How To Write A POWERFUL Book Blurb
WITH EXAMPLES!
Ah. . . Book blurbs. Sometimes described as the 'pitch' or 'abstract' for a novel. You know, the 300-word description that shows up on the back or in the front flap of your book.
How do you actually write one?
A lot of people will try to scare you with information like "It has to be gripping and riveting and perfect - or nobody will ever buy your book!" and "Bad blurbs are the reason most authors never sell more than 500 copies!"
While this is true, it doesn't actually answer the question most authors wrestle with: How do I tell my 80,000-word story in 300 words, and how do I make it good?
If you've asked this question at least once, then you've come to the right place. We're going super in-depth for this, so this post will run a bit longer than usual. Ye be warned!
Let's get started.
"But I'm a writer, not a marketer! I'm not qualified!"
I'm going to stop you right there. Think: If you were to pay someone to read your novel or synopsis and then write the blurb for you, they would write something that's dry, generic, and doesn't do any justice to your unique characters and story. They'll just type out some of the stuff that happens and be done.
YOU, on the other hand, know your novel inside and out. You know exactly what kind of journey your main character goes on, their personal internal conflict, and the precise tone and atmosphere of your story. THERE IS NO ONE MORE QUALIFIED TO WRITE THIS THAN YOU!
Another thing that comes up often, and that I've struggled with myself: It took thousands of words to tell this story. How are you supposed to tell the same story in 300 words or less?
I'll give you a hint: You're not.
What To Include In Your Blurb
So where does one actually start the blurb? The complex world? Convoluted politics? Thrilling plot?
Um. . . No. Not if you want someone to actually read your blurb (and your book).
Some of the toughest and best writing advice I've ever received is this: The only truly unique thing about your novel is the main character and the journey they go on.
That's it.
Not the plot, not the landscape, not the romance, and certainly not all the 'drama, secrets, and suspense' that every novel, TV show, and movie claims to provide nowadays. So if you want your book to stand out on the shelf immediately, concentrate on what's actually unique about it: The main character and their internal conflict.
The main character is the first and only person your reader will care about for the first few pages of the book, so they should be the first person mentioned by name in your blurb. In cases with more than one main character, exercise caution: Introduce the characters in the same order as they appear in the story, and use their names (Joe, Bob, Sandra, etc.) only after establishing who and what they are (a struggling craftsman, a burnt-out housewife, whatever.)
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you name every single character, sibling, and pet who shows up in the story! We don't need an entire cast list. If there's a certain side character whose presence is important to the main character's journey, great - just mention them through their relationship to the main character (relative, friend, mentor, etc.) and not by name. Too many names will confuse your reader, who will put your book back on the shelf and walk away.
What About Spoilers?
I know the last thing you want to do is spoil the juicy Inciting Incident and resulting conflict - but trust me, this is exactly what the reader wants to know before buying your book: 'What kind of journey will this story take me on?'
Just like writing the first chapter, instead of dumping backstory, worldbuilding, or politics, focus on what immediately pertains to the main character. What is at risk? What could they gain? Write the blurb in such a way to raise these questions, and your reader is so much more likely to open up your book and start. . . Well, reading.
Another thing you should hint at: The game-changing midpoint, and the possible consequences of the main character's choices. Insinuate just how wrong things could go. Give the reader just enough to leave them asking "So what does (insert MC's name here) do then??"
However, when hinting or spoiling such things, guard against vague terms like I mentioned above (secrets, drama, intrigue, mystery, etc.) There's nothing new or interesting about that. Be specific: Family tension, chronic illness, a friend's betrayal - the thing that drives your main character or cuts them to the core.
My Secret To Writing The 300-Word Blurb
So now you know generally what to put in your blurb - but how do you get all of that into a few short paragraphs?
As I said: You don't. At least not at first.
Don't worry about word count. Just sit down and write it. It's okay if your first draft goes over your word limit (just don't make it three pages long either.) It's better to have more than you need, and make sure you have everything in there that you want, than to end up with a few skeletal sentences that barely scrape your story together.
As you're writing, think of your favorite book blurbs: The ones that made you buy what turned out to be your favorite book, or had that one sentence that's still crystal clear in your memory. Use the best of every blurb you've ever read, and make it your own.
When you're done, let it sit - for a few hours, or a few days if you can. Then come back and start cutting anything you don't need.
Do you repeat the same idea in multiple sentences? Cut one of them, or consider merging the two. Did you describe the Inciting Incident perhaps a bit too much? Pare it down a little. Find the parts that you really need, that showcase the theme and premise of your story, and trim the rest away.
Using Power Words
Once you've cut it down to a few paragraphs (it's okay if you're still over your word limit), read your blurb again - and this time, look for any words that might feel weak, generic, or don't convey the tone you've set with your story. Look for fickle, ambiguous phrases and filler words too. You're going to cut all of these and replace them with punchy, attention-grabbing 'power words' to give your blurb that extra impact.
