Nora rawlinson, past editorinchief of publishers weekly, says, why not judge a book by its cover. Just as the packaging helps sell crackers and cereal, the cover sells the book. This is one of the most important pieces of copy youll write, since it has a lot of work to do representing your book and showing people whats unique, interesting, or especially valuable about what you. This is another way of how copywriting uses writing to. Above the list, speak directly to the readers, and give them the primary reason why they should read your book. Nov 18, 2019 how to write compelling back cover copy. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Here is a sample of a book that landed a publisher. If youre writing romance, tell us about the guy and the girl. Apr 28, 2016 the back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. 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.
List the name of your book, genre, expected completion date, and a short blurb think back cover copy. If your book is funny, so should your back cover copy be. Explanations and back book cover examples for both fiction and nonfiction. When you get to the stage of sending your manuscript to a graphic designer and printer, be careful not to include the books backcover copy as part of the manuscript. Writers have a split second to catch readers attention. In book publishing, flap copy or jacket flap copy is the summary of a book which appears on the inside of a hardcover dust jacket. Rachel also designs and formats book interiors for print or ebook distribution. Aug 23, 2012 jennifer, your observation about pleasants book illustrate that her back cover copy did the job it needed to do since immediately, you knew her book isnt for you.
Steps to writing your own back book blurb and back cover. Its not every day you run into someone whose specialty is back cover copy for your book. This information usually falls into one of three parts. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. The writers edge service matching quality christian. And while a strong front cover can capture attention, its the back cover that closes the sale. Tips for writing compelling back cover copy blogger. The electronic scanning lines printed on the back cover or book jacket are encoded with information about the book product, such as the title, publisher, and price. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Writers need to be aware of the possible spoiler affect and design their back cover copy when its in their control to tease readers without giving away big reveals. Jul 30, 20 the front cover works in a very subliminal way. Though it is said you cannot judge a book by its cover, many people do. An introduction to a book, usually written by someone other than the author of the book. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books.
Editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling backcover copy for your book. Founded in 1915, the missouri writers guild is a 501c3 nonprofit organization for professional writers from across missouri and the midwest. Who wrote or will write your back cover copythe bit on the back of the book designed to influence browsers to buy it. Think that most people buy books online, so they wont ever see your back cover. Again, book jacket copy is about sales, and copywriters have knowledge of certain keywords that engage readers and get them excited about a book. Read your back cover copy out loud to check for sentence flow and word choice. Our blurbwriting service will give your book that extra edge with professionally written cover copy are you ready to selfpublish your book but cant write the back cover or jacket copy. Rachel invites all writers, but is especially interested in supporting the efforts of christian and spiritualreligious writers, pastors and theologians, mystics, memoirists, and children. She ghostwrites author bios, back cover copy of books, and author websites. Get a professionally written book blurb that will sell more books. Editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling back cover copy for your book. And the description section on your books product page is the most important selling tool you have.
Sep 12, 20 as writers, we hear about loglines all the timehow to write them, why we need them, when to use them. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. Choose a voice for your back cover that matches your book and fuel it with emotion. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question. Its there strictly to hook readers into buying and reading the book. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio mill. Before writing your pitch, examine the back covers for books in your novels category and genre at least ten.
Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. Try to describe in a few words the essence and hooks that will convey your books content in the best possible way. And so, when we hear about this thing called a tag line, its easy to make the mistake of thinking tag line is just another name for a logline. Newspapers do it with headlines and arresting images, but novelists have three tools at their disposalthe book cover, title, and taglines. Self published author 8 mistakes that will absolutely kill.
Therefore, we are also not responsible for any resemblance with any other material on the web. His outline is a perfect jumpingoff point for creating your own book description. For instance, covers, back cover copy and front content are important components in regards to producing a book that will succeed in the marketplace. Ive seen selfpublished authors include thumbnails of their other books or qr codes for their websites. My work is a found text, posing as a fictional revised edition of an equally fictional 19c novel, and also a novel within a novel.
However, moments after being engaged by your cover, readers are going to flip your book over to read the back cover. If all of this sounds daunting, consider hiring an editor or marketing writer to help you craft your book s backcover copy in the most compelling way possible. Apr 20, 2008 the blurb can also be a sentence or two of glowing praise written by a fellow author to help market your book, but for this article well focus on the copy that appears on the back cover of a book. How to write a back cover copy for your book go teen writers. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. Blurb, back cover copy, jacket copy, or promotional copy.
Jan 12, 2016 how writers can optimize their books description on amazon jane friedman if youre an author, you may not like thinking about your published books as products, but thats what they are. Aug, 2015 put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover. A blurb in a query letter is much like a short synopsis you have approximately 250 words in which to summarize your book in a concise, engaging. For these reasons we must consider marketing when making book production decisions. Your back cover copy is what sells your book to a potential reader and is. So how do you grab readers interest to buy your book. How to write a blurb back cover copy marilynn byerly.
In the body of the email, include your name, email, physical address and phone number. Try to make it sound like a story you would read in the newspaper. We set the book up in the printers system, and upload the interior and cover files to them. 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. Thats why friesenpress pays close attention to your book s back cover copy. Shop for books at and browse categories like young adult books, childrens books, mystery books, adult coloring books and cook books. After writing and polishing a complete book, many writers are surprised at just how difficult it is to write a few effective paragraphs for the back cover.
When writing back cover or flap copy, you should make sure every word lands and creates impact. If youre writing for teens, use language that will interest teens. Punctuation or grammar goofs in this highly visible spot broadcast the message that your book was not professionally written. Of course, authors and publishers want to sell books, but i believe most would rather readers appreciate their work instead of ending up with something they wish they hadnt. All of the pages in a book that appear before the body copy. Doing so will keep the reader excited, which will sell your book. Whatever you call it, a great book description is your second best marketing tool your cover is number one. Once the front cover draws the bookstore browser in, it is expected that the back cover will provide clear reasons why this book is right for them. These terms are specific to each genre and audience. Apr 25, 2018 if your book is funny, so should your back cover copy be. The same copy is often used by online retailers when your. Create a definite, confident voice for your back cover.
How writers can optimize their books description on amazon. How to turn your blog or facebook posts into a book. If you send it in the same file as the main manuscript, it may accidentally get printed in the books interior instead of on your back cover. Its the essence of your book s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. I think a tricky part about writing back cover copy for fiction is writing it with a sense of urgency to grab a readers attention. How to write a tagline for your book and why you need to. See what other authors in your genre are doing with their back covers. For some of us, writing the book is easier than writing the synopsis, a brief promo piece ordread of all dreadsthe back cover copy. Depending on your topic, your writing should emanate authority, compassion, wisdom, insight, humor, suspense, intrigue, mystery, etc. Before writing your own backcover copy, examine the backs of other books in your genre for examples of what is working for other authors. Are you worried that it might let you down because copywriting is a particular skill and it can be especially hard when its your own book. Dec 20, 2008 the whole point of back cover copy is for marketing. The printer processes the files, and sends the print galley the first printed, bound copy of the book. 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.
Basic blurb cover copy product description for fiction or nonfiction. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. It will get reused and refashioned for dozens of purposes. Our copywriter will read through the manuscript of your book, picking out the. Back cover blurbs for books book publicity book pr. This means the front matter is unusually complex with numerous introductory pieces, fictional author and editor biographies, two title pages one for the original publication and one for the new edition and etcetera. Despite the old adage, people do judge a book by its cover.
Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. Either include the covers if you can, or have the cover available as a jpg. Entries without this information will not be included in the contest. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. As a reader, i wont usually buy a book unless i can read the back cover copy to see what the book is about.
Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y. Since we talked about hook sentences last week, it only seemed natural to address back cover copy today. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. Nov 15, 20 indie authors often dont have all the back cover content that a traditionally published book has, but that doesnt mean your back cover has to be empty. This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list. But there are parts that you can write at any stage of the process. Its not and we need both because the tagline is what goes on your book cover. Book contest asheville christian writers conference. Like a hook sentence, your back cover copy is a tool for selling your book. A stepbystep guide to writing copy that sells, 3rd edition paperback april 4, 2006. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. 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.