to write your own. Youve gone several tense rounds to find the perfect cover. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. Master the blurb and youll join the ranks of true marketing pros. I struggled with how to start, where to start, and what to write.
Create, print, and sell professionalquality photo books, magazines, trade books, and ebooks with blurb. Every blurb should be active, evocative, and avoid cliche. Writing book blurbs and synopses by rayne hall is available as a kindle ebook and in paperback. 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. Blurbs sell shows with concise, compelling, and practical writing. Your blurb will be an important part of your marketing. Oct 11, 2019 top tips on writing a book blurb that really sells. I was about halfway through the writing of my book when i was asked to write a blurb for the back cover. Keywords are the breadcrumbs you leave that allow readers to find your book, and they play an especially important role in the blurb where you explain what your book is about. Read this article closely, follow its advice, and watch your career reap the rewards. This short video is brought to you by publishnation. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb.
For ebooks, the description is posted on a book s purchasing page, along with the book cover and price. 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. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. One of the best ways to ensure that youve written a successful and engaging book blurb is to test it out on readers. In this article, youll find out why blurbs are critical to the success of your book sales and youll learn how to craft the perfect blurb.