Movies do this incredibly well in their trailers and descriptions, so it may be an. These are all key elements to pitching and later marketing your book, but a blurb should stand on its own. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. Published in 1977, it is kings third published novel and first hardback bestseller. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. The blurb should be in the same style as the rest of the book, for example.
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. Writing a book blurb for your back cover and other promotional uses is one of the hardest steps for many authors. Its a testimony to the beauty of family and friendship that moved me as a mother, as a daughter, and as friend. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. Every author has dreaded writing a book blurb at one time or another. The shining is a horror novel by american author stephen king. If i stay is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal.
Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. Many authors find that one of the hardest parts of writing a book, is cramming their 80,000word novel into a descriptive 250word blurb. Intensely moving, the novel will force readers to take stock of their lives and the people and things. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. 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. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. 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 most common issues with blurb are around customer service, which is not as good as expected by some customers. Other than the cover, it is the other most important selling feature of a book. A sample letter for writers requesting a book endorsement. Like tersoro mentioned, one time that having that short synopsis is handy is when sending a query to an agent or publisher to get them to consider your book.
But even then, writing the blurb in first person is iffy. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. In oregon, this small amount of snow is enough to cause school closures. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should.
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. The blurb can also be a sentence or two of glowing praise written by a fellow author to help market your book, but for this article well focus on the copy that appears on the back cover of a book. Before jumping into the blurb, a lot of authors count on the sentence trio to create impact and generate interest for their target readers. A blurb in a query letter is much like a short synopsis you have approximately 250 words in which to summarize your book in a concise, engaging. 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. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. Not since twilight have we seen as emotionally moving a book for a youth audience with this kind of crossover appeal. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. 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. An easytofollow, practical guide to writing the best blurb to sell your selfpublished book, provided by ya author sarah juckes of completelynovel.
Mia is the only member of her family to survive, and she finds herself in a coma. Although you should be writing a book blurb for every piece of fiction or nonfiction you release to the public, whats even more important is writing a. 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. Other than the cover, it is the other most important selling feature of a.
Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. Write the argument of your book in a sentence, then stretch that out to a paragraph, and then to a onepage outline. All you have to do is provide me with some information. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb.
Fifth grade lesson the blurb on the back betterlesson. This novel will stay with me for a long, long time. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. How to write an effective blurb for a selfpublished book.
Yet, simple though it seems, many writers have difficulty writing a bio blurb that does not have the side effect of producing heavy. 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. Not only will it be the second thing a potential reader looks at cover is the first, it is also a way for you to pull them in with both your writing style and your ability to tell stories. After writing carrie and salems lot, which are both set in small towns in kings native maine, king was looking for a change of pace for the next book. The story follows 17yearold mia hall as she deals with the. The setting and characters are influenced by kings personal experiences, including both his visit to the. Back of book synopsisblurb creative writing forums.
A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book. Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. Your blurb will be an important part of your marketing. Introduce the situation and characters in the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. 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. And if youre anything like me, this part of being a novelist makes me grind my. Writing a killer book blurb that hooks potential reader and convinces them they absolutely must read this book is not only an art form, its an essential book marketing tool. If i stay begins with seventeenyearold cellist mia hall waking to a thin layer of snow on her lawn.
If i stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. If i s tay is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Your blurb can usually be used as your pitch in your query letter or when you are doing an actual facetoface pitch session with an agenteditor. In this post, we tell you how to write a book blurb in five easy steps. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. How to sell your manuscript to publishers and your indie book to readers writers craft 19 kindle edition by hall, rayne. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. 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. 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.
To write a good blurb, you have to make it short and exciting, yet relevant. If i stay by gayle forman, 9780142415436, available at book depository with free. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Apr 20, 2008 the blurb can also be a sentence or two of glowing praise written by a fellow author to help market your book, but for this article well focus on the copy that appears on the back cover of a book. Some conquer their fear and get better at writing them over time, while others will go to their graves despising those twotofour paragraph summaries of their books. After that, write a table of contents to help guide you as you write, then break each chapter into a few sections. How to write a blurb to sell your book writing tips pen. 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 that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. 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.
Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry book s overall success and reputation. Very few examples are the kind i want to create for myself. My stuff was completely wiped out including stuff i ve purchased the company still selling some of my books it can be found by. See more ideas about writing tips, writing and writing a book. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb.
