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Writing Killer Blurbs and Hooks
Do you want to boost your book sales quickly, and at no cost?
Discover how crafting a compelling blurb and hook can take your book sales to the next level.
Are you struggling to compel readers to buy your books? Do you wish there was an easy way to increase sales and find more readers? Adam Croft’s method of crafting killer blurbs and hooks has catapulted him from obscurity to a six-figure bestselling author.
Perhaps best known for his killer hook ‘Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?’, Adam has repeated his success many times over. Now, for the first time, he’s sharing his secrets for crafting killer blurbs and hooks.
Adam’s method differs from any which have been put forward in the past, and instead stems from the psychology of persuasion, enabling authors to convert readers without a hard sell.
In this Indie Author Mindset guide, you’ll discover:
This easily accessible guide can be used by self-published and indie authors of all ability and experience levels. With this new knowledge at your fingertips, you’ll be in the best possible position to boost your book sales and find new readers.
- GenresNonfictionWriting
81 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2019
10 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 5, 2021
There is some good information hidden amidst the repetition of this book, though most of it is available elsewhere for free. You might find his keyword lists useful if you happen to be writing crime, epic fantasy, western, erotica, or military sci-fi. Beyond those genres, you'll need to settle for his assurance that there are 'tropes' and 'trigger words' for your genre and go find them yourself.
Adam L Croft is obviously extremely proud of one of his own hooks, so he refers back to it at every opportunity. At this point, I am incredibly sick of hearing how wonderful and compelling it is to lead your book blurb with, "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" This example appears ten times in a relatively short volume, and I am worried that Mr Croft may strain his arm, patting himself on the back so much.
The trick to coming up with such a peerless hook, apparently, is to write the hook first and then write the story around it. "Not every book can have a killer hook," we are told. "Although you're unlikely to come up with a 'Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?' or 'The serial killer's not on trial. He's on the jury' for an existing book that isn't built around one of these high concepts, if you apply my techniques to your existing hooks and taglines properly, you will very likely boost your sales."
Mr Croft cites Cialdini's "Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion" and devotes multiple chapters to inaccurately summarising that book without explaining how the information he takes from it relates to writing blurbs or hooks. I would join with Mr Croft in recommending "Influence" as an insight into marketing psychology, though it probably still won't help you write blurbs and hooks.
It may be that the techniques outlined were just not a good fit for my style of writing. Somebody who is writing a thriller might want to "tap into primal fears" in order to attract buyers. My impression, however, was that the advice was not as broadly applicable as one might hope.
Adam L Croft is obviously extremely proud of one of his own hooks, so he refers back to it at every opportunity. At this point, I am incredibly sick of hearing how wonderful and compelling it is to lead your book blurb with, "Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?" This example appears ten times in a relatively short volume, and I am worried that Mr Croft may strain his arm, patting himself on the back so much.
The trick to coming up with such a peerless hook, apparently, is to write the hook first and then write the story around it. "Not every book can have a killer hook," we are told. "Although you're unlikely to come up with a 'Could you murder your wife to save your daughter?' or 'The serial killer's not on trial. He's on the jury' for an existing book that isn't built around one of these high concepts, if you apply my techniques to your existing hooks and taglines properly, you will very likely boost your sales."
Mr Croft cites Cialdini's "Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion" and devotes multiple chapters to inaccurately summarising that book without explaining how the information he takes from it relates to writing blurbs or hooks. I would join with Mr Croft in recommending "Influence" as an insight into marketing psychology, though it probably still won't help you write blurbs and hooks.
It may be that the techniques outlined were just not a good fit for my style of writing. Somebody who is writing a thriller might want to "tap into primal fears" in order to attract buyers. My impression, however, was that the advice was not as broadly applicable as one might hope.
February 5, 2021
Absolutely fuming.
I paid 4.99 for this book.
Considering how Croft really pushes that you can say more with less, he could have condensed this tripe down to maybe three short chapters. It was repeat, repeat, repeat, and I find his humour throughout to be distracting and annoying.
I desperately want to learn about blurbs, and blurbs were hardly covered, despite it being the ACTUAL TITLE OF THE BOOK.
And if I have to read how amazing two of his hooks are one more time I might have to dig my own eyeballs out. We get it, you smashed it twice! Well done, but do you need to tell us 8 times*?!
Then going on to say that obviously, those hooks work great for psychological thrillers. You're right, they do. But I thought this was for all genres? Because I can honestly tell you hand on heart, the hooks in here are not going to help you with Romance hooks or blurbs.
