Writing that Book Blurb

At some point in the life of your story, you’re going to have to write a book blurb. Some writers are convinced that this short description is more challenging than writing an entire novel. How does one condense an 80,000 word story into a 150-250 word teaser? Well, it’s not impossible, and it’s important to try and get it as right as you can—for a number of reasons.

Back Cover Showcase

Your book blurb is an important attention-getter on the back cover of your book. It performs a number of functions for a potential reader. It introduces the main character(s) of your story, reveals a bit about the plot, hints at challenges or threats, and lets the reader know what genre’ the story fits into. What it doesn’t do is tell everything about the story, especially how it ends. Your blurb should grab a reader’s interest, pose questions/thoughts/ideas, and make them want to read your story to see what happens and how it all comes together in the end.

Blurb Readers

Who else needs your book blurb? Well, if you’re submitting your work in a competition/contest, it might be part of your submission packet. Someone interested in interviewing you about your book might ask for one. If you have an agent/publisher, they will want a condensed account of what your book is about. It’s significantly different than a synopsis, which is a summary/enhanced outline of the entire story. A blurb provides some general information, but is also a teaser, an invitation for someone to pick up your book and read it.

Starting Thoughts

It might be helpful to list the story’s main points in a short, bulleted list. Then (ignoring the conclusion) expand a bit on each of them, turning it into a paragraphed narrative until you reach the desired word count. Your bulleted list could read something like this:

• Man steals car and crashes it
• Someone rescues and hides him
• Relationship develops
• Stolen car has significance
• Discovery/consequences

Ignoring the last bullet point (which may reveal the conclusion/resolution), the writer can work within the format of the first four to craft a book blurb. The necessary components can be included and enough information provided to entice the reader to want to know more. Along the way, you may discover (or include) a catch phrase or question that will catch a reader’s attention.

Book blurbs are an important glimpse into the world of your story, so it’s worth spending time on and investing in carefully-chosen words and phrases to catch and keep a reader’s attention. Try it out on your beta-readers, workshop members, or fellow readers. Does it make them want to read the book? Ask for honest feedback and consider it carefully. It’s a worthy investment in a story you’ve spent countless hours creating. It deserves nothing less than your best.