How to get incredible endorsements and blurbs for your book. Derek murphy is a book editor turned book designer with a ph. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. Below are the tips that ive gleaned from awesome ya fantasy and scifi book blurbs. Readers use the same sort of cues in a blurb as they do in covers, theyre just in the form of words rather than images. But, in our opinion, there are few better ways to figure out how to do something than by seeing how the professionals do it. A line or two from the text itself, which gives a nice flavor of what you might expect of the authors style. How to write a great nonfiction book blurb from polly letofsky of my word publishing. It tells me who the protagonist is, the situation shes in.
October 22, 2015 by diana urban 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. The query letter has one purpose, and one purpose only. Like most authors, i wrote a simple synopsis for my novel and then used that information to write a fiction book blurb. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought.
Try not to mention more than two characters names, and promise your audience a read they wont forget. Wattys 2020 bootcamp mentorship program how to write a. The book blurb s main purpose is to lure readers in and captivate them enough to read your book. Whats likely to interest me as a reader is definitely worldbuilding theres a lot of different stories to choose from and making sure yours stands out from the pack is really important, but also hints in the blurb that theres a twist in the tale.
Are there any examples of book blurbs that will never get your money. Even with this short example, your page will do the job its supposed to do, and give interested parties the means to contact you for publishingrelated questions. Amazon top 100 bestseller goodreads choice award nominee for best fantasy millions of pages read. But i did find a number of blurbs that were incredibly compelling, and i analyzed what was working in these cases. Once youve taken in all of the above and gotten a feel for the promise you want to make to the reader, use the outlines below to write your book cover blurb. Entwined by heather dixon wallwork, the near witch by victoria schwab, the iron daughter by julie kagawa, eve by anna care.
How to write a book blurb that sells not just another boring. Lets look at a few bestselling blurbs and see what we can learn from their successes. 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. Free literacy texts examples and resources to use in the primary classroom. 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. Were more likely to associate them with the subtitles on movie posters or trailers, and most of us would be. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb kristen pham. Hes been featured on cnn and spoken at dozens of writing conferences around the world. Youve written your book, but now you have to publish it and kdp has a box that you dread. Jul 19, 20 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. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Compare yourself to other writers or your book to other books.
The only exception to this is if youre writing historical fiction or fantasy then including the setting in your blurb is a must. I used this guide this week to write a blurb for a client and it worked a charm. Most of the chapters focus on the steps of writing a fantasy blurb, but theres also a chapter on nonfiction blurbs. Nov 26, 2016 the synopsis is the tellall of your book. How to write a query letter that gets manuscript requests. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind.
Obviously id love it if you read the full book, but i value your time highly, so i am providing 23 example blurbs for you. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. 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. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for non fiction. And dont forget our favourite fantasy books of 2019. We will find that out within the first few chapters of the book anyways. Non fiction writers often overuse superlatives, which can come across as insincere and hyperbolic. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. How to write a blurb that hooks readers and converts to book sales. Since i gave an example of a great blurb, heres a bad one.
It features actual query letter examples to literary agents that were successful for authors. How to write a blurb for your fiction book self publishing lab. It took a long time to write and wasnt very compelling to readers. When youre refining your book s blurb, there is a lot you can learn from guides and expert advice. If you say that your book is the greatest resource of all time on a subject, you better back that statement up with some hard. Home wagoll texts storytube topics resources upload blog home wagoll texts. Knowing how to write a blurb can be considered an art form in itself, as its essentially product and sales copy written together. How to write an irresistible book blurb in 5 easy steps. The key with fiction is to excite and engage your reader. Discover the key elements of a successful fantasy novel and how to write your own fantasy series. Mar 27, 2017 write an engaging and interesting fiction book blurb no matter whether you write romance, scifi, fantasy, horror, thrillers, young adult or any in between. This is the quick and easy way to get generic page language into your book. Likewise, the intrigue and suspense and hints at plot twists used in fiction book blurbs will not assure shoppers looking for selfhelp books that. If youre looking for great nonfiction book blurb examples, youve come to the right place.
Three publishing experts show you how to write a book blurb and optimize. Mar 10, 2019 book cover blurb examples from good nonfiction books. When i published my second novel, i felt like it took as long to write the fiction book blurb as it did to write the book. A strong, descriptive blurb is easily one of the most important and powerful selling tools for your book. However, titles, covers and blurbs play a much larger role in book marketing, so taglines aka straplines or endlines in the uk are rarely discussed. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. Copywriting is a completely different skillset to creating fiction, and im here to help you get that blurb in tiptop shape. At the end well deconstruct blurb examples for books in seven bestselling nonfiction categories on amazon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Related specifically to fantasy, i have put books back on the shelf when i can guess the outcome of the plot from the blurb. Tony robbins unshakeable book blurb makes it very clear that if financial instability is a problem for you, his book can solve it. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. But at the same time, you can not completely ignore the cover.
Heres an example of a book blurb that utilizes the rule of three. But i dont think its what readers want, or what the best blurbs do. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. Sophie masson has published more than fifty novels internationally since 1990, mainly for children and young adults. This one is from jack mamos the marriage code book, which we worked on this cover blurb is 179 words. This article is part of a series called successful queries. Its ironic, after writing thousands of words to create your novel, that a 100200 word blurb pitching your baby to potential readers could. Thank you so much for helping me turn my vision into a lovely cover. On wattpad, its what you add under description on your story detail page. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 101 writers short blurb examples. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells.
