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If you've ever read the back of a book or an e-book, you know that blurbs are pretty important. The blurb is a summary of what the book is about, and it's often on the back cover or inside flap of your work. It can be challenging to write an effective blurb because you need to include crucial elements while writing with brevity and creating intrigue for readers. To help get started on writing an effective blurb, keep these tips in mind:
A blurb is a short summary of what your work is about.
You can use it as a cover quote or on the back cover of your book. A blurb should be written in first person and present tense, using active verbs to describe the content and voice of your work. It should be a single sentence, which means you don't have room for long-winded explanations. If you're writing a nonfiction book, then consider asking some key influencers to write blurbs for you—some people prefer not to do this themselves because they feel shy or self-conscious about their own writing skills (like me!), but there are plenty who enjoy drafting short quotes that communicate what their books are about effectively enough to sell them well!
Writing a blurb can be a challenge because you need to include crucial elements, and writing with brevity can be difficult.
A book blurb is a short summary of your work. It should include the following elements:
Title
Author name
Genre
Synopsis (which is a description of the plot)
You can also include other elements, such as an image or relevant links.
To write an effective blurb, keep the following tips in mind to help you get started.
To create a blurb that sells your book, keep the following tips in mind to help you get started:
Keep it short. A blurb is not a full-fledged advertisement but rather an enticing teaser that piques the reader's interest and makes them want to know more.
Make it interesting. The key to writing an effective blurb is to use powerful words and phrases that will make people want to read what you've written.
Include information about the plot (if relevant). Include enough detail so readers can picture exactly what happens in each scene of your book or story, but don't give away too much—this will make readers less likely to buy because they won't be surprised by anything when they finally do decide to buy your work!
Make it easy to read. If a potential customer has never heard of any type of writing before (and hasn't seen anything similar), then their eyes might glaze over while reading something like this...
The first paragraph serves as the introduction.
The first paragraph serves as the introduction, introducing the book’s main characters, describing the main conflict, and including a hook to make your readers want to read more.
This is where you'll want to mention what sets your book apart from other books that are similar in genre or topic. For example, if it's a mystery novel with a female protagonist who works as a private investigator, you could state that it's unlike other mysteries because it features strong female characters (and/or uses lots of research). Or if it has something else special about it—like its humorous tone or unique setting—mention those things here too!
The second half gets into the details of your story.
The second half of your blurb should start to get into the details of your story. “What happens?” is a great place to start. What is your main character's motivation? What is the conflict that drives him or her through this story? How does it end?
The second half of your blurb should also give us a sense of what’s at stake for our hero or heroine. If you can show us why we should care about their journey and what could be lost if they don’t succeed, then we will root for them every step of the way!
The third part of a blurb is where things get interesting because we're talking about themes (more on those later) and characters' motivations (which brings us back around to the character).
What elements will intrigue your readers?
Now that you've got a basic idea of what your blurb should include, let's talk about how to make sure it's interesting and engaging. This is where I'll start with a hook. Hooks are the best way to get people interested in reading your book—they offer an intriguing question or statement that compels someone to read on. If you can find a good hook, you don't have to worry about having an amazing blurb; something else will catch their attention first and make them want to keep reading (which is why doing your research beforehand is so important).
Consider what questions could be answered by reading your book.
Once you have a good idea of what your book is about, think about what questions could be answered by reading it. For example, if your book is about how to lose weight, then a potential reader might wonder:
What is the problem that my weight gain is causing me?
How can I lose the extra weight and keep it off?
Will losing weight make me happier?
Once you've identified some important questions that could be answered by reading your work, write them down. Then ask yourself how these questions would be answered in the pages of your manuscript. Write down any ideas that come to mind regarding this question or anything else that will help readers identify with their situation (i.e., “because they’ve been there before”).
Don't give away too much information in the blurb.
The blurb is not the place for spoilers. You don’t want to reveal the ending, a major plot twist, or even what your main conflict is in the book! It’s okay if you briefly mention it — but if you give away too much information at this stage, readers will get bored with your book before they even start reading it.
If you’re writing a series and plan on having more books in that world come out over time, make sure that each book has its own unique plotline and isn’t just a continuation of the previous one. That way, each book can stand on its own as an individual work without needing previous knowledge of characters or settings.
It's also important not to give away too much about your protagonist immediately; leave some things up in the air, so there's a mystery surrounding them when people read your book!
Writing a blurb for your next work doesn't have to be lengthy or complicated!
Writing a blurb for your next work doesn't have to be lengthy or complicated! In fact, you can get the right information across in as few as five sentences. A blurb is essentially a short summary of your book that gives people an idea of what it's about and why they should read it.
Blurbs are not just for publishers and agents; they're also used by readers to decide whether or not they want to purchase your book. You can even use them on social media so that fans will know what their favorite author has written and if it piques their interest enough for them to buy it! So here's what goes into making an effective book blurb:
Writing a blurb for your next work doesn't have to be lengthy or complicated!
The first paragraph serves as the introduction and should include information about who you are, what your book is about, and why readers should care. The second half gets into the details of your story. What elements will intrigue your readers? Consider what questions could be answered by reading your book. Don't give away too much information in the blurb because that'll just spoil all the fun!