A blurb is just a short written peice about something. You are using some of the credibility and status of the person giving the blurb, and reflecting it back on your book. Types of blurb books you can sell on amazon help center. Worse than the cover, worse than the writing in the book itself, there are a lot. A short description of a book, film, musical work, or other product written and used for promotional purposes blurb meaning. Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents. Information and translations of blurb in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
Like the book cover is one of the biggest selling points for any book, a book blurb helps sell the idea of the book to those who are in search of reading something either new or out of their usually picked genres. The help is set in the early 1960s in jackson, mississippi, and told primarily from the firstperson perspectives of three women. Blurbs synonyms, blurbs pronunciation, blurbs translation, english dictionary definition of blurbs. Usually its in reference to a newspaper article that briefly mentions a barely newsworthy item. Publishers summary and recommendation of a book, printed usually on the front flap of the books dust jacket, or in an advertisement or catalog.
The story is about african americans working in white households in jackson, mississippi, during the early 1960s a usa today article called it one of the summer sleeper hits. Worse than the cover, worse than the writing in the book itself, there are a lot of blurbs on amazon that are pretty near atrocious. You find blurbs on the back cover of paperbacks, the inside back cover of a hardback, and on book description pages in online stores. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. The more credibility and social status the endorser holds, the more powerful the blurb. Nov 15, 2019 when you need to write a blurb for a movie, book, or other project, start by writing a clever and catchy hook that introduces some of the characters and setting of the topic.
As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. A usa today article called it one of the summer sleeper hits. The blurb about a new book, film, or exhibition is information about it that is written. May 20, 2012 blurb uses a network of independent print partners, together known as the blurb printer network, printing locally at multiple locations in the us as well as in europe, canada, and australia. How to write a book blurb in 4 steps the opening of your blurb has to be incredibly precise and dynamic, says editor rebecca heyman. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. The story is about african americans working in white households in jackson, mississippi, during the early 1960s. Writing to ask for a blurb was embarrassing, but ultimately composing a love letter to a favorite writer is kind of fun what was tough was sending several reminders. Plaster has written a great twist ending that surprises readers and totally fits in with this intriguing story that will stick in readers minds long after they have finished reading it.
Sep 12, 2018 how to write a book blurb in 4 steps the opening of your blurb has to be incredibly precise and dynamic, says editor rebecca heyman. I have seen nonfiction blurbs that are more about the author than the content of. The help is set in the early 1960s in jackson, mississippi, and told primarily from the firstperson perspectives of. Many writers find writing book blurbs really difficult. Trade books can be sold on amazon through the global retail network. Blurb uses a network of independent print partners, together known as the blurb printer network, printing locally at multiple locations in the us as well as in europe, canada, and australia. Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or. The help is a 2009 novel by american author kathryn stockett. Thats a template that i personally like very much and use for all my selfpublished work. Create, print, and sell professionalquality photo books blurb. Notes on the pursuit of success, love, and meaning draws on professor galloways mix of anecdotes and nobs insight to share hardwon wisdom about lifes challenges, along with poignant personal stories. Apr 21, 2017 a book blurb is your way of selling your book.
Blurb definition is a short publicity notice as on a book jacket. For a lot of firsttime authors, i think theres an instinct to make sure readers understand everything that happened in the books universe before the beginning of the actual story. Like the book cover is one of the biggest selling points for any book, a book blurb helps sell the idea of the book to those who are in search of. Aibileen is a maid who takes care of children and cleans. Amazon complains of invisible characters if when you go to publish your book. This description, which is always full of praise for both author and the book, is called a blurb. Types of blurb books you can sell on amazon photo books if you have a large landscape, large square, standard landscape, standard portrait, or small square photo book on blurb, you have the option to list it for sale in the amazon marketplace or directly through blurb. Blurb definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Often referred to as a book description, a blurb is a short piece, around 150 words, to promote your novel. Aibileen clark, minny jackson, and eugenia skeeter phelan. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. This is because writers dont really understand what a blurb is meant to do. I have seen nonfiction blurbs that are more about the author than the content of the book and i have seen fiction blurbs that are a synopsis of the story and even tell the reader the ending.
Then, write 12 additional sentences that explain the plot of the story in a general way. You find blurbs on the back cover of paperbacks, the inside back. Dec 24, 2019 compare blurb vs mixbook and find out which one is better. Before i buy a book, i always read the blurb on the back cover. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. How to get incredible blurbs for your book scribe writing. The blurb says that this is tarantinos greatest movie. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. Whats the difference between book blurb and synopsis. The help, kathryn stockett the help is a 2009 novel by american author kathryn stockett. When we pick up any book, the first thing we normally look at is the back cover.
It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. Information and translations of blurb in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on. The blurb about a new book, film, or exhibition is information about it that is written in order to attract peoples interest. How to write an amazon book description that sells selling books is a result of two factors. With blurb you have more control and mixbook is easy and fast to use for first time book creator. The musical interludes scattered throughout the book are not only fitting but also humorous in the scenes in which they appear.
Any halfinformed reader may wonder whether this blurb is even remotely accurate. While the amazon book description wont affect traffic i. I dont enjoy reading about the bad thing, and certainly dont approve of it i dont think the author was trying to say the bad thing was okay. Sell your book in the blurb bookstore, through amazon, or in the global retail network of over 38,000 retailers, libraries, and schools.
Plaster has written a great twist ending that surprises readers and totally fits in. Blurbs definition of blurbs by the free dictionary. The trick with writing a great blurb is to give away enough of whats inside the book, without giving any plot spoilers. But what makes this blurb truly special, and why i single it out for praise is that it has a concealed double. Who does blurb use to print ondemand beautiful photo books. When you need to write a blurb for a movie, book, or other project, start by writing a clever and catchy hook that introduces some of the characters and setting of the topic. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. Get access to my full free amazon ads video course. The blurb on the back of the book says that it will touch your heart. Sixteenyearold starr carter moves between two worlds. Print as you go sell one copy at a time and let blurb fulfill the orders or place a large order and sell inperson. Indeed, it can help you focus if you write your blurb before you even start writing the book.
Your blurb can usually be used as your pitch in your. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb. Compare blurb vs mixbook and find out which one is better. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. Based on those considerations, i concluded as did many other writers and critics that book was a book worthy of endorsement. The trick with writing a great blurb is to give away enough of whats inside the book, without giving any plot spoilers for fiction or going so indepth the reader doesnt want to read on for nonfiction. If you have a 5x8, 6x9, or 8x10 trade book that youve created with bookwright, the blurb plugin for adobe indesign, or our pdf to book workflow, you can list it on amazon via our global retail network option. How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere.
There is one big difference though between a book blurb and a synopsis. A promotional statement as found on the dust jackets of books classified under. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. Instead, people pay attention to who gave the blurb, and judge your book based on the person endorsing it. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. I dont enjoy reading about the bad thing, and certainly dont approve of it i.