Book back cover writing tips

You also know that you have only two or three seconds to attract a potential reader with your front cover. In this video, well share with you five important tips to keep in mind when submitting your ideas for the design of your cover. We explored the impact typography has on human emotion, cognitive recognition, and ultimate action plus, some book cover designs that. Inspire by elmore leonards 10 rules of writing, we asked authors for their. Youll want it to have a design that grabs their attention and portrays an accurate idea of what your book is about.

Writing a great story has little value if no one reads or buys the book. For the curious, twilights back cover copy is 57 words and 5 sentences. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover. Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book. A good childrens book is a distillation of an idea and the most successful writers use only a few potent words to say the most important and entertaining things. Oct 22, 2015 writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a wellcrafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. Its not writing the book but writing the back cover text. The hard part of writing a book isnt getting published. The back cover texts can be divided into three main parts.

Check out this article for more indepth tips and examples on writing a great blurb for your novel. So lets take a closer look at these five aspects of the back cover. Depending on your topic, your writing should emanate authority, compassion, wisdom, insight, humor, suspense, intrigue, mystery, etc. Unless youre a professional designer, creating your own cover is a hugely damaging mistake. Although it should give a broad overview of the story, it should never contain spoilers for the book. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. It took me back to when i had published my first book, remembering how awkward it felt to sign copies. The back cover copy of your book is your sales pitch to prospective readers and book buyers. Editor jessi rita hoffman explains how to craft professional and compelling back cover copy for your book.

The 5 most common mistakes in book cover design and how to. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. Apr 28, 2016 the back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. Caring about fantastic book cover design is one of those nonnegotiables for all authors. Books with great back cover texts usually go up in high sales. Once youve drafted the rest of your book, youll know what needs to go in the introduction. 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. Tips for writing the best back cover copy design for books. I also thought about my first businessa bookstorewhere we flipped through used books in search of autographs the equivalent of a literary jackpot. Make sure that any incident that occurs before the main narrative events of your story is relevant and illustrative.

Here are top 11 book cover design tips for independent authors 01. Something, ironically, every author i know hates writing. Fiction readers are looking to escape into a scene. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Some programs will allow you to simply drag the image smaller, and create a smushed version of the original. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy blog. Five tips for a professional cover design authorhouse. Jan 27, 2020 here are 6 mustdo tips for brainstorming back cover copy. Here are four tips to maximize your nonfiction back cover copy. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. You already know that, in fact, everyone does judge a book by its cover.

Its the essence of your book s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. Jul 05, 20 time to compose a book description that will capture attention and compel readers to open the book and read more. Sep 25, 20 thata a lot of buying potential just waiting to be claimed by a snappy back cover. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn.

I think a tricky part about writing back cover copy for fiction is writing it with a sense of urgency to grab a readers attention. If youve written a book belong to the fantasy genre, or one of its subgenres and need a cover designed for it, below weve featured of the best fantasy book cover artists. An independent author should work closely with a book cover designer to create the cover. Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a wellcrafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. Do you still feel like writing your back cover copy is as difficult as drafting your resume. How to build the back of a book cover with template. It will lead readers to your pages and because of its role as an ambassador, your book cover deserves thoughtful planning. Everyone judges a book by its cover, so make sure yours is tip top. Before writing your own backcover copy, examine the backs of other books in your genre. Visit a bookstore or library and read the back covers of bestselling books in your genre. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. The teaser is similar to the snippet found on the back cover.

A boring back cover text will cause the reader to lose interest and put the book back on the shelf. So, the authors involvement in designing the cover becomes all the more critical. Top 10 cover letter writing tips the balance careers. Julie broad is an author and the founder of book launchers, a. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. But it took me a while longer to figure out how to customize your front cover into a full print cover for createspace or other pod providers. Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. Ive seen too many back covers that are slammed from margin to margin with text with the blurb in the largest font possible. Apr 11, 2016 a good childrens book is a distillation of an idea and the most successful writers use only a few potent words to say the most important and entertaining things. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. The words on the cover of your book are intended to offer a brief description of the book that will hook your readers into your story and motivate them to open the pages and buy your books. Jodie renner has published two books to date in her series, an editors guide to writing compelling fiction.

Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. Write only a paragraph or two, and include the hooksthe storys most engaging plot points. Thata a lot of buying potential just waiting to be claimed by a snappy back cover. Nov 20, 2019 when you need to write a cover letter to apply for a job, its sometimes the small things that can make a big difference. Focus on clarity in your writing and avoid wordiness. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. 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. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Tips for writing a back cover that sells inspire action. The cover of your book is important because its the first thing a reader sees. Steps to writing your own back book blurb and back cover. Now that we know how much space we are working with, lets look at the elements of the back cover copy. I edit nonfiction books for selfpublished authors, and i have steered many toward professional copywriters. Below are a few examples of back cover copy for fiction.

How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. Julie broad is an author and the founder of book launchers, a selfpublishing company. Apply these 9 secret techniques to improve your book cover design book cover design. A successful back cover text is the result of a careful balance between the needs of the publisher and the needs of the reader. Writing a killer thriller and fire up your fiction, which has won two book awards so far and is a finalist for 3 more. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books. When you need to write a cover letter to apply for a job, its sometimes the small things that can make a big difference. The fiction category alone is broken down into 140 subgenresthats a lot of book. Bestselling author dan gutman helps kids master this important skill with his fun, informative writing guide, my weird writing tips. Jun 02, 2014 but before starting work on my next book i went back to school to work on my writing too. How book cover typography can enhance the book itself luckily, understanding how fonts can work in your favor is easier than you think. Writing back cover copy for your nonfiction book xulon. How to write backstory but not bog down your book now novel.

Author julie broad shares 5 back cover tips that will help sell your nonfiction book on amazon and elsewhere. If your character has quit their job before the story starts, it only makes sense to mention this in passing or devote a flashback scene. Create a definite, confident voice for your back cover. Book covers today are often simple, revolving around a central imagery thats symbolic and can capture the essence or theme of the plot with one glance. How to write kickbutt bcc back cover copy wise ink blog. How to write a tagline for your book and why you need to. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. Blurbs are a brief description of a book typically found on the back of a. Writing a strategic, concise and easytoread back cover can be your key to making money as a selfpublished author. For nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same. Remember that the cover should give a hint of what is inside of the pages. Heres how to write back cover that will hook new readers and sell your book. Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities.

Then part 2 contains tips from our top designers on the best ways to design an aesthetically beautiful jacket. Our senior production manager, nina, gave the following tips for crafting effective summary copy. As a writer, you may love long, lyrical descriptions. Put the bulleted list in the middle of the copy you write for your back cover. One example is the common practice among the big publishing companies to adorn book covers with endorsements from high profile readers. Tips for writing compelling back cover copy blogger. Fail to engage your target readers in that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. In fiction, backstory refers to the events that precede the narrative frame of the story itself. Use these tips to help you craft a winning book cover that you can be proud of.

Cover art serves one purpose, and one purpose only, to get potential customers interested long enough to pick up the book to read the back cover blurb. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. But your back cover is what will inspire potential readers to take your book to the register. You have just a few sentences to get the point across. Sep 18, 2016 mastering the art of writing enticing headlines and exciting teasers takes practice. See if you can pin what works well in this description, and that would work as a killer pitch. As a reader, i wont usually buy a book unless i can read the back cover copy to see what the book is about. But the headline of your back cover should be short, simple, and actionoriented.

As much as book covers catch readers attention, blurbs grip shoppers. Finish off with a questionkeylineteaser that will leave them wondering what. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. The closer to perfect your letter is, the better your chances are of impressing the hiring manager. Additionally, be careful if you want to change the dimensions of an image. You have a few paragraphs about the book andor its author on the back about 100 to 200 words to hook the potential. My previous books had all suffered from a problem, i realized. Tips for writing a back cover that sells steuben press. Choose a voice for your back cover that matches your book and fuel it with emotion. It takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you want to do it right, which means creating something that people will find entertaining or useful and then polishing, marketing, and promoting it. Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y.

Your ebook will look amateurish, and readers may well be put off from buying it. 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. If you are a novelist, your back cover should provide a short summary of what your book is about. In the internet age that means the thumb nail image needs to be interesting enough to click on. If you queried agents or editors at any point, you might be able to start with the hook from your query letter.

Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. But although i personally believe in paying professionals, im also aware that some people want to have a go themselves, or need to because of. Jul 06, 2011 this isnt to say, however, that you cant be extremely successful writing your own back cover copy it just presents its own unique challenges. But there are parts that you can write at any stage of the process. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. In this article, i offer 10 steps for writing a book along with 10 bonus steps to getting your book done. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. That sounds complicated enough but take the sheer amount of book genres out there, and coming up with a book cover to attract readers can be a monumental task. One way to write this primary reason is to present it as a question. How to write a back cover for a book writing a back cover identify your audience. For more info, please visit jodies author website or editor website, her other. Make sure you make your summary thorough so your reader knows the general subject. The ability to put thoughts into writing is an essential skill vital to success in schoolfrom elementary school through college.

How to hire the perfect cover designer for your next book. Oct 16, 2014 the last words that you write for your book will be the first that your audience reads. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or fail to engage your target readers. The book industry study group offers 51 significant subjects for books. This is essential when it comes to writing backstory. Once your title and cover have drawn the reader in, the blurb is what is going to make the difference between a missed opportunity and a sale. Also, a lot of introductory material can go at the back of the book i strongly recommend having an about the author page at the back, because its a great opportunity to point readers to your website, mailing list, and so on. Sometimes an agent might ask for a chapter outline instead, which is a synopsis. Parts of a book make up the entirety of the book, including the title, introduction, body, conclusion, and back cover. The front cover has a critical role to play, of course, but todays post is about the strategic use of the back cover. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that.

In order to write a book book in full, you need to have all the moving parts to make it not only good but also effective. Think of your back cover copy like a movie trailer, giving enough details to interest readers, but not so much to spoil their fun. Your back cover copy is the biggest deciding factor for readers picking up your book for the first time. The back cover of your as yet unwritten book can help you write a better book, and write it faster, too.

When a buyer picks up your book in a bookstore or book signing event, he or she will usually look at the front cover first, then flip to the back to learn more about it. If you are using amazons recommended cover dimensions 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, and your background image is much wider at 2,560 by 2,600 pixels, you should crop the image to get rid of the extra width. Follow these tips and techniques for sending a topnotch cover letter, and you will increase your chances of getting an. Like it or not, everyone judges books by their covers. To accomplish this, you need to put a lot of care and attention into your back cover copy. 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. Derek murphy of creativindie covers is a brilliant designer and has designed a number of my own book covers.

Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. This should be broader in scope than the reasons you put in your bulleted list. Top 11 book cover design tips for independent authors. This article is by jessica strawser, editor of writer s digest. Let your text breathe a little and still be selective in the blurb and supporting text you place on the back cover. To fully cover both points, weve split this post into two sections. Heres how to write backcover that will hook new readers and sell your book. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count.

Look for the third book in the series, captivate your readers, out in late 2014. Above the list, speak directly to the readers, and give them the primary reason why they should read your book. Five essential tips for anyone trying to write a book. Youve just put your feet up when you get a reminder from the designer that they still need text for the back cover. 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. Get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again if all else fails, pray.

Its why ive pulled the back cover for mitch alboms the five people you meet in heaven for us to examine. But once that reader picks up your book and flips to your back cover, this is your chance to sell your book. And, when youre done, come back and share it with us. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. And even if youre planning on only selling through online retailers, bcc is still incredibly useful. Treat your back cover with the same respect as your front cover. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Aug 27, 2019 nonfiction back cover copy must spell out the benefits for readers as well as the authors expertise in order for the book to be taken seriously. Youve finished writing your book, its edited, designed and is just about ready to go to press.

Recently a new author asked me how she should handle autographing her books. While there is no universal standard for the length of a book or novel synopsis, agents usually favor one to two pages, singlespaced. You have to invest everything you are into creating an important p. A large block of text in the body copy of your back cover may lose your. Dec 08, 2017 author julie broad shares 5 back cover tips that will help sell your nonfiction book on amazon and elsewhere. Explanations and back book cover examples for both fiction and nonfiction. At the end of 20 i put out a package of diy book cover templates in microsoft word and revolutionized publishing with a howto guide to designing amazing book covers in an easy to use program youre already familiar with.

Bookfly design an oregonbased business, bookfly design consists of a small team which involves james t. You should regularly maintain your bio on places like your bookbub author profile so fans and potential readers seeking you out can learn more about you and why they should pick up your latest book. In a novel that shows bitter rivalry between sisters to ascend a kingdoms throne, for example, the backstory could describe the origins of this strife in their fathers favouritism this is the premise of shakespeares king lear the oxford dictionary defines backstory simply. Jan 15, 2015 this article is by jessica strawser, editor of writer s digest. How to write kickbutt bcc back cover copy the wise.