A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. The more i understand the freeing power of knowing my target reader, the more it influences my story lines, the types of characters i write about, the settings in each book, my book covers, back cover blurbs, types of advertising, you name it. 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. A list of similar titles to your book if you have them. 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 back cover blurb for your nonfiction book. Often people think back cover copy will be easy to write because its short. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb for the back cover of your book this video was made using invideo. So now weve made it clear that every aspect of your books packaging should sell the book and nothing else, lets see what you should be putting on the back cover. Sep 12, 2018 a blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your.
A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. If not, why not take a trip to your local bookstore and check out a few back cover blurbs for inspiration. Writing the blurb for your selfpublished book is one of the privileges of being an indie author. The blurb should include any information that represents the. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. But thats rarely the best strategy for authors who dont already have an established audience. It doesnt matter if you think its terrible it will tell me what you want to say about your story. Of course if the book author is an international bestseller. The third example shows how part of the back cover copy the author bio, in this case can show up on the inside flap of a hard cover book. This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list. 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. Follow these nine steps and youll come through the process with an awesome blurb and a big smile. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more. Below are a few examples of back cover copy for fiction.
Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. When your front cover is complete, click on the back cover and edit the text fields to your satisfaction. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. Last seen in the april 27 2020 answers at the crossword champ pro crossword. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. Jan 15, 2019 the back cover blurb is meant to entice readers to the point to want to purchase your book, just the way a cover is meant to draw their attention. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell. Nonfiction back cover copy for nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same topic will help sell your book.
Aug 09, 20 tom said press 53 uses 24 blurbs on the back cover depending on length. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. Lets break down what the sales copy on the back cover of the book should include. 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. 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. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a.
How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Jan 09, 2017 sophie, ive been writing back cover copy and catalog copy for a publisher for thirteen years, nearly 2,000 books, both nonfiction and fiction. Besides, you have loads to offer, and writing like yourself will only make your words more authentic and impactful. However, many self published authors treat it like the hellstrip in front of their house between the sidewalk and a busy street. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that sell books. Is writing a cover blurb for a nonfiction book different than writing one for a novel.
Not only will it appear on the book itself, but youll probably use it as your amazon description. 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. Study some of the bestselling authors you read and analyze their back cover blurbs. Nonfiction can be divided easily into two categories. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers.
The backcover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. For nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. Polgarus provided me with terrific blurbs on a tightdeadline. However, this task typically comes just when youre at your least able. How back cover blurbs for novels are similar to back cover copy for compilations. After the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs.
As much as book covers catch readers attention, blurbs grip shoppers. Writing a good blurb always gives me a delicious thrill im funny that way, and i love the opportunity to use my words to move people to read your book. Jun 01, 2015 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. The answer that has been searched is the back cover book blurbs crossword clue, it has 6 letters answer. A synopsis of your plot 12 pages a few sample chapters so i can get a feel for your writing style.
The back cover blurb is meant to entice readers to the point to want to purchase your book, just the way a cover is meant to draw their attention. Printing is done on the front cover, back cover, and spine. He advised asking 5 people, because 1 or 2 will likely forget. Good book blurbs can influence buyers, though, so you want to push past anxiety or discomfort and work to get at least one or two youd be proud to share on your cover. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents.
How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. Lets look at a few samples fiction cover blurbs from some of this centurys most successful novels so far. Blurbs are what sell your book when your front cover has attracted prospective readers enough to click on the novel from a huge list of options. If your book is scary than you must include elements of horror, if your book is romantic make the reader care about your characters. Your back ofthe book blurb is the second thing a potential buyer looks at after your front cover. Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b a version without a testimonial. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. A book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. We help writers and publishers craft manuscripts to a commercial publication standard, with our quality manuscript assessment services and proofreading services. Back cover blurbs vs query letter blurbs thinking through.
The occult art of the poetry book blurb rachael mead. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. This answers first letter of which starts with p and can be found at the end of e. Aug, 2015 put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover. Here are a few examples of great blurbs for a few of greenleafs recent titles. 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. Normally, this is probably sound advice, but i had a gut feeling that anyone who agreed to write a blurb for me would remember.
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. You cant expect to write a fabulous blurb in an hour, it may take many rewrites before you feel the blurb hooks your reader in. As you gather endorsements sometimes referred to as blurbs for you book, youll want to keep a few things in mind. As the author of the work you will be very close to your manuscript and getting feedback on your blurb will be helpful. In simple terms, a blurb is the short yet descriptive account of the book that goes on the back cover. Remember this is just a starter layout, you can customize your covers, or any area of your book to your liking using the wealth of bookwrights editing tools. If you dont have a print version of your book and its only sold online, everything in this article about back book blurbs can be applied to your book description in online listings.
How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. Our softcover option is available for most every type of project, whether a photo book, a trade book, or a magazine. The softcover features durable library binding and a flexible, highgloss laminated cover. Here are the possible answers to the backcover book blurbs crossword clue you are looking for, it has 6 letters answer. You have about 100150 words or so to use and rope them in. If your work is funny then the back cover should be humorous. This clue was discovered last seen in the april 27 2020 answers at the crossword champ pro crossword. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy. This is all great advice, not just for the back cover but also for query letters, website copy, etc. The more i understand the freeing power of knowing my target reader, the more it influences my story lines, the types of characters i write about, the settings in each book, my book covers, back cover blurbs, types of.
This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. Youre selfpublishing and need a catchy blurb that will hook potential readers emotionally and convey your novel in a nutshellwithout giving too much away, of course. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. How to write a killer book synopsis aka back blurb or. Does not need to prove it can be a book, because it already is. Dec 04, 2019 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.
Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. How to write a blurb for your nonfiction book blurb blog. The deeper i go in this topic, the more im intrigued by it. Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. Attached to a manuscript that might or might not be ready to be a published book. 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. In marketing tags back cover blurb, back cover copy, blurb, book blurb, book description, book design, book publishing, how to promote a book, market your book, sell more books, writing a book blurb. After writing and polishing a complete book, many writers are surprised at just how difficult it is to write a few effective paragraphs for the back.
A back cover blurb is your last chance to persuade someone to buy your book, so you want to make them feel emotionally involved in your story, and a clever way to do this is to use words that evoke feeling within the reader. 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. Of course if the bookauthor is an international bestseller. The best blurbs come from someone with a reputation in the same space. Blurbs are a brief description of a book typically found on the back of a. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so.
How to write a back cover blurb for a nonfiction book. Mar 10, 2019 lets look at how to make your nonfiction cover blurb sell your book. Use language that reflects the toneemotion of your novelcompilation. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. Your backofthebook blurb is the second thing a potential buyer looks at after your front cover. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind.
One of the final steps toward publishing is writing your back cover blurb, aka pitching a 500 page book in 250 words. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. Sample cover blurbs from this centurys most successful novels. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. The back of a book cover is called different things, but the back matter on the cover is really important no matter what you call it.