Book Description 101: 5 Basic Traits
Let me just preface this post with the candid statement, I struggle with the concept of copywriting and how to harness its effectiveness in a book description. Copywriting is the art of persuasion. It is someone’s objective ability to sell a product, in this case our books, by creating a simple, evocative pitch that resonates into sales. A difficult task for a personally invested author.
Do I want to sell you my book? Heck, yeah. Can I explain my book to you in a brief synopsis on the back cover? No way. I have too much I want to tell you, about the characters, their journey, and the emotional tug of war at play between them. But, unless I’m willing to shell out more money than my shoe-string budget will allow, I’m on my own to find a way to keep it short, sweet and compelling.
Never underestimate the power of perseverance and the internet. With much research, and copious note taking, I studied dozens of advice giving, ‘how-to’ posts suggesting their method for writing an excellent book description. Searching for commonalities, (and a big neon sign screaming — “This is the secret. Write it this way.”) — I didn’t find the latter, but I did discover some of the basic traits most highly effective book descriptions share:
1. You need a headline.
Like a newspaper story catches your attention with its bold, captivating phrasing, a book description must do the same. Create a statement about your book which generates instant curiosity. And most difficult of all, at least for me, deliver the point of your story with a brief, powerful punch.
2. Share a little about your characters. Readers want to know, “Why am I going to care about this story?” Give them a reason. Sell them on who they are going to become attached to, and why. Introduce your character by name, maybe share a personality quirk, and definitely shed a light on their troubles. Hook the reader with a sense of identity, and a problem they want to see solved. Also, if you’d like, incorporate a sense of setting.
3. Point out the big picture.
Whittle down the important events of your story into an overview, summarized in several strong sentences, while refraining from giving too much away. In the words of one blog post, “…stay fuzzy on the specifics.” According to another, “Be elusive and mysterious”. Think of it like a puzzle. Give the readers just enough pieces for a partial glimpse of the picture, while leaving them wanting to discover more of the missing parts and complete what they’ve started. After all, our subtle goal is to encourage them to click the buy button.
4. Create a connection. This is not about you, the author, it’s all about your reader. Again, I go back to the one important question they want to know from you, “Why should I care?” You want your fans not only to appreciate your book for the sake of the story, you want them to experience the picture you are painting for them, the one you poured blood, sweat, and tears into, to make it the masterpiece you see in your mind. To sell that image, sprinkle emotional power words throughout your description. You want to trigger a connection, and what better way than using words which bring to mind a whole array of feelings. Oh, and don’t forget your genre specific words. Well-read readers will appreciate your attention to detail.
5. Make your ending count. TV series are a good example of this. When the last episode of the season airs, they want as many viewers as possible hanging around, waiting on the edge of their seat for the next part of the story. You want to elicit the same sensation in your readers. Give them a cliffhanger. Leave them on pins and needles, because the good news…for them and you, is they don’t have to wait for months, or weeks, or even days to find out the ending. The book is calling them. And if the closing of your description is effective, you make a sale. Create the ultimate, “Oh I’ve got to find out what happens next,” moment.
It’s recommended to keep your description short. Consensus on the “magic” number seems to be around 150 words, although some posts have suggested anywhere from 100 – 300, and one suggested making it as long, or as short as you want. So, you decide. The ‘blurb’ for my soon to be published book, is 241 words.
Keep in mind more than simply the back cover. “Concise book descriptions will more likely be shared on social media.” So if you are big into the social media scene, and building your author platform, remember dramatic and tight are key. Exercise your judgment, and create the most persuasive piece of narration you can.
And there you have the basic gist of my introduction to what it takes to write a seductive book description, (see what I did there?). Included below is the description for my soon to be released, Skye’s the Limit, the third and final book in my Paramour Romance Series…
Step into the town of Paramour, where the past meets the present and hearts find love at the most unlikely moment.
Sometimes you need to cross the bridges you’ve burned.
Sean Sullivan, sexy, charismatic bartender by night, and every woman’s dream in the early mornings, is always on the lookout for the next soft, curvy body to fill his loneliness. He has no plans to commit beyond a one night stand. He’s been there, done that, and his heart still wears the battle scars. As far as he is concerned, love is an empty, four letter word, best avoided. Especially when Skye Anderson appears, out of the blue, knocking at his door.
When cover model Skye Anderson, sets foot in Paramour Illinois, it isn’t by choice, and it certainly isn’t for the small town atmosphere. She’s on a mission. As the face of Macksam magazine, she longs for more than fame based on her looks. She wants to be taken seriously. Handed a chance to write an expose for the magazine, she’s thrilled. Until she discovers her interview subject — the carefree bartender Sean Sullivan, whose heart she traded in for her glamorous L.A. dreams.
Stunned, but determined to secure her story, Skye is forced to finally face the wreckage of her past. Will Sean Sullivan cooperate, and let her walk away with only what she came for, or will they both discover there is more to their own unfinished story?
Coming soon to Amazon Kindle and print, Skye’s the Limit, A Paramour Romance Book 3
Good luck with your book description. Let me know your guidelines or methods, and feel free to share how it turned out. Happy writing!
