Your headline can be a short phrase or a whole sentence. The 150 to 200 words youll choose to place on your book s back cover might just be the most important words in your entire book project. But when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new authors skimp or are unconcerned with what goes on the back cover. After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. I cant offer you tips for creating a clever title or a descriptive subtitle. The book description goes most prominently on the back cover. You have a few paragraphs about the book andor its author on the back about 100 to 200 words to hook the potential. It will lead readers to your pages and because of its role as an ambassador, your book cover deserves thoughtful planning. Book cover design services by book cover designers fiverr. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. Most run several paragraphs, but some publishers want them shorter or in a special format so be sure to check with your publishers guidelines before you begin work. To help, we created 80 yearbook cover ideas with varying designs that you make yourself and can adapt to your school. When the cover designs are completed, have students work in small teams to evaluate them.
Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze. After the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. Front and back cover copy for book covers cover design studio. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. Learn how to improve the description of your book, and improve its metadata, when using amazon kdp. You can opt for classic school spirit, a spin off a piece of popular culture, a celebration of the past year and many more. Writing your back cover copy book designer linda parke. What are some excellent back cover descriptions of books. Front cover copy for book covers this section is designed to help you use copy effectively on your book covers. Not your grandma s book report harpursville middle school. If the book, for example, offers a strong message about personal freedom, make sure this is not lost in the back cover description. This back cover copy includes a description of the book, and also. And depending on your genre, clever and descriptive might not be the way to go.
Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b a version without a testimonial. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. Below are a few examples of back cover copy for fiction. Make an amazing book cover in minutes using placeits book cover maker. In this video, well share with you five important tips to keep in mind when submitting your ideas for the design of your cover. Using a book or binding glue can help you reattach pages that have come loose from the book. Cover creator can also help you design a basic paperback cover that meets kdps specifications. There are many, and in many cases ive read a book mainly because it was hard to put it down after reading the back cover description. The text on the back cover should use a text font, like the one you used for the text of your book.
Its a good idea to keep a list of what you dont like about blurbs you read. You dont want to reinvent the wheel with your back cover. Use these tips to help you craft a winning book cover that you can be proud of. You might ask, does the back of the book even matter. This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. Is your favorite book falling apart or shedding pages or its cover. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy blog. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. To help prevent you from falling into this unfortunate group, weve put together a few tips that should help you write a winning book blurb, whether its for the latest fantasy novel or for a nonfiction selfhelp guide. Once a reader sees a book cover design and thinks the book title is.
Aug, 2015 after the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. Your cover must be a single pdf that includes the back cover, spine, and front cover as one image. But how to distill that idea into one image can be a challenge. You also know that you have only two or three seconds to attract a potential reader with your front cover. The drop cap at the beginning of the description can reflect the style used inside the book. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. Dont just repeat your books title on the back cover.
Jan 12, 2015 there are many, and in many cases ive read a book mainly because it was hard to put it down after reading the back cover description. Focusing too much on a description of the books content, rather than how the content will help, inform, or entertain the reader. Dont give away anything that adds to the suspense or surprise. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. In a nutshell, its the 200 odd words on the back cover of your book that describes the book to the reader. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a books contents. How to build the back of a book cover with template.
The space on the back cover of a book for blurbs, which are brief promotional paragraphs, is one of the more valuable spots for book promotion. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. You already know that, in fact, everyone does judge a book by its cover. Nov 15, 20 it goes without saying that the cover of your book is key. Let readers know what makes your book interesting, and give them a sense of what kind of book it is.
Amazon started offering the ability to see the back cover in early 2017, much to the joy of selfpublishers. Its the essence of your book s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. As readers themselves, authors understand how the average person approaches buying a book see above, so they know the importance of a back cover blurb. Focusing too much on a description of the books content, rather than how the content will help, inform, or entertain the. Front and back cover copy for book covers cover design. Collect all of the evaluations and then distribute them to the cover designers.
The book blurb is one of the most difficult aspects to write, as many authors struggle to find the words to succinctly tease the story without it reading like a summary. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy. Thats because each cover is a partnership between me and the author, and together we come up with something bold and unique. Tips for writing the best back cover copy design for books. Top 11 book cover design tips for independent authors. Therefore, your first instinct is probably to make it dazzling. This information usually falls into one of three parts. How to write a book description that sells with examples. Once you wow your potential readers with an excellent front cover, the next part of your book thatll hook them is your back cover copy, which is publishing speak for the information that appears on the back cover.
Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y. But once that reader picks up your book and flips to your back cover, this is your chance to sell your book. Aug 30, 2011 5 great fonts for book covers including chunkfive, league gothic, baskerville, franchise and trajan three of which are free for book cover design. It can help if what you write in the book description connects with the message of the front cover title andor subtitle, which is often what caused the person to become interested in the book. Select the right freelancer to meet your needs and budget.
Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. See if you can pin what works well in this description, and. And, when youre done, come back and share it with us. Tell your reader what a great benefit your book will be. It should give the reader a similar experience so that theyre not repelled by your unfamiliar cover design. Nov 23, 2015 but when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new authors skimp or are unconcerned with what goes on the back cover. It will get reused and refashioned for dozens of purposes.
I hope i get to do one before they stop printing them. The cover of your book is important because its the first thing a reader sees. Jul 30, 2017 this video is a diy notebooks for back to school. The back cover of a paperback should also include a headshot, your bio and your credentials if the work is academic or professional. See more ideas about cover, book cover design and cover design. This same sales principle that applies to the book cover, the design of your book, retail features on the cover price, shelving category, barcode, publisher identity, and all the other back cover texts book description, endorsements, applies to your author bio. Also on your back cover, youll include a description of your book. How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. Wixie, or share to combine them into a front and back cover design or book jacket. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books. Your collage should have at least 10 photos or illustrations. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover synopsis that leaves her guessing. The topics below include our top tips for avoiding common file rejections. How to write a back cover blurb with examples book editing.
Typographyfront and back cover book covers front and back yahoo image search results alice in wonderland i like how this book cover continues a story from the front cover to the back cover. But the real secret to a great blurb is to know your audience. Description entice readers with a summary of the story and characters. Book cover design samples creativindie book cover design. What is the first thing you check on a book after the cover 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. I would bet, whether youre at the library, at a bookstore, or shopping online, its the book description. The 150 to 200 words youll choose to place on your books back cover might just be the most important words in your entire book project. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers.
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. Sep 12, 2018 a blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. See more ideas about book cover design, book design and cover design. A book description is one of the most crucial elements to selling your book if not the crucial element, and yet its often the hardest thing for writers to come up with. If you like the book cover design samples below, get in touch i look forward to putting a face on your story.
It goes without saying that the cover of your book is key. After the title and the book cover, your description is the most important book marketing material. Apr 28, 2016 two of the most common mistakes that nonfiction authors make in crafting their back cover is. There are writers tolstoy and henry james to name two who. Your back cover copy is what sells your book to a potential reader and is one of your strongest book marketing tools. Youll want it to have a design that grabs their attention and portrays an accurate idea of what your book is about. Nothing sells a book like a wellwritten description. The description should ideally say something that draws the reader into the story concept, but ends with a reason for the reader to want more. Feb 28, 2017 the most important part of the back cover is a description of the book that offers up enough detail to ensure that the shopper cant say no to buying it. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. These fonts are meant for display use like in your book title. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover.
But you can send us an email and well get back to you, asap. But when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new. For fiction, a book description should include content that speaks to the expected audience and category. Itll be easy to use, or fast to use, or itll keep your reader uptodate. I have decided to look at book designs, and how they have designed them. As the creator of the story, authors dont want to leave anything out. 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. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio once you wow your potential readers with an excellent front cover, the next part of your book thatll hook them is your back cover copy, which is publishing speak for the information that appears on the back cover. Back cover copy also called flap copy is the text that goes on the back. The backcover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities.
Narayan there are writers tolstoy and henry james to name two who. Its why ive pulled the back cover for mitch alboms the five people you meet in heaven for us to examine. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. Five tips for a professional cover design authorhouse. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. Write a description of the setting and a short summary of the book. Some informative blog posts have addressed techniques for creating an effective front cover, but an often overlooked aspect of book cover design is the back of the book. How to design your books back cover ny book editors.
A gathering of brilliant and viciously funny recollections from one of the twentieth centurys most famous literary enfa. Before we get into why most authors hate writing their back book cover blurb, lets clarify what it actually is. If youre stuck for ideas, research the back cover or inner dust jacket flap of books in your genre. This isnt to say, however, that you cant be extremely successful writing your own back cover copy it just presents its own unique challenges.
Just think, how many times have you picked up a book and read the description to see if it. Aug 14, 2017 how can you write a strong back cover. Write 510 quotes from the book that are important to understanding the story. Then your tip about how a phrase can be one of the seven keywords was the final piece in.
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