Writing the back cover of a book

You haveat best150 to 200 words to work with, because thats all that will attractively fit on the back cover of most volumes. 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. If your work is funny then the back cover should be humorous. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. For a nonfiction book, authors should make a bullet point list of the books main features and actually put that list on the back cover. Currently dithering to puff or not to puff on the cover of my new mystery novels, i asked alli authors whether they thought soliciting endorsement quotes was worth the time and trouble.

If its a novel, you must include the storys most engaging plot points. Is writing a cover blurb for a nonfiction book different than writing one for a novel. Writing killer back cover copy is crucial for authors because, like me, people who create what goes on covers and sales sheets often havent read your book. Does the back cover give a solid book summary, author bio, professional headshot and blurbs. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books. Aug 26, 2019 writing back cover copy for nonfiction books is significantly different than writing back cover copy for fiction.

How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. Above the list, speak directly to the readers, and give them the primary reason why they should read your book. So getting back to my use of the word relationship you get a blurb for a book of poetry by asking poets that you know and respect to read the proofs of your manuscript and write something complimentary about it, along the lines of what they think your poetry is. In ebook and selfpublishing, a book blurb is whats used on the main online sales page. Not only will it appear on the book itself, but youll probably use it as your amazon description. Write only a paragraph or two, and include the hooksthe story s most engaging plot points. How to write a back cover for a book writing a back cover identify your audience. If you queried agents or editors at any point, you might be able to start with the hook from your query letter. This is a huge mistake, even if a book is only sold online. Aug 23, 2012 writing killer back cover copy is crucial for authors because, like me, people who create what goes on covers and sales sheets often havent read your book. Thats why friesenpress pays close attention to your books back cover copy. To accomplish this, you need to put a lot of care and attention into your back cover copy. This entry was posted in marketing on march 17, 20 by admin. The occult art of the poetry book blurb rachael mead.

The other thing back cover copy does is it sets the mood. If you are a novelist, your back cover should provide a short summary of what your book is about. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list. The best place to inscribe a book is traditionally the top of the inside cover page or inside cover. After the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. Ideally, it continues with a list of benefits for the reader. A book flap also typically includes a photograph of the author.

Nov 15, 2017 this is not the time to have a dull sentence. Aug, 2015 put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. Its one of the hardest parts of creating a back cover. What is the writing on the back cover of a book called. In this guide, well discuss how to come up with a back cover that sells your book fast. Use language that reflects the toneemotion of your novelcompilation.

Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. Dec 08, 2017 how the back cover of your book can sell your book. Writing a strategic, concise and easytoread back cover can be your key to making money as a selfpublished author. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. It sums up the plot of a written work, providing a brief description of the main events of the storyline. The writing on a back of the cover or dust jacket is sometimes referred to as the book synopsis or blurb as much as i know youd love to read an article about dust jackets, in this article, we will dive deeper into the written matter on the back of the book cover more than the actual physical makeup of the cover itself.

Are you writing a back cover blurb for a nonfiction book. Once a reader sees a book cover design and thinks the book title is intriguing, whats next. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. The flap of a book is the part of the cover folded to appear on the inside front and back of a book. Before writing your back book blurb, choose 35 of the bestselling books in your genre and make a note of stylistic similarities.

Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Start with a headline that makes or implies a promise. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. You pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting.

In this guide, ill walk you through how to write a book description, provide you a template, and include. The point is to find one of the early pages in the book that does not have too much extraneous text, so the inscription stands out. Nonfiction can be divided easily into two categories. Your back cover copy is the biggest deciding factor for readers picking up your book. Visit a bookstore or library and read the back covers of bestselling books in your genre. 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. The front cover has a critical role to play, of course, but todays post is about the strategic use of the back cover. Create a short introductory question to grab the reader. If you choose to use a short bio on the back cover, make sure the author sounds like the ultimate authority on the subject. The book blurb is one of the most difficult aspects to write, as many authors struggle to find the words to succinctly tease the story without it reading like a summary. Writing a great story has little value if no one reads or buys the book. If you write the description and benefits before you write your book, youll find they help keep you on track during the writing process. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. How to design your books back cover ny book editors.