Plus, in an ever crowded publishing world, tonys blurb also proves why. May 07, 2019 examples of good fiction book blurbs when it comes to writing book blurbs, looking at genres is one of the best ways that you can figure out how a good blurb should go. A good blurb doesnt try to condense 300 pages of story into a few paragraphs. Firstly, highlighting your success in the book writing world. While theres no perfect formula for writing the best blurb for your novel, there are some patterns worth noting. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. 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. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. You may like to visit my blog for more articles on how to create the components of your book, and writing secrets for both novelists and nonfiction authors. Do you have any favourite examples, either for your own books or those of other authors. Before jumping into the blurb, a lot of authors count on the sentence trio to create impact and generate interest for their target readers. Could using the distinctive voice of the narrator have improved the blurb. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and.
Examples of good fiction book blurbs writing rights. 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. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. Fantasy book blurbs summary or tease, which do you prefer. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb. Thats why we will be looking at some more good book blurbs in a few more genres a continuation of the continue reading. Book cover blurb examples from good non fiction books. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office. There is no rigid formula for a fiction cover blurb, as there is with query letters. An example of what makes a fiction book blurb compelling. For historical fiction, youll want to mention the timeperiod and place, and with fantasy youll need to introduce the reader to the world youve created. This book offers a wealth of information beyond just blurb writing. Copyright page samples you can copy and paste into your book. Contemporary fantasy set in the known modern world as opposed to a more traditional medievalstyle world e.
Echo the tone of your book in your blurb so readers get a sense of how you write. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and non fiction back cover blurbs. 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. Your book blurb aka online description, like your dating profile, has to be engaging and alluring to attract passersby. Firstly, highlighting your success in the bookwriting world. Whereas novels focus on creating intrigue and use blurbs that attempt to lure in the reader, blurbs for non fiction books need to take a different approach.
Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. Non fiction readers have a problem that needs to be solved. 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. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. To learn more about writing a non fiction blurb, check out our guide to creating the back of a book cover. Feel free to approve any of these, or edit them in any way youd like that reflect your feelings. Jan 15, 2010 samples of a long page and a short page are provided so readers can copy and paste them into their own book files, ready for customization. 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. Get tips on how to make your fantasy novel stand out on the. For all intents and purposes, your publisher has written this. Bestselling book blurbs part two katie mccoach editorial. Non fiction readers might be a little more willing to work for it than fiction readers, but only a little.
When youre refining your books blurb, there is a lot you can learn from guides and expert advice. Even in the case of nonfiction titles, a good story connects with the readers instantly. Plus, in an ever crowded publishing world, tonys blurb also proves why hes the writer to do just that. Fantasy book blurbs summary or tease, which do you. Its without a doubt a crucial part of getting your potential book buyer to the check out with your book in hand. This is terri hermanponces author of 3 published novels book in this life. Jan 09, 2017 a oneline description which gives an idea of genre of book and perhaps age rangeeg a gripping, magical fantasy for young adults. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. It uses twilight as an example, but dont hold that against me. 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.
To write a good blurb, you have to make it short and exciting, yet relevant. Sticking with mark dawsons book descriptions as an example, here is part of a blurb from another one of his thrillers. How to write a blurb that hooks readers and converts to. These scifi book cover templates allured with science fiction fonts hunt and exhibit thoughtful labels. Sep 20, 2016 a great tagline can help sell books and give readers an idea of what kind of story theyre picking up. Rowling, harry potter and the chamber of secrets by j. Folks regularly remark they would buy the book just for the cover. For an excellent example of a book s comic tone caught in the blurb, read the blurbs of jeff strands novels at fictionwise or amazon. Discover how to write a book blurb for fiction that will hook readers and help you sell more copies. Fox emm shares how to write an effective book blurb for your memoir, or any piece of writing. Jun 05, 2018 this article is part of a series called successful queries. Oct 25, 2018 the possibilities are endless, and i know there is a book idea here waiting for you to write and publish it.
K rowling deciding which one your fantasy novel will fall into will help you learn how to define your setting, characters, and storyline later on. Additionally, this book includes formatting tips and much more. A great tagline can help sell books and give readers an idea of what kind of story theyre picking up. These days he mostly writes young adult fantasy and science fiction, while helping authors write and publish bestselling books. You do if youre buying a how to style non fiction book and you know that this author and this topic will meet your needs. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and quills. Make it easy for them to choose your book over the one next to it.
Then theres the blurb which is only other writers praising the book or the authors previous work. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. The possibilities are endless, and i know there is a book idea here waiting for you to write and publish it. Or even examples of blurbs that do anything but entice the reader. Remember that your book is about people, not setting, historical location, or scientific facts. 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. Ive created a lawyer character that is a compilation of all the bad qualities of every rascal man ive ever dated, all bad qualities rolled into one. 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. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. Mar, 2019 sometimes coming up with the right words for a book blurb can be more stressful than writing the ebook itself. Whereas novels focus on creating intrigue and use blurbs that attempt to lure in the reader, blurbs for non fiction books. Its important to write a synopsis if youre going the traditional publishing route, but it isnt helpful for self or indie published authors who must write their own fiction book blurb for the amazon book description.
How to write a blurb for your nonfiction book blurb blog. Examples of good fiction book blurbs when it comes to writing book blurbs, looking at genres is one of the best ways that you can figure out how a good blurb should go. In essence i dont want to read a blurb about a book and find out its paranormal romance when i thought it was epic fantasy. The query letter is so much of a sales piece that its quite possible to write one without having written a word of the manuscript. Even if you dont have any intentions of writing a fantasy novel, there are many benefits of practicing creative writing with these fantasy writing prompts. A book blurb is a brief description of a story typically found on the back cover of a book. Your blurb will be an important part of your marketing. In addition to the successful query letter, youll also see the thoughts from the writers literary agent about why the letter worked. Thats not to say the blurb is an actual spoiler, but that the blurb hits all the same notes as usual and leaves very little to the imagination a jointhedots blurb that is so obvious the ending might as well be on the back. How to write a blurb that hooks readers and converts to book.
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