Keep these words short as much as you can - and be as precise as possible. Use powerful verbs, and if you must add an adjective, make it the most forceful, compelling, and potent adjective that fits. (Use a thesaurus if it helps.)
One more thing that will set your book blurb apart: Using the same style and language that you've written your novel with, and employing words that convey the tone, vibe, or 'color' of your story. Is your book a thought-provoking, literary work set in 19th-century Europe? Use words that come up often in your narrative and sound deep and sophisticated. Or say you've written a gritty, fast-paced adventure in the Old West: Short, robust words will give off the gunslinger-type punch you're looking for.
Examples
I promised, didn't I? Below are two versions of the blurb I've written for Tempest, the first novel in my fantasy/action-adventure series. I wrote this pitch some time ago, so I figured it's time to revisit and see if I can make it even better.
Version 1
Prince Jonathan was seven years old when his best friend, a princess from a neighboring kingdom, was kidnapped by pirates. Seven years later, Jonathan is captured by these same pirates and held for ransom. Refusing to become a pawn, Jonathan defies the pirate captain at every turn and, so doing, risks a gruesome death. However, there is more at stake aboard the pirate ship than meets the eye.
Tasked with keeping Jonathan alive until her captain orders otherwise, ship's girl Freyja isn't sure why the prince seems to seek a friendship with her. At first, Freyja is only a tool in Jonathan's plans to escape. While Jonathan struggles to gain her trust, he finds that she's as much of a prisoner as he is – and Freyja realizes there's more to this clever blue blood than she first thought.
As they slowly earn each other's trust, Jonathan and Freyja's goals become intertwined and they begin to teach each other what courage and friendship really are. However, it will take more than Jonathan's cunning and Freyja's will to outwit the captain and free themselves and the pirate crew: It will take a miracle from God. The captain's plans go far beyond ransom money, and she has a dirty secret – a secret that holds the key to Freyja's past.
So to break this down real quick, here's what this blurb does right: Jonathan's role in life, internal conflict, and inciting incident are all set up within the first couple of sentences. So are the stakes and external conflict. I was able to mention the second main character fairly early, and kept it to those two; the pirate captain is not yet named, and remains an elusive but imposing force - which is what I want. The final paragraph leaves two questions: Will they each achieve their goal, and what's the captain's secret?
However, there are some weak words that I'd like to fix, and a few phrases that feel a bit vague. Let's see if I can tighten it up a bit...
Version 2
Prince Jonathan was seven years old when his best friend, the princess of a neighboring kingdom, was kidnapped by pirates. Seven years later, Jonathan is captured by the same brigands and held for ransom. Refusing to become a pawn, Jonathan defies the pirate captain at every turn - but a gruesome death for his country's sake will mean the loss of his mission.
Tasked with keeping Jonathan alive until her captain orders otherwise, ship's girl Freyja isn't sure why the prince seems to seek a friendship with her. But there's something different about him. . . Something that might offer a spark of hope.
At first, Freyja is only a tool in Jonathan's plans to escape. As Jonathan struggles to gain her trust, he finds that she's as much a prisoner as he is - and Freyja wonders if the prince's kindness might be genuine.
Slowly, Jonathan and Freyja earn each other's friendship and their goals become intertwined. However, it will take more than courage and cunning to outwit the captain and free themselves and the pirate crew: It will take a miracle from God. For the captain's plans go far beyond ransom money, and she harbors a dirty secret - a secret that holds the key to the past.
As you can see, I changed quite a bit. I decided to turn Jonathan's internal conflict up a notch, and added a bit more of Freyja's motivation - they each have their own agenda, after all.
I cut a couple of things from the final paragraph, including the specification about Freyja's past (to make you wonder which past) and the cheesy line about courage and friendship, instead weaving those themes into the rest of the narrative more like I did in the novel.
I changed a few weak phrases to words that evoke a seafaring vibe, and the underlying messages of dealing with grief and the spiritual warfare between light and darkness. The rest was mostly rewriting or arranging sentences to make it read a little easier, and add some more emotional drive.
That said, my blurbs are far from perfect - so next time you go to the library, pick up several books and study the blurbs that catch your attention. Practice writing blurbs for some of your favorite books, movies, or TV shows - the ones you get excited about and can't not mention in a conversation.
When you go to write your own blurb, remember what got you excited to write your book. Bring in the things you love about it. Harness the emotions behind your passion, and the emotions of your characters, and write the most powerful blurb you can!
Then let it sit. For a day, a week, or more. Come back to it with fresh eyes, and revise. Pretty soon you'll have a gripping, riveting invitation for your reader to spend some of their precious time with the story you've chosen to tell. That's really what a book blurb is: Here's a story that's worth your time. Come and be part of it.
What do you think of the blurb for Tempest, old vs. new version? Is there anything I missed, or could change to make you more interested as a reader? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Next month is NaNoWriMo, so I'll be taking a break from the blog until December. If you liked this post, share it with a writing buddy and don't forget to subscribe so you're notified as soon as a new post drops!
See y'all down at the docks!
- Lydia
.jpg)
Enjoy your November writing challenge!