Then, the cherry on the cake. You get 40% off his other courses if you buy the book, he tells you this at least three times. Yet talks about not making a sales pitch seem like a sales pitch.
It's all Snake Oil and has left a very bad taste in my mouth.
I just feel like I've been completely conned. Robbed. I'm so disappointed.
*It was possibly more than 8 times, but I'm never going back into that book again to check.
I paid 4.99 for this book.
Considering how Croft really pushes that you can say more with less, he could have condensed this tripe down to maybe three short chapters. It was repeat, repeat, repeat, and I find his humour throughout to be distracting and annoying.
I desperately want to learn about blurbs, and blurbs were hardly covered, despite it being the ACTUAL TITLE OF THE BOOK.
And if I have to read how amazing two of his hooks are one more time I might have to dig my own eyeballs out. We get it, you smashed it twice! Well done, but do you need to tell us 8 times*?!
Then going on to say that obviously, those hooks work great for psychological thrillers. You're right, they do. But I thought this was for all genres? Because I can honestly tell you hand on heart, the hooks in here are not going to help you with Romance hooks or blurbs.
Then, the cherry on the cake. You get 40% off his other courses if you buy the book, he tells you this at least three times. Yet talks about not making a sales pitch seem like a sales pitch.
It's all Snake Oil and has left a very bad taste in my mouth.
I just feel like I've been completely conned. Robbed. I'm so disappointed.
*It was possibly more than 8 times, but I'm never going back into that book again to check.
January 6, 2021
First up, this book did inspire some excellent ideas for my own "hook". As for the blurb bit of the equation...well, not so much.
This book is easy to read and I love Adam's snarky style. And while I think it will guide you toward a stronger hook (or tagline) for you book, I wouldn't rely on it for your description (or blurb). Since he spends most of the book on the hook portion and very little on the blurb bit.
I did like the psychological insight provided but started finding myself insanely annoyed at the constant (CONSTANT) repetition of his own hooks. You could play a great drinking game if you took a shot at every mention of his own hooks...glug glug!
This book is easy to read and I love Adam's snarky style. And while I think it will guide you toward a stronger hook (or tagline) for you book, I wouldn't rely on it for your description (or blurb). Since he spends most of the book on the hook portion and very little on the blurb bit.
I did like the psychological insight provided but started finding myself insanely annoyed at the constant (CONSTANT) repetition of his own hooks. You could play a great drinking game if you took a shot at every mention of his own hooks...glug glug!
May 24, 2020
Super Helpful
In addition to my other research (looking at movie blurbs and log lines, reading many articles online and compiling notes), this book is helping me edit my own blurbs. Time will tell if the sales match the work!
In addition to my other research (looking at movie blurbs and log lines, reading many articles online and compiling notes), this book is helping me edit my own blurbs. Time will tell if the sales match the work!
October 25, 2020
A different perspective on hooks and blurbs
Adam provides a different perspective on hooks and blurbs which I found useful.
There is no magic bullet, but with Adam's help you stand a chance of not aiming cross-eyed.
Adam provides a different perspective on hooks and blurbs which I found useful.
There is no magic bullet, but with Adam's help you stand a chance of not aiming cross-eyed.
March 3, 2020
This book really stretched me. A must read for new and existing authors.
December 17, 2019
An excellent book on how to write a great hook for your book description.
November 16, 2019
Helpful and entertaining!
I've read other tips for creating blurbs, but this short guide was definitely the most helpful. The explanations of the psychology of fears and persuasion were particularly helpful. If you're stuck on your blurb, check this out. I haven't seen anyone else explain blurbs and hooks in this way.
I've read other tips for creating blurbs, but this short guide was definitely the most helpful. The explanations of the psychology of fears and persuasion were particularly helpful. If you're stuck on your blurb, check this out. I haven't seen anyone else explain blurbs and hooks in this way.
October 23, 2019
Most authors I know hate writing blurbs. They're a lot of work and always seem to end up with a huge "bleah" factor.
Croft really does provide some hints that look like they will work . (I'll find out over the next couple of months.) He includes a warning - this method works now; when everyone writes blurbs this way, it won't.
The book is a short read, two or three hours. I consider the time well spent.
Croft really does provide some hints that look like they will work . (I'll find out over the next couple of months.) He includes a warning - this method works now; when everyone writes blurbs this way, it won't.
The book is a short read, two or three hours. I consider the time well spent.
October 9, 2019
A killer hook-book!
Quite a clever set of guidance on setting up better hooks and blurbs. Who knew it would be so simple as that!
Quite a clever set of guidance on setting up better hooks and blurbs. Who knew it would be so simple as that!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews