Let’s just get this out the way before we read any further. Writing a blurb is a marketing exercise. This means it requires a lot of skill and finesse, something that can be learnt pretty quickly but needs a lot of focus in order to draw in the potential reader and even worse meet and go above and beyond their expectations. Here are a few tips on how to do that before you put pen to pad and we find ourselves reading the back of your book online.
1. Give the reader what they expect
It’s so tempting to think “If everyone is doing x and I’ll do y,” in order to easily stand out from the crowd. And sure, this works for a lot of things. However, not so much with the back of book blurbs. If you’ve written a non-fiction business book and your back blurb reads like a thriller novel, then the reader is going to be left very confused.
Do you know what confused readers do?
They put books back on the shelf or click on to the next one, on Amazon book.
Before writing the back of your book, choose 3-5 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities. DON’T COPY!! Just take notes of how they’ve been written so you know whether to make mention of characters, places or if its a book I haven’t read, give away plot points. Then ensure you incorporate them into your blurb.
2. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes
This can be really hard for authors or people in general, it’s not a trait specific to people who’ve mastered the trait of writing about people who don’t exist. We get so caught up in delivering an enthralling story or a big idea that we forget who we’re writing for and why someone would actually want to read our book. Remember:
Fiction readers are looking for entertainment and escapism.
Here’s the book blurb for Stephanie Myers’ Twilight:
“About three things I was absolutely positive
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be – that thirsted for my blood.
Third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”
Regardless of whether or not you’re a Twilight fan or not, that is a CAPTIVATING back cover blurb.
Non-fiction readers have a problem that needs to be solved.
Tony Robbins Unshakeable book blurb makes it very clear that if financial instability is a problem for you, his book can solve it. Plus, in an ever-crowded publishing world, Tony’s blurb also proves why he’s the writer to do just that:
“From the man who brought you one of the bestselling investment books of the decade comes a playbook to help millions of people achieve financial freedom.
After interviewing fifty of the world’s greatest financial minds, and penning the #1 New York Times bestseller Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins returns with a step-by-step playbook, taking you on a journey to transform your financial life and accelerate your path to financial freedom.”
3. Keep it short
250 words is a good ceiling for a good blurb. If you need more words than that to ‘sell’ your book, fiction or non-fiction, you might be in a bit of trouble- (Dum’dum’duum)!
Remember that a book description is not a summary of your book, it’s a form of sales copy. The goal is to get people to want to find out more, not explain everything that happens. The same reason why social icons are always followed by like and follow:
4. Make it scannable
Oh the irony. Layout is everything I suppose. In hindsight 250 words does seem like a lot to someone who hasn’t and might not read your book so make it scalable and give them all the best bits within those couple of sentences. If your heading isn’t going to do the heaving lifting for you then your first or second sentence in your blurb more than in whatever religion you do and don’t believe in has to.
6. Nail that first line (or two)
Oh boy as previously mention, those first few lines of a book’s blurb are everything. They either grab or don’t grab you attention and if it does the latter then it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the book. So, here are some great ‘first line’ techniques:
Ask a question
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Set a scene
At first sight, Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet, a curmudgeon with staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People think him bitter, and he thinks himself surrounded by idiots.
Speak directly to the reader’s problems
Entrepreneurs often suffer from the misconception that to be successful, they must do everything themselves.
Make a promise
Fitness, money and wisdom – here are the tools
Annoying Characters are a no-no and here’s why.
Absolutely, you’ve hit the nail on the head. While authors can certainly craft characters with deliberate traits meant to be annoying or abrasive, there’s always the risk that even beloved characters may come across as irritating to some readers. It’s a natural part of the reading experience that readers will have varied reactions to characters…
Hooking In Your Readers Realistically (Prt 2)
Where to from here? Absolutely, for readers who may have missed Part 1, now is the perfect opportunity to dive into and catch up on what they’ve missed. And for those who are already on the same page , rest assured that the continuation will offer new insights, developments, and challenges for characters to navigate.…
Hooking Your Readers Realistically (Prt 1)
Ta daa! You see, hooked. Phrasing is everything and unfortunately for amateurs like us, the title has to do the heavy lifting. Here are a couple of techniques I’ve come across to help Emotional investment from the get go Most of us have been told or advised to start our stories in a particular way…
7. Include an Author Bio (Optional)
Many books have author bios and a profile picture attached. These are just a few short words that capture the readers attention. It’s a great place for nonfiction authors to show off their credentials. But they aren’t required, especially for fiction authors.
And that’s about it. Now it’s over to you to use these tips to put to use to create the best blurbs imaginable even if your books aren’t. All the best.
Londa Cele Novels 