What is a Book Blurb?It is the Paragraphs that Go on the Back Cover of Your Book
Why is a Blurb Important?After the Front Title and Picture Tweak their CuriosityThe Blurb is Where the Customer TurnsTo See if They Want to Buy the BookIt is What Sells Your Book
Book Blurb Steps Introduce the Main Character(s) By NameSet Up the Main ConflictIf Important, the Setting (Sci Fi)Introduce the HookShow the Stakes (Success/Failure/Both)Finish with an Appeal to the Reader(Mandatory Optional)
Usually Between 150-200 WordsVaries between Genres
Why Main Characters First? Novels are a Storytelling MediumYour Blurb Has to Be about CharactersConsciously or Not, Readers Check the Blurb to See Whether They Want to Spend Time with your Main Characters
Name Your CharactersYou Need a Name and a Defining Characteristic"Daisy, an Optimistic Firefighter," "Mo, a Lonely Tax Accountant" Descriptions Allow Readers to Draw a Picture of Your Characters in their Minds To Understand How they Figure into your Story's Conflict
Set up your Book's Main Conflict The Conflict is What Drives your Story It’s Harry Potter doing Battle against VoldemortFBI Agent Clarice Starling Negotiating with Hannibal LecterCaptain Ahab’s Obsessive Vendetta against a WhaleWithout a Real-World Conflict You Don’t have a Story Readers can Sink their Teeth Into
Remember Stories Require Interesting CharactersDoing Interesting ThingsIn Interesting PlacesOrdinary Life Isn’t a Story
Show the Stakes Show How the Stakes will Rise Without Consequences Conflict Lacks DramaSaying “Jack Ryan has 24 hrs to rescue the ambassador” isn’t as impactful unless we know what’s at stake“...his failure will result in certain nuclear war”
Finish With an Appeal to your ReaderMost Readers have an Idea of the Book They’re Looking forDon’t Try Selling to EverybodyInstead - Help People Already Wanting a Books Like Yours to See This is the Next Book for ThemSubtly Highlight How your Book is Familiar Include Elements to Excite Those Readers
Never Tell Them the EndingThey have to Buy the Book for That
After You Secure Your Agent This is What your Agent will Use to Base their Pitch to the Publishing EditorAlsoWhat the Editor will Likely Use to Pitch to Their Publishing Team and to Write the Cover Copy
Many Book Coaches Suggest Writers Work on the Blurb Before Starting to Write their Book
It Can be a Useful Writing Process Whether You’re a Pantser or a Plotter the Blurb is Your Point of Reference Whether the Story Finished What it Promisedand is MarketableIt Gives You whatthe Book’s “Finish Line” Looks Likeand What has to be Done to Get There
It Helps Keep You on CourseDuring your Writing
Writing a Blurb Helps Point You in the Right DirectionCreating a Dynamic Book IdeaSame but Differentas the Rest of the Genre
Writing a Blurb Helps Point You in the Right DirectionCreating a Dynamic Book IdeaSame but Differentas the Rest of the Genre
It Doesn’t Need More than Two ParagraphsIf Necessary, ThreeThat’s it
Only Name One or Two Characters
Focus on the HookWhat Makes your BookDifferent from the Competition
Write in a Style Reflecting the GenreComedy should be HumorousSuspense should be Dark
How do You Research Examples Start with GoogleLook up the Top Ten Best-Selling Booksin Your Genre for the Last Three Years
Go to GoodreadsLook at Their Book EntryIt often Gives the Backcover Copy
Gone with the Wind Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of a well-to-do Georgia plantation owner, must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of the poverty she finds herself in after Sherman's March to the Sea
Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of a well-to-do Georgia plantation owner, must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of the poverty she finds herself in after Sherman's March to the SeaMain CharacterConflictStakesSetting
Take Another LookWhat is This? – Clue: 25 WordsNow Reword it to 26 WordsWhen Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of a well-to-do Georgia plantation owner, sinks into poverty after Sherman's March to the Sea, she has to use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of it
50 Shades of Grey When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
The Roommate(Cover Shows a Man and Lady on a Couch)House Rules:Do your own dishesKnock before entering the bathroomNever look up your roommate online
Always Only YouGet ready for an emotional ride filled with laughter, longing, and a sweet slow-burn in this sports romance about love’s power not in spite of difference, but because of it.Ren. The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game—besides, hockey, that is.I’m a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever—she’s headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won’t want to leave me behind, too.Frankie. I’ve had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I’m a grumbly grump and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can’t entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about.Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I’ve learned what I am to most people in my life—a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I’m prepared to do.Always Only You is an opposites-attract, forbidden love sports romance about a nerdy, late-blooming hockey star, and his tough cookie coworker who keeps both her soft side and her autism diagnosis to herself. Complete with a meddling secretary, tantric yoga torture, and a scorching slow burn, this standalone is the second in a series of novels about a Swedish-American family of five brothers, two sisters, and their wild adventures as they each find happily ever after.
Like Lovers Do
Kennie McClain is a security guard who, unbeknownst to her tenants, owns the Allen Arms where she works. She’s still recovering from the loss of her partner three years earlier and has moved from upstate New York to Portland to escape the tragedy. In her off hours, she rehabs apartments and nurses a broken heart.
Lily Gordon, a nationally-acclaimed painter, lives in the Allen Arms penthouse. She’s beautiful and accomplished – and haunted after her lover ditches her.
Sparks fly in a big way when Kennie and Lily finally connect . . . but then in one shattering moment, Lily betrays her, and Kennie’s world comes crashing down, leaving her untrusting and in deep emotional pain. Can Kennie ever rise above these losses and risk her heart aga