With the sheer number of books out there, it can be tough to stand out from the crowd. Having a book description that grabs attention and piques readers’ interest is a key part of reaching your potential audience. With these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to crafting captivating copy that will help you sell more books.
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What is a book description?
A book description (some also call it a blurb) is your first chance to impress and intrigue your readers before they commit their valuable time and money. Your blurb is arguably one of the most important marketing tools you have. (aside from the cover of course!)
A book description is often thought of as part of an advertisement designed to encourage people to read your book. It is essentially an overview of your story: where and when it takes place, who its main characters are, what problems they encounter on their journey. You want to make the reader wonder how those problems you presented are going to be resolved, and question whether they are going to be resolved at all.
How do I write a blurb?
There are many different ways to write your book description, and it is important for each author to stay true to their own voice when writing the description.
Create a catchy opening. This can be up to two sentences but is usually only one sentence in length. The opening should captivate you with some intriguing detail of the story that will entice people into reading more of it.
You can use quotes from reviews, short paragraphs, and anything that will compel people to keep reading… You’ll want to include an enticing story hook. In some cases, like memoirs, for example, it might work best if you talk about yourself and why you wrote your book at all before delving into what the book is actually about.
In the next few sentences, it is important to let readers know what happens in your story in some way shape or form. Why does it happen? What is going on? Do not tell everything just give hints of clues about what is to come. You don’t want to reveal too many details. These sentences work as set ups and hooks for enticing readers to buy your novel. *Remember* good book descriptions are tantalizing and short!
When writing your book description it’s important to know who your target market is and what type of people will be interested in reading your work. You also want to make sure you are giving an accurate overview of what readers can expect when they purchase your book. Setting up reader expectations is key to converting interested potential customers into loyal fans. If you’re promising a tale full of mystery filled with twists and turns, you better deliver.
How long should the book description be?
As I’ve mentioned, a book description should be short and to-the-point. With so many books out there, it’s hard for readers to invest their time on one they may not even like. Your goal is to keep them interested. Keep your summary concise at around 150 words or less. Again, don’t give away too much about what happens in your book. Leave them wanting more!
Want to know more?
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