Sample book 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. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. The key with fiction is to excite and engage your reader. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. Imagine if you had malcolm gladwells quote on your books cover saying, i havent. Consider the blurb, one of the most pervasive, longestrunning and, at. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information.

Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. How to write the perfect blurb examples, formula, opening. 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. 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. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count.

Once you have those locked in, a way to add credibility to your book is through the use of blurbs. There is no rigid formula for a fiction cover blurb, as there is with query letters. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. Quirky as the word itself is, the ability to write an effective one is a vital marketing technique. However, with canvas design templates at your disposal, you can easily come up with a beautiful book cover of your own without having to hire a designer. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. Below are a few examples of back cover copy for fiction. These remarkable slogans are followed by the greatest bookstore names of alltime and a special post on how to write a catchy slogan that brings in more customers. Sep 27, 2015 whatever the old adage might warn, there is a bit of merit to judging a book by its cover if only in one respect. Follow these nine steps and youll come through the process with an awesome blurb and a big smile. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. After picking up the book, he reads the back cover and is hopefully encouraged to sample a few pages and make a purchase. Youre setting the expectation for the book in the blurb, so make sure that your themes, ideas, and issues match.

We can write your back cover blurb for you when we write your fiction book. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. Oct 16, 2014 ben cameron is the managing director of cameron publicity and marketing ltd, a full service publicity company for selfpublished authors and publishers, and can be reached on 020 7917 9812 and by email at email protected the company website is uk. The best blurbs come from someone with a reputation in the same space. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. However, there are some similar patterns that have proved successful.

When your front cover is complete, click on the back cover and edit the text fields to your satisfaction. Chose from several free tools or use adobe indesign or adobe lightroom. Considering theres no rulebook to follow, writers are often confused about how to request and obtain blurbs. Create, print, and sell professionalquality photo books, magazines, trade books, and ebooks with blurb. Now you have to decide what goes on the back cover. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers. So youve written your book, youve chosen your title and cover design, and youre breathing a sigh of relief. Sep 12, 2018 a blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes.

However, many self published authors treat it like the hellstrip in front of their house between the sidewalk and a busy street. After the breakout success of her first book of poems mountain climber, poet june smith returns with an even more enduring tale of love and loss. As you gather endorsements sometimes referred to as blurbs for you book, youll want to keep a few things in mind. This blurb also features a clever play on words by incorporating the little league baseball theme core to the books plot line. In addition to the example provided in lesson one of a wellwritten book blurb, im including a few examples from bestselling memoirs which have their blurbs perfected. 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. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your novel a. A book blurb is a quote from someone that says something positive about you or your. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. Do you have any favourite examples, either for your own books or those of other authors. How to get incredible blurbs for your book scribe writing. After abandoning everything shes worked all her life for as a nationally renowned sex therapist and author, melina rose has returned to the small, peaceful town of amethyst, wisconsin she grew up in and fallen in love with her sisters old boyfriend scott romeo romero.

Try to describe in a few words the essence and hooks that will convey your books content in the best possible way. In ebook stores, the cover art is relegated to a tiny corner at the upper left of the page. Again, thanks for your generosity of insight into the. This is all great advice, not just for the back cover but also for query letters, website copy, etc. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that sell books.

How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. 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. 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. He lives in northern california with the wife, the kids, the dog, that cat, and he occasionally wears pants. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words.

A sample letter for writers requesting a book endorsement. The most common of these is the series of enthusiastic quotes a. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. Your backofthebook blurb is the second thing a potential buyer looks at after your front cover. Lets look at a few samples fiction cover blurbs from some of this centurys most successful novels so far. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. 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. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. How to get awesome book cover blurbs build book buzz. New authors sometimes rush this decision, writing the first.

It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. The back cover of your book is prime real estate for promoting your book. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. While studying effective query letters and back covers can help us develop a sort of sixthsense regarding blurb writing, a lot. We follow the author has she weaves stories of love and childhood kisses, with. Blurbs are a brief description of a book typically found on the back of a book or within the book sleeve of a hardcover book. We have gathered a list of some of the catchiest book slogans and taglines that shine brightly within the industry. That sounds complicated enough but take the sheer amount of book genres out there, and coming up with a book cover to attract readers can be a monumental task. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. It uses twilight as an example, but dont hold that against me.

These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. This is a formula ive developed over the course of three nonfiction books of my own, and its served me. For ebooks, the description is posted on a book s purchasing page, along with the book cover and price. If a book looks attractive and interesting, a customer will pick it up. Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. 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. Gather a bunch and use the best ones for a particular purpose. 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 books front cover. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. Sample cover blurbs from this centurys most successful novels. It simply wouldnt make sense on the cover of any other book. The blurb is a product description for the books back cover and amazon page, designed to entice readers.