So, a couple other things youre going to do in your back cover copy, and then were going to give you an example. Time to compose a book description that will capture attention and compel readers to open the book and read more. However, a few sentences about the author with an optional photograph can be included on the back cover. Despite the old adage, people do judge a book by its cover. How do i cite information mla style from the back cover of. You might be better off finding a different source. But remember that the information on the covers of books is not necessarily in the authors words. But there are parts that you can write at any stage of the process. Lets look at how to make your nonfiction cover blurb sell your book. These readers want to know they are receiving help or education from an expert on a particular topic.

How to build the back of a book cover with template. There is a big difference between writing a cover blurb for a novel and writing a cover blurb for nonfiction. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitchesyou make to the media. If this book were autographed on the cover by all of the artists and writers who worked on the stories and the cover, the book would not be downgraded for that even though the amount of writing on the cover would probably exceed what is there now. The backcover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. The summary on the back of a book is called a synopsis. In the words of renowned typographer jan tschichold 19021974, book design, though largely forgotten today, relies upon methods and rules upon which it is impossible to improve, and which have been developed over centuries. When writing a book, there are two potential places to include your author bio. If you are citing a book cover, or part of a book cover, make sure to keep in mind that you are still citing a book. Finish off with a questionkeylineteaser that will leave them wondering what. To recap, your best practices for the author bio are to.

Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. The third example shows how part of the back cover copy the author bio, in this case can show up on the inside flap of a hard cover book. The back cover of your book should include a short bio of the author, letting readers know the most salient aspects of your life, your business, and your career. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. Nov 23, 2015 write a short summary of what your book is about. Heres how to write backcover that will hook new readers and sell your book. Our friends at bookbub carried out an a b test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b a version without a testimonial. May 27, 2015 book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit. You should have the following goals and ideas in mind. Author julie broad shares 5 back cover tips that will help sell your nonfiction book on amazon and elsewhere. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Sep 25, 20 thata a lot of buying potential just waiting to be claimed by a snappy back cover. And even if youre planning on only selling through online retailers, bcc is still incredibly useful.

To help prevent you from falling into this unfortunate group, weve put together a few tips that should help you write a winning book blurb, whether its for the latest fantasy novel or for a nonfiction selfhelp guide. By emily evansmiller last week we talked about how to design a great front cover, but the dust jacket and back cover are some of the most important real estate on a book. On the back cover of smiths book is written, blah blah back cover. Then, and only then, write the manuscript that fulfills the promise. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover synopsis that leaves her guessing. Be clear about the benefits of buying your book, and youll deliver an irresistible message. On the other hand, endorsements, used wisely, can be genuinely add sales appeal to the cover of any book.

If youve already made an ebook front cover using my templates, youll have to adjust the text a bit, because now you have extra margins on the top, bottom and sides. The 150 to 200 words youll choose to place on your books back cover might just be the most important words in your entire book project. Failure to realize the value of the back cover seems to equate with the failure to realize that the text for the finished back cover can always be changed before the printing of the book. Because this is all theory, and it would be good to give you some. If youre writing back cover copy for books youve read, that will teach you a great deal when you approach your own back cover copy, and i love that. If your book is scary than you must include elements of horror, if your book is romantic make the reader care about your characters. Some authors choose one or the other, though i recommend taking advantage of both. Then ensure you incorporate them into your back book jacket blurb. Writing your books backcover copy book edits by jessi. So lets take a closer look at these five aspects of the back cover. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. Make sure you make your summary thorough so your reader knows the general subject.

Start your headline with an action word, then include a promise of what readers can expect to gain from your book. Book design is the art of incorporating the content, style, format, design, and sequence of the various components and elements of a book into a coherent unit. The back cover text starts with a description of what the book is about. 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. List on a sheet of paper who, what, where, when, and why see reference 1. Writing back cover copy for your nonfiction book xulon. Sample book back cover a man can never truly run away from his past, jack preacher thought, as four mysterious horsemen appeared from beyond the desert threatening to throw the quiet and dusty town of cameron into disarray. The back cover of a book usually contains a blurb about the contents of the book. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. These words are the basic guidelines for any story. Its the essence of your book s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. Sep 05, 2017 but your back cover is what will inspire potential readers to take your book to the register. It will get reused and refashioned for dozens of purposes.

