This series is directed towards first-time self-publishing authors who may not have start-up funds set aside. I will ALWAYS recommend investing in your books. The education, advertising, and professional editing/covers are worth every cent, but I also realize that it isn’t always possible. So here’s how to start following your dream without having to spend a penny because the beauty of being self-published is the amount of control you have over your books before they become widely popular. Good luck! Step 4: Creating an Intriguing Back-Cover BlurbThere are two kinds of authors: those who go on and on about their story when asked, and those who don’t say enough. It’s no wonder writing a back cover blurb is one of the least favorite must-do’s in our line of work. Finding the balance between giving good information and not making your Reader want to smack his/her head against the desk in boredom can be tricky. So here is my 5-step guide to a great back cover blurb: 1- Hook Your ReaderSum up your Hook in a single sentence. Tantalize your Reader with promises of “if this is how the book starts, imagine how amazing it’s going to be the rest of the time!” Keep it short and to-the-point, but don’t be too afraid of “spoiling” the start of your story, either. Lure your Reader in with excitement. Wrap them in the tentacles of anticipation and make them unable to walk away without purchasing your book. 2- Introduce Your ProtagonistWhat better way to catch a Reader’s eye than giving them someone with whom they can relate? Who is your Protag? What is their name, age, profession? What challenges do they face on a daily basis? How will your Ideal Reader relate to him or her? 3- Setup Your SettingI imagine your Protagonist isn’t wandering aimlessly in ethereal nothingness? Even if he/she is, tell your Reader! You’ve worked hard on where your Protagonist lives, show it off! Guide your Reader, make them wish they lived in the place you created. Suck them into your world and don’t let them go. 4- Reveal Your Protagonist's Goal and What's Stopping ThemOkay, so your Reader has had a taste of excitement, they relate to your Main Character, and they’re dying to enter the story’s setting. Now they need direction to stay there. If your Reader is wandering around a world with a character without direction, no matter how relatable or interesting, they’re going to get bored. They need a goal to stay focused and an Antagonist to hate. Give it to them. Send them down the road so they have to open your book and keep going. 5- K.I.S.S (Keep It Short and Simple)Have you ever eaten a giant chocolate bar? I don’t mean King-Sized or other typical options at the grocery store. The giant novelty kind. The kind that gives you a massive stomach ache for weeks. Retail chocolates are small for a reason. Eating little bits here and there makes us want more instead of leaving us sick and never wanting to see so much as a Hershey’s Kiss for months. The same principle applies to back cover blurbs. If you just vomit information because your Reader demands it, you’re going to leave them without a reason to read on. Lead them in with a trail of little tidbits and then refuse to give them more unless they earn it. BONUS: Ask a QuestionMake it something your Reader would nod and say to themselves, “Finally! An author who gets me!”
This does require you to get super specific in knowing who your Ideal Reader is, but believe me, it’s worth it. So there you have it. 5 Steps to an Intriguing Back-Cover Blurb and a bonus tip. What does YOUR back cover blurb say? What are some of the best blurbs you’ve read?
1 Comment
7/26/2016 03:14:12 pm
I found writing the back blurb harder than writing the entire book. I'm still not sure I have the perfect blurb but only time will tell. If is allowed to change the blurb? Since I'm self-published, this is an easy fix but will it confuse my readers? Thanks and blessed be. Tinthia
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