I mean, it takes real talent to really think outside the box like. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your. Jan, 2018 explore ravenhillpotterys board writing tips. My 4step process for writing a nonfiction book blurb that. If i stay is one of those great rare books with a deeply authentic voice that can speak for and move a generation. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. The large dogs sitting outside shock him into fleeing, even though he i felt as though mrs. I know nothing about blurb writing either, but ive been reading up on the craft. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought.
Then one february morning mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. How to write a blurb to sell your book writing tips. Stay is the twentyninth novel by awardwinning american author, catherine ryan hyde. The blurb of your book is the second thing a potential reader will look at after the coverso take the time to get it right. This may seem obvious, but many authors get it wrong, anyway. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. You should have the following goals and ideas in mind. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. My writing style is straightforward, but things develop slowly by intention.
Jul 11, 2017 tips on how to write a good book blurb. If your book is an autobiography, a fictional autobiography, or a memoir told in the first person, you might have an exception. Tips on how to write a good book blurb tina hogan grant. Reviewing our example will help you write your own book cover quote requestbut dont copy this sample letter word for. Once you upload a book you have 15 days to order a printed copy once your book is ordered itll stay online until you the account owner delete it. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. The howto of writing the perfect blurb for your book or novel is a cocktail of creating suspense while revealing. Although you should be writing a book blurb for every piece of. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. It has since been honed to within an inch of its life and i am really pleased with the result.
These may be used for an interview, a book jacket, or even an event program in which you are a presenter. What stumps me is attempting to give a flavour of my writing style. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. But thats exactly how i felt after writing the first two books of the conjurors series. 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. Movies do this incredibly well in their trailers and descriptions, so it may be an idea to look at some popular movies and see how they do it. Before you write a letter to an author requesting a quote, endorsement, or blurb for your book, take a look at our sample letter shown below. The characters are tangibly real, the plot is fascinating and will cause the pages to turn rapidly. After they read the blurb, ask them to predict the main plot of the book. After 2 years of great sales with some books getting max rating, some incompetent, moron\\s decided, that my content is forbidden,despite selling the same content for so long, it seems ppl running the place went facebook. Mar 18, 2012 these may be used for an interview, a book jacket, or even an event program in which you are a presenter. The story follows 17yearold mia hall as she deals with the aftermath of a catastrophic car accident involving her family. If they hit it spot on, you are giving too much away.
Write and rewrite that sucker at least a dozen times. 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. Theres just no clear plot, just full of written charm and wit from mia in such an expressive, beautiful way. I want to show you how to write an irresistible book blurb to sell your book. Lucas painter comes across the cottage in the woods by accident. Your book blurb aka online description, like your dating profile. Plus, i find that it is much easier to stay focused on where my story is going if i have taken the time to write a blurb. The family pile into their rusty buick, planning to go out for a day trip to visit. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb.
Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. Blurb writing is not my forte, but this book offered a clear insight and some useful steps that i was able to work with to produce a good pass at my first blurb. A blurb also referred to as a synopsis or a glossary is the summary of the story found on the back cover of a book. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. I had a ridiculous number of blurb drafts that all seemed cheesy and. 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. This is a beautifully written novel about love and life. Blurb is here to help you turn your ideas into professionalquality books, magazines, or ebooks. Mias brother teddy and her father, a middleschool english teacher, also have the day off, so her mother takes the day off of work. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals. Tips on how to write a good book blurb by author tina. To ask other readers questions about if i stay, please sign up.
If they miss the mark by a lot, you have more work to do. Dinsmore had pressed a key into my hand, and that key had just opened up some secret part of the. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. If i stay is a young adult novel by gayle forman published in 2009. Now, the blurb for if i stay doesnt reveal too much, it just mentions choices and love.
It is time for you to go to your just right reading spot and independently read. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. A blurb is the back cover teaser that lures a reader or an agenteditor into wanting to buyread your book. The way it is written makes you feel calm and relaxed, but at the same time the story is really fastpaced and gripping. Hi aestas, i writed this comment to say that i am a constant reader of your blog and i like your style of writing.
It seems a simple enough task to write a paragraph about oneself, and simpler still for a real writer. Browse writing topics to find helpful tips and resources. It really cements the stories direction in my head. Stay by catherine ryan hyde meet your next favorite book.
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