The space on the back cover of a book for blurbs, which are brief promotional paragraphs, is one of the more valuable spots for book promotion. Your cover copy doesnt just tell potential readers what your book is aboutits a critical marketing tool. What do book publicists want to see on a book cover. Heres a list of best practices to follow when writing the blurb for your back.

If you think the recipient is really going to be bothered by you writing in the book, you can use a tasteful. Done correctly, the backcover copy is the primary ad for your book. Dont regale the reader with a description of your eye color. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. Its why ive pulled the back cover for mitch alboms the five people you meet in heaven for us to examine.

If its a thriller, you need to write in a thriller mood. Oct 19, 2018 back cover copy also called flap copy is the text that goes on the back cover of a book or on the back cover and flaps of a dust jacket. Book flaps contain information designed to help sell the book, as well as information about the book s author. Theres a reason why these books are bestsellers back cover copy is the second thing book buyers look at to help them make a buying decision the front cover is first. Next, follow up with approximately five bullet points to share the most important topics in your book.

Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y. The back cover bio is a chance to impress a potential reader, while the inside bio is often the last impression made on a. How to hire the perfect cover designer for your next book. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. The back cover copy of your book is your sales pitch to prospective readers and book buyers. One of the most consistent and easily corrected mistakes i see with book covers that are designed by authors is weak or inappropriate typography. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers. This information usually falls into one of three parts. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or.

Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your book s final edit. And while a strong front cover can capture attention, its the back cover that closes the sale. Introduce the situation and characters in the case of a memoir, you are likely to be the main character. Chances are, you will write a better book if you let the blurb guide you. Aug 27, 2019 writing back cover copy for nonfiction books is significantly different than writing back cover copy for fiction. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. Back cover copy also called flap copy is the text that goes on the back cover of a book or on the back cover and flaps of a dust jacket. If blank, media and book buyers will know the book was not professionally published. Nonfiction readers care more about who is providing the information. A page about the author is often placed on the last page inside the book. The sympathizer, by viet thanh nguyen, grove press, 2015.

Tips for writing compelling back cover copy blogger. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. Jan 27, 2020 here are 6 mustdo tips for brainstorming back cover copy. For book cover art i would recommend looking at the publication information for some of this info, and include as much as possible. Given that a book cover usually has very few words on it, and those words title, subtitle, authors name have a huge influence on buying decisions, this can be a major problem. How do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book. Its crucial it be compelling, because readers make buying decisions from the book description. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question. Before writing your pitch, examine the back covers for books in your novels category and genre at least ten.

You want to match the voice of the back cover copy with the voice of the book. Adhere to specific guidelines when writing a back cover summary to pique potential buyers interest. The back cover of your as yet unwritten book can help you write a better book, and write it faster, too. Because the whole objective of the back cover of your book is singular, sell your book. 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. Its important for writers to market while they write. May 08, 20 writing the back cover blurb for your book this is something we all struggle with after our novel is finished and we are in the cover stage. How to write kickbutt bcc back cover copy wise ink blog. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. How back cover blurbs for novels are similar to back cover copy for compilations. But the headline of your back cover should be short, simple, and actionoriented. In other words, the person who looks at the back cover needs to. See if you can pin what works well in this description, and that would work as a killer pitch.

How to write a back cover blurb with examples book editing. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. 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. Nine things that need to be on your book cover alicia dunams.

Make it so droolworthy that everybody will want to buy a copy of your book. As a writer, you may love long, lyrical descriptions. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. In general, the back cover design is composed of the following parts. How to write a back cover blurb for a nonfiction book. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. Its probably the hardest three hundred words to write because it has to be concise while giving a good description of your book. Tips for writing a back cover that sells steuben press. A glossary is usually situated at the back of a book. Remember, your back cover copy can be just as powerful a marketing tool as your front cover. She adds, waiting for testimonials is generally the reason the back cover of a galley is left blank.

Tips for writing the best back cover copy design for books. Apr 28, 2016 the back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. This is the time for every word to be carefully looked at. The easiest way to bring the art into your full print cover template, is to make the front, spine and back art unique, 1 piece layers, without the text.