Jul 02, 2018 a good book blurb can sometimes mean the difference between a reader buying your book or passing it by. How to sell your manuscript to publishers and your indie book to readers writers craft 19 kindle edition by hall, rayne. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. Share your backcover blurb creative writing forums. The national book award is one of the nations most prestigious literary prizes and has a stellar record of identifying and rewarding quality writing. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry book s overall success and reputation.
Jun 11, 20 hopefully both my blurbs and shout lines tell the potential reader something about the book and make them want to find out more. Meanwhile, indie authors cant get traction for their remarkable books, and inferior pulp with more spit and polish takes the. The show not tell technique the lion, the witch and the wardrobe book. Blurbs are brief summaries of what a reader will find on the other end of a hyperlink. That definition sucks all the life out of the word, though. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. Keep tweaking your story blurb until its intriguing again, by using a question or exclamation to end the blurb, or by ending it with ellipses.
Master the blurb and youll join the ranks of true marketing pros. Ask the class if they know why blurbs are written for book. Writing awesome book blurbs a modern indie authors. Writing a blurb at ks2 by jessica borges vaz on prezi. We can revise and improve an already existing blurb or create an original blurb for your book. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb. Dont worry, in this article, well walk you through the important points to keep in mind while writing your book s blurb, as well as give you a simple blurb template that sells and some bestseller examples for different genres. Hours 10am to 4pm est mondayfriday closed on all major holidays. 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. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book. Capturing the essence of your novel in a few short paragraphs is always going to be a challenge. Aim for a word count in the vicinity of 150 words 14 paragraphs. Recurring character series central group of characters premiseplot series setting series combination of these list your series ties will frequently help you figure out what needs to be included in the series blurb.
It also gives him or her the opportunity to express an opinion through writing and develop his or her writing style and voice. Book blurbs are an oftoverlooked part of a writers marketing planafter youve spent so much time writing a new book, it can feel. The show not tell technique the lion, the witch and the wardrobe book, teaching resources, story, cards, mat, sequencing, primary. A picture book may be short, but its one of the most complicated formats to create, using a limited number of words and artfully blending text and illustration. Series and story blurb development series blurb step 1. Apr 28, 2017 writing the book blurb diana robertson. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading writing book blurbs.
Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. Students can enjoy writing blurbs for books they read. You will begin by uncovering the vital ingredients that are present in every single successful childrens book. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. 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. What do you think asking for your feedback on my novels.
I have noticed lately that the book blurbs are often misrepresentations of the book. On back covers of books there is usually a summary which attempts to get the reader interested. A useful worksheet to help your children understand book blurbs and help them write their own. 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. Make it so droolworthy that everybody will want to buy a copy of your book.
The blurbery revisited writing a book blurb eric lahti. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. Jan 17, 2017 query shark, query tracker blog, and chasing the crazies are also excellent resources for writing strong blurbs and query letters. A blurb is defined as a short description of your book, written for promotional purposes and appearing on the back cover. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a. 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. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. However, the only real rule here is that these should be in the 100to150word range. Make sure your book blurb reads like those that are selling well. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought.
Jul 19, 20 writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. Nov 15, 2019 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 the topic. Then, write 12 additional sentences that explain the plot of the story in a general way. Jul 14, 2016 a simple guide to writing the blurb of a book. Quality texts for different topics, year groups and special events. Read about the blurb photo book paper types in detail here. Why im asking for your feedback on tkcs blurb as i mentioned, the blurb is a crucial part of a writers query letter to a literary agent. How to write an effective blurb for a selfpublished book. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. Big publishing spends big bucks on professional copywriters who make terrible books sound good.
Youll discover how to transform your stories from amateur ramblings, into compelling, pageturning childrens fiction. Bookwright features videos, instructions, and tips built right into the application so youll have everything you need right at your fingertips. In 1950, william carlos williams was the first winner in. Blurbs sell shows with concise, compelling, and practical writing.
You should have the following goals and ideas in mind. Introduce the situation and characters in the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. Great ideas to write a blurb that works for your book. A common misconception among beginner writers is that writing picture books for children is an easy place to start. Nov 26, 2016 show me an author that claims to enjoy writing book blurbs and ill show you a liar. Its probably best to write blurbs for works that are finished or almost finished, since writing a blurb before the book is nearly done will likely mean that you just have to rewrite that dratted blurb later. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. The uncoated is more like an art paper, not for the every day photo book. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. 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. May 25, 2004 once drafted, the blurbs could be written on card to stand beside each book and be decorated in the style of each novel. Ten things you need to know about writing your book blurb whitefox.
Like the sound of the book based on the blurb on the back what is a blurb. Your book blurb aka online description, like your dating profile. If im hooked i either borrow the book, if im in the library, or buy the book, if im in a bookstore. Once your title and cover have drawn the reader in, the. Examples of blurbs to share in your classroom to help students get a sense of a book before choosing one. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. Listen to writing awesome book blurbs a modern indie authors guide episodes free, on demand. Reviewing a favorite or not so favorite book helps a childs reading comprehension. Sometimes coming up with the right words for a book blurb can be more stressful than writing the ebook itself. Successful arts marketing blurbs contain three key elements. Take some writing tips from leo tolstoy, muriel spark, john. Look at samples go to amazon and click on the bestsellers in your genre. In module one, youll discover the exciting world of writing for children. As much as book covers catch readers attention, blurbs grip shoppers and convince them to buy books.
Scratch out written for promotional purposes and substitute written to seize the prospective readers attention and imbed an irresistible desire to. Writing a blurb the blurb is the writing on the back of a book. In this post, three publishing editors have shared their secret behind writing the best blurb for your novel. Get a 100250 word blurb that accurately depicts your story and draws readers in. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells. Remember, your story blurb should fit the genre and tone of. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. It entices the reader to read a book by promising twists and turns but without giving away the ending. How to write a book blurb in 4 steps the opening of your blurb has to be incredibly precise and dynamic, says editor rebecca heyman for a lot of firsttime authors, i think theres an instinct to make sure readers understand everything that happened in the book s universe before the beginning of the actual story. 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.
Jul 14, 2016 blurbs lesson plan template and teaching resources. The blurbs are either misleading, focus on minor characters or events, or sometimes downright incorrect. Childrens book awards, writing contests and literary. The simplicity of the text, which makes picture books so easy to read, is the result of careful writing. Childrens book writing course write storybooks for children.
This short video is brought to you by publishnation. Examples of blurbs to share in your primary classroom. Ask the class if they know why blurbs are written for book covers. A member of our team will read your manuscript or a synopsis of it, and write you a compelling blurb, designed to sell your book. Amazon might allow 4,00o characters in the book description box, but nobody wants to wade through a long blurb. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more.
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