A successfully designed book cover will convey the tone of your book, will whisper hints without giving it all away, and will excite readers into actually opening up the book and reading. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. In journeying to june, the poet dives deeper into her childhood, imagining a world that mightve existing during the moment of her birth in 1982. 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. In todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. Purchase a swatch kit that contains samples of all the different blurb papers with photos and text printed on them. In the defence of book cover quotes, they are meant to be short. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. Oct 22, 2015 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. Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b. I dont think enough can be said in book cover quotes to make. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools.

A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. Sample book back cover a man can never truly run away from his past, jack preacher thought, as four mysterious horsemen appeared from beyond the desert threatening to throw the quiet and dusty town of cameron into disarray. Looking at and writing blurbsfinal project for the readaloud of home of the brave katherine applegate teacher materials. When you buy a swatch kit, your confirmation email will. 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. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy. Often people think back cover copy will be easy to write because its short. Call to action carrie morgridge has written a mustread primer for anyone considering philanthropyread this book and learn from one of the best. 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. Your backofthe book blurb is the second thing a potential buyer looks at after your front cover. A book blurb is a quote from someone that says something positive about you or your book. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. Whatever the old adage might warn, there is a bit of merit to judging a book by its cover if only in one respect.

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. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. 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.

A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. As much as book covers catch readers attention, blurbs grip. They turn it over and read the jacket copy or blurb. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. Of course if the bookauthor is an international bestseller. Browse through hundreds of layouts and pick from the most popular book genres such as romance, thrillers, biography, travel and nonfiction. Reviewing our example will help you write your own book cover quote requestbut dont copy this sample letter word for word. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb. Oct 21, 2019 sample books and paper samples we dont offer free books or free paper samples but you can view our paper and book customization options by doing one of the following. Blurb create, print, and sell professionalquality photo. Extra blurbs are often put on the first page of the book, in front of the. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. For new writers, these quotes are generally solicited by authors themselves and are from individuals who are recognized as experts on.

The book cover, book title, and book description are three we have covered. 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. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. Place testimonials that corroborate your claims about what the book will do for the reader. After abandoning everything shes worked all her life for as a nationally renowned sex therapist and author, melina rose has returned to the small, peaceful town of amethyst, wisconsin she grew up in and fallen in love with. Book cover quotes and author endorsements dudette reads. Book covers today are often simple, revolving around a central imagery thats symbolic and can capture the essence or theme of the plot with one glance. However, the blurb, used initially as a bridge between the cover imagery and the books interior, is now the most significant, most important, and easiest to. 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. Grade 5 lesson on blurbsadapt by using whatever book.

For nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same. Grade 5 lesson on blurbsadapt by using whatever book your. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. For new writers, these quotes are generally solicited by authors themselves and are from individuals who are recognized as experts on the subject matter or genre. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. You will need three for the back cover of your book. Feb 10, 2016 how to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. The blurb is the short description on the back of the book. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. Smartboard, projector, and class computer smartboard charts. Michael siemsen is the usa today bestselling author of 6 novels, including the dig, a warm place to call home a demons story, and exigency. Your book blurb aka online description, like your dating profile. Here is a sample of a book that landed a publisher.

A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. Forget the book, have you read this irresistible story on blurbs. Given the popularity of ebooks, many back cover blurbs will never be displayed on a cover. They assure readers that someone is vouching for the quality of the book, even if only in the form of a snappy oneliner on its cover. We dont offer free books or free paper samples but you can view our paper and book customization options by doing one of the following. The curious history of book blurbs and why theyre still.

Aug, 2015 in todays guest post, editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy. I was about halfway through the writing of my book when i was asked to write a blurb for the back cover. Here are some blurbs from mona patels book, reframe. Lets look and learn from 50 fascinating book cover designs.

If youd like for me to read the entire book instead of just. Ben cameron is the managing director of cameron publicity and marketing ltd, a full service publicity company for selfpublished authors and publishers, and can be reached on 020 7917 9812 and by email at email protected the company website is uk. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. The endorsement blurb recommends another writers book. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. A base template for writing a nonfiction book blurb. Here are a few examples of great blurbs for a few of greenleafs recent titles. Jul 19, 20 writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. It is by david sanford, a published author, editor, and literary agent for more than 300 books who now serves on the leadership team at corban university.