Back of the book blurb help

First you need to determine which book format you want to orderhardcover dust jacket, hardcover imagewrap, andor softcover, and whether you want to order an ebook. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. Ive never written a blurb before and would love some help tearing this one apart to make it. 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. Many dust jacket blurbs are written by the author, but there are some that are not. The trick with writing a great blurb is to give away enough of whats inside the book, without giving any plot spoilers for fiction or going so indepth the reader doesnt want to read on for nonfiction. Here are a few writing tips to help you craft a great blurb. Kdp print and ingramspark require you to upload a front cover, spine, and back cover. The summary on the back cover of the book is called blurb. Whats the difference between bookwright and booksmart. Punctuation or grammar goofs in this highly visible spot broadcast the message that your book was not professionally written. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. To set yourself apart is good, to be too different from the rest is not.

Once upon a time, such blurbs were printed on the inside cover flap for hardbacks, and directly onto the back of a paperback. The back cover blurb is a sales pitch for your book, so it must be persuasive, captivating, and make the reader want to read on. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. This back cover blurb explains exactly who the book is for, what the reader can expect to get out of it, and why the book is an excellent alternative to similar resources. This includes our trade 5x8, 6x9 and trade 8x10 formats. Book blurbs are an oftoverlooked part of a writers marketing planafter youve spent. They say you cant judge a book by its cover, thats true, but remember a books cover includes the stuff on the back. 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.

The back cover blurb has to grab the readers attention from the start. They might flip to the back of your book or to the dust jacket and read the blurb. I wrote it when i first started the story, and now 125k words later, it falls a little flat. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. Almost everyone reads the blurb before they decide whether to purchase. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company. 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. How to write a romance blurb blog author rosalind james. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. It should introduce your main characters, give an insight on conflict, depict genre and arouse interest. 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. Writing a book blurb for your back cover and other promotional uses is one of the hardest steps for many authors. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells.

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. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Sign in help center english us deutsch espanol francais italiano nederlands portugues do brasil. You can use your own isbn or a free blurbprovided isbn. A book blurb is a brief usually 150200 word description that lets a reader know what they can expect from your book. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. The synopsis is always written in present tense and most back cover blurbs are also written in present tense. I was about halfway through the writing of my book when i was asked to write a blurb for the back cover. His corpse fell into the water, which is what i have been eating since then. Find out how to write a blurb for your next novel to intrigue and entice your readers. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Note the use of this formula as well as bullet points in the blurb example of jen sinceros you are a badass, which chesson provides in his how to create a back book cover blurb. Blurbs are a brief description of a book typically found on the back of a.

That stuff, also known as a blurb, typically goes a long way in determining a potential readers likelihood of purchasing and reading your book. Im getting ready to publish my first book this next week and realized that i really need to go over my blurb again. 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. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. If your book has a flap then its the flaps job to sell the book. Fiction or nonfiction basic blurbcover copyproduct description for fiction or nonfiction extended product description. It is a brief description of a book and book plot that should immediately attract the attention of your readers. What should be included in the back of the book blurb. But first, i want to quickly clarify some terms you might equate with a back book blurb but shouldnt because they represent. They want to read the book to help them solve a problem or learn something new. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. 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.

Book buyers wont read on if the first sentence fails to grab their interest. How can we write that back cover copy that hooks a passing browser, and turns him or her into a loyal reader. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb. A well tuned blurb wont try to sell everybody on the book it will help. You are a badass is the selfhelp book for people who desperately want to. 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. 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. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that sell books. 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. How to write a blurb for your nonfiction book blurb blog. In simple terms, a blurb is the short yet descriptive account of the book that goes on the back. Besides the time when i think it up, generally on a. 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. Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. Here are some tips on what you can do to boost a books sales with its blurb.

Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. Check out our examples of blurbs, and the dos, and donts to help you craft. Putting my literary experience and marketing expertise to use for you, to help create quality book blurbs sure to grab the attention of readers. Interesting, ive never heard of someone citing the blurb. As an author, how can we turn this to our advantage. Finally, we find the resolution as the blurb promises to offer the reader all kinds of help, from an explanation to what the keto diet is, to shopping lists, recipes, exercise routines, and plans to suit your needs. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. When writing a back cover blurb, you want it to set you apart from other books in your genre. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. How to referencecite the blurb of a book, not having a. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought.

Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. The benefits of a professionally written book blurb. You should focus your nonfiction back book cover on what the book will do for the reader, what it can help them learn, how those skills will solve a problem or. The book blurb presents the book as a solveall book with the expertise and tools to guarantee you success. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. Our copywriter is an awardwinning magazine writer, copywriter, author, and copy editor. Notice the calltoaction words in the bullet points. Besides the blurb there are also some other elements that are included in. All these elements should sell the book because you cant make a potential buyer look at your book in the order you want them to.

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. Crafting a compelling book blurb nonfiction linden gross. It needs to hook the reader and make them want to go on the journey with your characters. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. 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. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. If youve ever bought a book on impulse, it was probably due at least in part to the blurb on the back or the sales copy on the website. How to build the back of a book cover with template. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. Dan poynter, known as the godfather of selfpublishing and author of the selfpublishing manual, the selfpublishing encyclopedia, is there a book inside you. But it is the single most important piece of writing you will do on your book. The trick with writing a great blurb is to give away.

As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. The blurb is a promotional description, found on the back of the book. And its something that in my experience takes some timeas you have to distill quite a few elements to make a. Fox emm shares how to write an effective book blurb for your memoir, or any piece of writing. Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. What helps them decide if they want to make the purchase. If you have your own isbn you have two options for displaying it on your book. Well, a blurb is also a tagline that is meant to sell a productyour book. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. If all of this sounds daunting, consider hiring an editor or marketing writer to help you craft your books backcover copy in the most compelling way possible. Blurb placement when you use our book making tools and select the option to use your own isbn your book will have a barcode on the bottom center of the back cover. A potential reader looks at the blurb the same way they would look at the book itself.

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. The final step in completing this starter template is to create your front and back covers. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Keep in mind at all times the blurb is what sells the book, so. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. Some are put together by the marketing team, publishing company, and editor. Back up, move, transfer, or share your booksmart books.