Writing book jacket blurbs

Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. The writers guide to amazing book blurbs fiction writing tools 6 kindle edition by soule, s. Write a great book jacket blurb nina munteanu writing coach. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. The writers guide to amazing book blurbs fiction writing.

A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. 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. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. And they are fighting words, indeedan author would be hardpressed to find a better endorsement for her bookjacket. This seller helpt me by reading my poetry book and writing a great and accurate book blurb and praise. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work.

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. A synopsis is not like the text on the back jacket of a book. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your novel a. When defining a blurb its important to distinguish between a description blurb.

Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. This is because writers dont really understand what a blurb is meant to do. How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. The blurb should include any information that represents the. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page.

Those book blurbs are much shorter and normally offer only a teaser, rather than a full rundown of the books story. Here are a few thoughts on how you can make the back of your book really sing. A while ago i wrote about the importance of an effectiveand accurately portrayedbook cover design for your book. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell.

A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling back cover copy. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover synopsis that leaves her guessing. While theres no perfect formula for writing the best blurb for your novel, there are some patterns worth noting. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. And writing a blurbthough hardly a noble literary callingis at least ostensibly a way to help publicize and sell copies of a.

How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. How to write good jacket copy nathan bransford writing. Patchett herself is inundated with blurb requests, even for galleys before a book has been sold to a. 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. To help prevent you from falling into this unfortunate group, weve put together a few tips that should help you write a winning book blurb, whether its for the latest fantasy novel or for a nonfiction selfhelp guide. And since youre selfpublishing, whats on your physical book matters a lot less than how its going to appear on amazon and other marketplaces. Many writers find writing book blurbs really difficult. So, you have a book coming out, or maybe youre editing an anthology, and now you have to write the dust jacket copywhat should it include. I have seen nonfiction blurbs that are more about the author than the content of the book and i have seen fiction blurbs that are a synopsis of the story and even tell the reader the ending. How to write an effective blurb for a selfpublished book.

How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. So now lets roll up our sleeves and get into how to write a book jacket cover what is copy. Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. This writing gig is right under our noses literally but most writers never consider book jacket writing as a potential client opportunity. A great post breaking down the daunting task of writing book blurbs. Firstly, highlighting your success in the bookwriting world. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art.

How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. Book blurbs are an oftoverlooked part of a writers marketing. Ann patchett, an author who opened her own bookstore in nashville last year, believes the only time blurbs have an impact is of theyre abundant and from prominent writers. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. Six writers tell all about covers and blurbs the awl. Previously, i covered the why of writing book jacket copy. Secondly, introducing the protagonist in a way that creates intrigue without delving into details. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. The best blurbs come from someone with a reputation in the same space. For ebooks, the description is posted on a books purchasing page, along with the book cover and price. Especially blurbs for books ive already read it helps if ive read those books multiple times, too. How to write a great nonfiction book blurb from polly letofsky of my word publishing.

In simple terms, a blurb is the short yet descriptive account of the book that goes on the back cover. Now you have to decide what goes on the back cover. Blurb distinct from the back book cover blurb is this 12 line endorsement of a book by a celebrity or another author that sits on the book s front cover. Its important to know where your jacket and marketing copy will live and craft your pitch with that in mind. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. 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. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal. They might flip to the back of your book or to the dust jacket and read the blurb. Book jacket copy isnt about summarizing your project or providing the reader with a clear synopsis or plot spoiler. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading writing book blurbs and synopses. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book by lynn serafinn on july 17th, 20. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes.

Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb. My top choice was my writing idol, dave barry, so my agent asked me to. Book jacket blurbs crossword clue answer crossword heaven. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and. So youve written your book, youve chosen your title and cover design, and youre breathing a sigh of relief. How to write an awesome jacket blurb for your novel the last two weeks i went through the process of writing a book proposal for my first novel. How to write an awesome jacket blurb for your novel. For all intents and purposes, your publisher has written this.

September 25, 2016 september 25, 2016 kaitlin hillerich. 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. As a firsttime author, how do you get quotes from popular authors for the cover of your book. As you gather endorsements sometimes referred to as blurbs for you book, youll want to keep a few things in mind.

What helps them decide if they want to make the purchase. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. How to sell your manuscript to publishers and your indie book to readers writers craft 19 kindle edition by hall, rayne. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. New authors sometimes rush this decision, writing the first. An easytofollow, practical guide to writing the best blurb to sell your selfpublished book, provided by ya author sarah juckes of completelynovel. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy.

Its always a good idea to go and read a dozen or so other jacket blurbs before. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. Tags blurb, writing, editing, cover, hunger games, gone girl, blurbs, how to write a blurb you must select a collection to display. Others dont know how to use html or how to chunk the information. How to write a novel synopsis with an example jericho. I love to read book blurbs when i am looking to write one. The process is exactly the same as writing a blurb for a fiction book, although the blurb will focus on selling the benefits of the book to the potential reader and how the book will help them if they buy it, rather than trying to hook them into a story.

The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy.

Fiction or nonfiction basic blurbcover copyproduct description for fiction or nonfiction extended product description. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. Forget the book, have you read this irresistible story on blurbs. How to get book blurbstestimonials for your book cover. A download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Most books have book blurbs on the book jacket, giving it instant credibility. You should regularly maintain your bio on places like your bookbub author profile so fans and potential readers seeking you out can learn more about you and why they should pick up your latest book.

A blurb is for enticing a reader, giving them a little taste of what the book is about. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. Bookjacket blurb is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 2 times.

While many selfpublished authors feel confident with writing book blurbs, many others find it challenging to distil the thoughts and language of their book into marketing copy. Blurbs i always like to include a blurb or three on the back, usually before or after the actual dust jacket copy. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. I was a bit confused about the difference at first. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. The curious history of book blurbs and why theyre still around. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. Book blurbs are an oftoverlooked part of a writers marketing planafter youve spent so much time writing a new book, it can feel. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the writers guide to amazing book blurbs fiction writing tools 6. Other evidence of blurbs effectiveness is mostly anecdotal.

As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. 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. You know, the little summary of the plot you see on the back of book covers. For the same reason, a novel synopsis is not the same as an amazonstyle book description. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. Yours is fantastic, and thanks to your expertise youve helped me craft an. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. Once a reader sees a book cover design and thinks the book title is intriguing, whats next. Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a wellcrafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. Here are a few examples of great blurbs for a few of greenleafs recent titles. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage.