In this article we'll consider:
What a blurb needs to be
5 key questions to answer in your blurb
7 top tips to spice up your blurb
Seeking feedback
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The curious reader, attracted by your book's snazzy cover and captivated by its alluring title and subtitle, next eagerly dives into your book description to decide if it's a must-have or a hard pass. In this ultimate showdown from window shopper to book buyer, your book blurb becomes the hero or the zero in sealing the deal.
While every reader is a unique creature with their own quirks and preferences - what tickles one reader's fancy might leave another cold, literary speaking - you can boost the chances of your book hitting the sweet spot by whipping up a snappy, intriguing, and downright irresistible book blurb that gets right to the heart of what kind of reading experience your book is offering.
Sounds easy. But condensing an 80,000-word novel into a 250-word book description has left many an author in terror-stricken turmoil and tears.
Regardless of whether you're a seasoned author or a debut novelist, mastering the art of creating enticing book blurbs is key to attracting interest in your work. To assist you in your endeavours, let's look at some top tips for wrangling the little blurb blighters into shape, beginning with the essential framework.
Build a blurb
Firstly, shout-out to historical and literary fiction author, Libbie Hawker, for the following framework for creating compelling book blurbs. Thanks to her I still have a full head of hair and far better blurbs than I had at the start of my career. You can find out more about Libbie and her books at Hawkerbooks.com. Let's jump in to Libbie's five key questions every book blurb should answer.
Who is your main character?
What does your main character want?
What or who will prevent them from getting it?
What are they willing to do to succeed?
What's at stake if they fail?
Once you have the answers to these questions sketched out, you can start to build out your blurb, adding in the flavour that makes your book unique.
Keep in mind that the average ideal length for a book blurb is no more than 250 words. If you have more than that to start with, that's fine; you can refine phrasing and word choice as you redraft. Creating an effective blurb is a skill that takes practice and several drafts, or many, to hone, so don't expect to get it right on the first go; allow yourself time to develop it over several iterations.
So when we say adding flavour, what do we mean?
Setting - crucial for a fantasy novel, important for a small-town crime caper, relevant to rural cowboy romance; if setting is significant to your story, reference it in the blurb.
Character quirks - the key to snappy blurbs is to give a strong sense of your book, not to offload everything you want readers to know; but if your protagonist has unique characteristics or hobby or job role that influences the plot, include this in the description.
Language - throughout your description use language that's appropriate to your genre and also emulates the style readers will find within the pages of your book.
Example
Take a look at the blurb for Mario Puzo's The Godfather on Amazon; the answers to the key framework questions are highlighted in green, setting in blue, character in yellow, and genre-specific language in orange:
Tyrant, blackmailer, racketeer, murderer - his influence reaches every level of American society. Meet Don Corleone, a friendly man, a just man, a reasonable man. The deadliest lord of the Cosa Nostra. The Godfather.
But no man can stay on top forever, not when he has enemies on both sides of the law. As the ageing Vito Corleone nears the end of a long life of crime, his sons must step up to manage the family business. Sonny Corleone is an old hand , while World War II veteran Michael Corleone is unused to the world of crime and reluctant to plunge into the business.
Both the police and ruthless rival crime lords scent blood in the water. If the Corleone family is to survive, it needs a ruthless new don. But the price of success in a violent life may be too high to bear ...
A modern masterpiece, The Godfather is a searing portrayal of the 1940s criminal underworld . Still shocking long after its initial publication, this compelling tale of blackmail, murder and family values is a true classic.
In just under 180 words, this description packs a real punch. Admittedly, many of the words and phrases fit into several categories, such as the opening adjectives, which are both character description and language befitting the genre; and the whole piece is permeated with genre-signifying language (deadliest, enemies, crime, police, ruthless, violent, criminal, etc), the overall effect of which is powerful.
There's no mistaking what kind of book this is, and what readers who purchase it can expect.
In terms of the key framework, the main characters are introduced (the Corleone family), what they want is stated (a ruthless new don; to maintain their lofty position in the underworld), those who might prevent them from getting what they want (police and rival crime lords; perhaps even the conflict we might infer between the two sons), what they're willing to do to succeed and what the stakes are if they fail (pay the price of success of a violent life, which may be "too high to bear").
What the description doesn't do is overload us with information. The book itself runs to almost 600 pages and covers ten years of the family's life, but the description sticks to the barest facts - the overarching storyline that underpins those ten years, placing significant emphasis instead on encapsulating the book's genre.
So... with your key questions answered, and a bit of flavour added, here are a few more top tips to guide you on your way to becoming a book blurb fiend.
Emphasize your genre As the above example demonstrates, choose language and a style that resonates with your genre and mirrors what the reader can expect to find within your book's pages. Of course, stories can cross genres, such as a romance with a mystery plot, or a crime novel with a love triangle subplot, and that's fine to include in your description, but be guided by your primary genre.
Create intrigue Engage readers by introducing an element of mystery or conflict in your blurb. Make them curious about how the story unfolds without giving away too much. A well-crafted cliffhanger can leave readers eager to read more.
Focus on the main conflict Clearly outline the main conflict or central problem that drives your story. Readers should get a sense of what challenges the protagonist faces and why they should care about the outcome. Emphasize the stakes to create a sense of urgency.
Show, don't tell Use vivid language and genre-specific descriptive imagery to bring your story to life. Instead of summarizing the plot, evoke emotions and sensations that hint at the tone and atmosphere of your book. Let readers experience a glimpse of the world you've created, tempting them to pick up the book to get the rest of it.
Highlight unique selling points What sets your book apart from others in the same genre? Whether it's a unique setting, an unconventional protagonist, or a fresh twist on a familiar theme, make sure to showcase what makes your story special. Conveying your book's unique selling points will grab readers' attention.
Keep it concise Aim for brevity and clarity. While you want to entice readers, avoid overwhelming them with excessive details. A concise and well-structured blurb is more likely to hold readers' attention and spark their interest. Make every word count. Think of movie trailers that don't tell you half of what the film is actually about, but convey the viewing experience perfectly.
End with a hook Finish your blurb with a compelling hook that leaves readers eager to discover more. Whether it's a tantalizing question, a surprising revelation, or a hint at an unexpected twist, give readers a reason to spend money on your book and start reading.
Seek feedback Before finalizing your book blurb, consider seeking feedback from beta readers or fellow authors. Constructive criticism can help you refine your blurb and identify any areas that may need improvement. Remember, after your cover, the blurb is the single most important barrier between you and a new fan. Don't hesitate to revise and fine-tune your blurb until it truly shines.
Finally...
Crafting captivating book blurbs is both an art and a science. After spending weeks, months or even years on your book, distilling its contents into 250 words may feel like a challenge too far. But by following these tips, and putting thought into every word, you can create a compelling book description that intrigues readers and entices them to take a chance on exploring your book further.
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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.
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