As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. A blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually referring to the words on the back of the book but also commonly seen on dvd and video cases, web portals and news websites. Leaving a cliffhanger at the end of your blurb though thats a pro move. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. Blurb create, print, and sell professionalquality photo. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book.
Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. The summary goes over all the plot points and the main character arcthats not what you want for the back of your book. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. Some initial setup is needed before you create your first book, but once youve done it. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. No matter how well your book blurb is written, it wont be read if your back cover is poorly designed and. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a book called. Chose from several free tools or use adobe indesign or adobe lightroom. Mar 09, 2012 the next book you pick up is the same price and is also written by someone you have never heard of.
A story that asks the reader to feel her way into kindness, empathy, and openness. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. Keep your blurb concise and compelling around 150200 words. Dan poynter, known as the godfather of selfpublishing and author of the selfpublishing manual, the selfpublishing encyclopedia, is there a book inside you. The publishers blurb refers to this book as an existential crime novel. What is it called to have someone read a book for you. Paratextual traces the blurb, back cover, inside cover, notes and title are part of the marketing process. Matched, by ally condie, is the first novel in the matched trilogy. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and.
Blurbs are what sell your book when your front cover has attracted prospective readers enough to click on the novel from a huge list of options. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. But most book content is arranged in a traditional, prescribed manner. No matter how well your book blurb is written, it wont be read if your back cover is poorly designed and formatted. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. Sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. How to build the back of a book cover with template. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. A blurb is the back cover teaser that lures a reader or an agenteditor into wanting to buyread your book.
Punctuation or grammar goofs in this highly visible spot broadcast the message that your book was not professionally written. When we pick up any book, the first thing we normally look at is the back cover. What is the writing on the back cover of a book called answers. Sometimes, this could include quotes or excerpts for intrigue. Blurbs are the second most important selling tool you have for your book, so. The occult art of the poetry book blurb rachael mead. Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. A book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book. Some initial setup is needed before you create your first book, but once youve done it, creating albums will be easy and fast. The summary on the back cover of the book is called blurb. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in formal.
Generally, only poets shell out good money for slim volumes of poetry. You glance at the blurb on a dvd before deciding if that film is the one to enjoy that evening. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. The back of a book cover is called different things, but the back matter on the cover is really important no matter what you call it. If youre not ready to take the plunge, blurb also offers a free layout software called bookwright i havent personally tried it, but i hear great things.
In the 1980s, spy ran a regular feature called logrolling in our time which exposed writers who. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. All books are stored locally on the computer you originally used to create the book. Feb 02, 2009 a blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually referring to the words on the back of the book but also commonly seen on dvd and video cases, web portals and news websites. As already noted, writing a back book blurb is a marketing exercise. It is a brief description of a book and book plot that should immediately attract the attention of your readers. That descriptionwhatever its calledis a crucial element of your marketing strategy.
The next thing you do is read the back blurb, or if you are online, you read the first excerpt which is usually the same thing. What are the things on the back of the book called. Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book by lynn serafinn on july 17th, 20 lynn serafinn shares a template for writing good marketing copy for your wholesalers, and discusses what to put on the back cover and back pages of your book. The paragraph you get at the back of a book is called synopsis and it is really what the. The market for poetry is overwhelmingly other poets. A passage from the book wonder is a book about a boy called august who is very different from most other kids but he sees himself as an ordinary kid. Writing your back cover blurb dorrance publishing company.
Wonder rings its bell, and the note that reverberates in the air slips effortlessly into the readers body. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. Improve your vocabulary with english vocabulary in use from cambridge. And the only way they find out is if they buy the book. It needs to hook the reader and make them want to go on the journey with your characters. 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. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Oct 26, 2018 i dont need a back cover to create a print book. The benefits of a professionally written book blurb. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. It hangs there, and the reader cant help but be changed. The description on the back cover of a book is called different things. Dec 04, 2019 a book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book. Blurb definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Remember, theres a big difference between a book summary and a book blurb. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. According to the blurb this is the best novel written by the author. A good blurb provides a short summary or praise of a creative work, but it doesnt give anything away. The paragraph you get at the back of a book is called synopsis and it is really what the book is about.
The blurb on the back of the book says that it will touch your heart. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. Sep 12, 2018 a blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. The elements of this content share a common structure, and each element appears in a similar location in every book. So there are 1,000 photos id have to skim through while also looking back at my blog posts to see which photos go to which post. This description, which is always full of praise for both author and the book, is called a blurb. Your back blurb should merely tease the readers on the plot points or knowledge theyll find within. If you dont have a print version of your book and its only sold online, everything in this article about back book blurbs can be applied to your book description in online listings. Create, print, and sell professionalquality photo books, magazines, trade books, and ebooks with blurb. How to write an amazing back cover blurb for your book. Nowadays, a book may be published traditionally or selfpublished or not even published in print at all. A synopsis sums up the plot of a written work, providing a brief description of the main events of the storyline. You pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting.
As a poetry reader, i know both the power of a good blurb and the equally potent effect of a good name on the back of a book. The summary on the back of a book is called a synopsis. Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Once you wow your potential readers with an excellent front cover, the next part of your book thatll hook them is your back cover copy, which is publishing speak for the information that appears on the back cover.
Aug, 2015 if all of this sounds daunting, consider hiring an editor or marketing writer to help you craft your books backcover copy in the most compelling way possible. They are not stored on blurbs site until you upload them for ordering. Nov 19, 2010 you pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. You read the blurb on the back of a book to figure out if you want to shell out the extra bucks for the hardcover. People read the back of the book to decide whether to buy a book. Almost everyone reads the blurb before they decide whether to purchase. For thirtyfive girls, the selection is the chance of a lifetime. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. This means all the focus needs to be on the reader their needs and expectations. If all of this sounds daunting, consider hiring an editor or marketing writer to help you craft your books backcover copy in the most compelling way possible. Your blurb can usually be used as your pitch in your query letter or when you are. Smartalbums has now moved to a subscription model, so if you can finish your book quickly, its a great deal. Why is the part on the back of a book called a blurb.
Book summary and author bio on the back of the book. Besides the blurb there are also some other elements that are included in the back cover of the book. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Our copywriter is an awardwinning magazine writer, copywriter, author, and copy editor.
A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. It has a builtin photo book function that integrates with an album company called blurb. From cambridge english corpus the contributions encapsulate the enormous diversity in this field, and thus the book does indeed provide essential knowledge about the study of language variation and change cover blurb. The blurb or synopsis is meant to take those additional.
A book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually. The saying, dont judge a book by its cover only exists in fairy tales. What is the writing on the back cover of a book called. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. Here are six rules to be mindful of before you put pen to paper on your back book cover blurb. And without a doubt, the reader, upon experiencing it, responds. Kdp print and ingramspark require you to upload a front cover, spine, and back cover. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets. Women, work, and the will to lead hardcover deckle edge, march 11, 20. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more. The words synopsis or summary mean to summarize the entire plot, whereas blurb specifically means a description for a book or movie or the likes that it is intended for promotional purposes. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools. How to write good blurbs and back pages for your book. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents.