Both authors explain first why a books amazon description is actually a sales description. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers.
Choose a voice for your back cover that matches your book and fuel it with emotion. Design book cover for free with online templates adobe spark. The above amazon book description generator will help you to create those beautiful descriptions with just a couple of clicks of a button. This information takes the place of the back cover. If youre stuck for ideas, research the back cover or inner dust jacket flap of books in your genre. This is a fourpage document that summarizes the entire narrative arc. It should give the reader a similar experience so that theyre not repelled by your unfamiliar cover design.
If you are citing descriptive copy or a quotation printed on the cover of a book, its preferable to incorporate the necessary details chiefly, the author of the copy or quotation you are citing, if known, and the source where the copy or quotation appears into the body of. Utilize our custom online printing and it services for small. Beyond the familiar distinction between hardcovers and paperbacks, there are further alternatives and additions, such as dust jackets, ringbinding, and older forms such as the nineteenthcentury paperboards and the traditional types of handbinding. On the inside of the back cover page, extending from the facing page before it, is the endpaper. This generally means the copy on your online book sales page. May have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Save on printer ink and toner to keep your office efficient and productive. How a great amazon book description can help indie authors. Book cover design services by book cover designers fiverr. How to build the back of a book cover with template. Many times ill see blocks of text pulled from the back of the book and while, in theory, thats not a bad idea. Jul 28, 2017 how do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book cover or jacket in the text and in the workscited list. Im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. How to write a back cover blurb with examples book editing.
There are writers tolstoy and henry james to name two who. Oct 26, 2018 the back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. After the title and the book cover, your description is the most important book marketing material. Adobe sparks free online book cover generator helps you easily create your own custom book covers that attract readers, no design skills necessary. It is a brief description of a book and book plot that should immediately attract the attention of your.
The summary on the back cover of the book is called blurb. 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. Its a very straight forward process if youve already had a cover. Apr 02, 2015 use keywords in your amazon book description. What do you call the story description on the back cover. Kindle book covers what you should know liberwriter. The book description goes most prominently on the back cover. After the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. Canvas collection of book cover layouts is the best on the web. 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. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback.
Aug 17, 2010 if, however, you feel that your platform takes a back seat to the information in your book, you should include your photo on the back cover. And if youre publishing it in e book form, your back cover copy becomes your allimportant book description on amazon and elsewhere. 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. Its design matches the front endpaper and, in accordance with it, contains either plain paper or pattern, image etc.
The cover of a book is the first thing that people look at when determining if they are going to pick up a book and read it, or simply put it back down. See the sellers listing for full details and description of any imperfections. Description entice readers with a summary of the story and characters. How do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book. Regardless where you choose to put it, your photograph should always be included somewhere on the front or back cover of your book. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a book called. Design book covers with canvas free book cover maker. Back cover copy also called flap copy is the text that goes on the back cover of a book or on the back cover and flaps of a dust jacket. Access my free amazon book description generator tool so that you can create amazing book descriptions that sell. How to write your book sales description with bryan cohen.
Select the right freelancer to meet your needs and budget. The text on the back cover should use a text font, like the one you used for the text of your book. Nothing sells a book like a wellwritten description. This information usually falls into one of three parts.
Just like a great cover design captures your eye immediately. Boards the front and back covers of a hardcover book, today typically a cardboard base covered with cloth, paper, or leather. In the trade, an honest book description should disclose all sophistications. How to write a book description that will sell your book. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover.
You need to know how to write a book description, preferably a great one. Grab readers attention in a good way incite curiosity about this book tell us roughly what the story is about introduce us to the. Get tips for how to write a good book description and learn the difference between a long book description and a short book description. The back cover often contains biographical matter about the author or editor, and quotes from other sources praising the book. Its why ive pulled the back cover for mitch alboms the five people you meet in heaven for us to examine. Dont squander this moment by going into a blow by blow of what happens in your book. Nine things that need to be on your book cover alicia dunams. Book cover or book board the front and back covers of books are often referred to as book covers or book boards as they are often made of bookbinding board and cover the book. Joint the joint of a book is the small groove which runs vertically down the book itself between the book boards book cover and the. How to build the back of a book cover with template reedsy blog. This is then used as the book description when selling ebooks on selfpublishing platforms, for example amazon, and to promote the book on your website and. A boring back cover text will cause the reader to lose interest and put the book back on the shelf. I would bet, whether youre at the library, at a bookstore, or shopping online, its the book description. A book where the spine cover is not attached to the spine of the book block is said to have a hollow back.
Tips for writing compelling back cover copy blogger. From basic office supplies, such as printer paper and labels, to office equipment, like file cabinets and stylish office furniture, office depot and officemax have the office products you need to get the job done. Not only will it appear on the book itself, but youll probably use it as your amazon description. Nora rawlinson, past editorinchief of publishers weekly, says, why not judge a book by its cover. What is the description on the back of a book called. What is the first thing you check on a book after the cover art. How to master your book s amazon description an author stresses the value of book descriptions on amazon. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. If theres any doubt at all about your content or the path of the narrative, then youll struggle to write those few hundred words that make up your back cover blurb or online book description.
Before we get into why most authors hate writing their back book cover blurb, lets clarify what it actually is. But help is at hand as bryan cohen and joanna penn podcast on how to write your book sales description. That means you have a limited amount of space to tell a potential reader why your book is worth their time and money. Dont give away anything that adds to the suspense or surprise. 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.
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. A book description should draw the reader in, but authors tend to get too flowery with these. What is the summary written on the cover at the back of a. Oct 16, 2018 book descriptions not only tell readers what a book s about but help them find it online in the first place. Learn more about timelines for updates to published books. Jun 07, 2018 in this video i answer a student question regarding how to get a logo on the back cover of a paperback without having to create the back cover and spine yourself.
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. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft. The back cover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. Writers use the term blurb to describe the text on the back of the book. A book cover is any protective covering used to bind together the pages of a book. Depending on your topic, your writing should emanate authority, compassion, wisdom, insight, humor, suspense, intrigue, mystery, etc. Book descriptions not only tell readers what a book s about but help them find it online in the first place. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb.
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. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y. Focusing too much on a description of the books content, rather than how the content will help, inform, or entertain the reader. The goal of your back cover is to turn a book browser into a book buyer. The dust jacket, sometimes book jacket, dust wrapper or dust cover of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. You wont need to spend hundreds hiring a designer when you create your own awesome cover in canvas book cover. Our team of awesome designers have worked hard to create quality layouts which will help your book look professional and sell out. Endorsements work great for nonfiction covers as well. Sep 14, 2015 turn a 70,000word book into a couple of hundred words.
The book description, often overlooked as a means to drive traffic to your page, is also a great place to use keywords. Nov 18, 2016 im a published novelist, and i participate in several writing groups and online communities. People know you wrote this ad for the book, and if you write about. Its the essence of your book s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. Aug 14, 2017 how can you write a strong back cover.
Secret method to choosing the best amazon categories. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books. 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. Its not writing the book but writing the back cover text. For you, the author, walking this fine line, and getting it right, means you have to have the utmost clarity on what youre writing. Jul 05, 20 and if youre publishing it in ebook form, your back cover copy becomes your allimportant book description on amazon and elsewhere.
If, however, you feel that your platform takes a back seat to the information in your book, you should include your photo on the back cover. Aug 11, 2010 where you read what the book is about. Apr 28, 2016 two of the most common mistakes that nonfiction authors make in crafting their back cover is. Nonfiction book back covers are a little different. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book co. What do you call the story description on the back cover of a book. Heres a screenshot of this book, how to sell a truckload of books on amazon. A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. But its not just any description as you have approximately 200 words depending on your font type to grab the reader. See if you can pin what works well in this description, and. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy.
The term bookcover is often used for a book cover image in. Back cover definition and meaning collins english dictionary. How do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book cover or jacket in the text and in the workscited list. Summary and synopsis are also used but, in my experience, are used only in. How to write a book description that sells with examples. Once the front cover draws the bookstore browser in, it is expected that the back cover will provide clear reasons why this book is right for them. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. Apr 12, 2017 this is our tutorial for the cover creator process that kdp kindle direct publishing has for their paperbacks at the moment.
Thanks to the programming side of the kindlepreneur team, weve created a book description generator that anyone can use, without having to know html. 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. 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. The back cover of a paperback should also include a headshot, your bio and your credentials if the work is academic or professional. Sep 12, 2018 a blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. A soft back book also known as a paperback however is very. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket if applicable included for. The backcover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. So your back cover copy or book description needs to. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells 1. In a nutshell, its the 200 odd words on the back cover of your book that describes the book to the reader. Self published author 8 mistakes that will absolutely.
In this video i answer a student question regarding how to get a logo on the back cover of a paperback without having to create the back cover and spine yourself. If you are citing descriptive copy or a quotation printed on the cover of a book, its preferable to incorporate the necessary details chiefly, the author of the copy or quotation you are citing, if known, and the source where the copy or quotation appears into the body of your text and then create a standard entry for the book in your workscited list. Oct 19, 2018 by emily evansmiller last week we talked about how to design a great front cover, but the dust jacket and back cover are some of the most important real estate on a book. Let readers know what makes your book interesting, and give them a sense of what kind of book it is. 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. Also on your back cover, youll include a description of your book. If you get it right, however, then the writing just got a lot easier. You can try not to judge a book by its cover, but the truth is, most of us usually do. This is our tutorial for the cover creator process that kdp kindle direct publishing has for their paperbacks at the moment. Create a definite, confident voice for your back cover. A hard cover book is usually a book that has a hard cover.
How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur. How to design your books back cover ny book editors. In other words, if a bookseller has commissioned repairs of a book, all such repairs should be. Correctly create a paperback book cover with kdpcreatespace. The sympathizer, by viet thanh nguyen, grove press, 2015. What are some excellent back cover descriptions of books.