When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Published 2016 by atria books first published 2006. Common questions about isbns and blurb books help center. A blurb is the description of the story found on the back cover of a book. Once known only by an elite who were unwilling to share their. An easytofollow, practical guide to writing the best blurb to sell your selfpublished book, provided by ya author sarah juckes of completelynovel. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb.
Quite often, i feel that the publishers blurb, comparing a book to other wellknown books in the same genre, is a disservice. What if your favorite photograph carries more weight at the end of the book. The secrets 10th anniversary edition includes a new foreword by rho. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog.
But fear not, because theres a secret science to writing the perfect book blurb. Basically, the name of the game with a blurb is to entice readers to buy your book. It brings up questions of identity, particularly in terms of sexuality and sexual orientation. I thought it ended quite abruptly notwithstanding the prologue.
The book is based on pseudoscientific theory called the law. Where will the blurb provided isbn appear on my book. As long as you can read and understand english, there is something meaningful for you in this book. A blurb is the back cover teaser that lures a reader or an agenteditor into wanting to buyread your book. But no matter because i knew exactly what was going on. Blurb definition in the cambridge english dictionary.
Over the years, i began to believe that id just mashed together the memory of a beautifully enchanting cover from a random fantasy novel seen in a supermarket or a dream, a provocatively simple title that no 8 year old could resist secret, treasure and hunt in any order. This is a portrait of the criminal justice system in england and wales today, as seen by the secret barrister, a criminal advocate who keeps his identity a closely guarded secret so that, he. Information about blurb in the dictionary, synonyms and antonyms. A short description of a book, film, musical work, or other product written and used for promotional purposes blurb meaning. Its briefno more than 100150 wordsand creates interest in the story without giving away major spoilers or the ending. The secret is a selfhelp book about the power of positive thinking by rhonda byrne. Your blurb can usually be used as your pitch in your query letter or when you are doing an actual facetoface pitch session with an agenteditor. However, this task typically comes just when youre at your least able. The secret and millions of other books are available for instant access. What does that mean for selfpublished authors, or authors with small presses who have a big role in their own marketing. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. Aristotle and dante discover the secrets of the universe. Once your book has finished uploading, your browser will launch and you will be taken to blurb.
The synopsis for the secret orphan had immediately grabbed my attention, and judging by the first chapter, it sounded like a book i would really enjoy. Can be read as a standalone novel but is book 5 of relatedbutnotsequels dublin murder squad series. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers. Yes, its still difficult and yes, its much harder to do for your own work, but it is possible.
A truly enjoyable magical book, tossing in family dynamics, small town minnesota, and more. More could have been made of the ins and outs of roses parents involvement in a spy ring. 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 for a lot of firsttime authors, i think theres an instinct to make sure readers understand everything that happened in the book s universe before the beginning of the actual story. As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the wilhelm gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. If youre wondering how to do that and where to start, it involves penning multiple drafts, lots of cutting, losing your sanity, and planning your blurb with the help of these steps. This short video is brought to you by publishnation. The blurb on the back of the book says that it will touch your heart. Kildas school can pin up their secrets anonymously, is normally a mishmash of gossip and covert cruelty, but today someone has used it to reignite the stalled investigation into the murder of handsome, popular chris harper. First of all it is very important you set the stage of the book.
Just because you have a favorite image doesnt mean that image will live on the cover. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. So now that we have our basic definition out of the way, lets roll up our. How to write a book blurb part 1 tara sparling writes. Sequencing photographs for a book is the secret step that many beginner bookmakers overlook, but sequencing is the roller coaster ride you are asking your readers to undertake. Ive also used other bookmaking software and much prefer blurb for ease of use. There is something bewitching about a growing garden.
The cheery robin in the tree above, chirping happily. There are just too many unanswered vagaries to make the book truly memorable. Writing the blurb for your selfpublished book is one of the privileges of being an indie author. Print quality is good and support is readily available. The reader will probably move on to something else. How to write an effective blurb for a selfpublished book. The alchemyst is a 2007 novel by irish author michael scott, the first part in the six book series the secrets of the immortal nicholas flamel. Best thing ever, its deep and emotional and its real, its a nonfiction and its perfect, it is a heart touching novel, i love the quote you cant stop the future, you cant rewind the past, the only way to learn the secrets is to press play. At the speed of light, policies and political parties yield place to charismatic images. Creative director for the secret, nics illustrations and artwork have featured in the books the secret, the secret daily teachings, the secret gratitude book, the power, the secret to teen power, the magic, and hero, as well as the secret film, and now, his own book, the power of henrys imagination, written by skye byrne. Scott draws on a wide knowledge of world mythology to stage a battle between the dark elders and their hired gundr. The alchemyst the secrets of the immortal nicholas.
Chapter two which should have been the epilogue is dated november 2018. The secret is selfhelp book about the power of positive thinking by rhonda byrne. Regarded as a lifechanging read by many readers, the secret by rhonda byrne is a selfhelp book that embarks to motivate the reader about a universal paradigm about success that can be achieved though it remains hidden for most people. The book goes through the details and provides a how to guide without being disjointed from the actual science of happiness and become a nonsense notion of general life coaching blurb. The above was a meaning of shloka from bhagavadgita. The ignorance of how to use new knowledge stockpiles exponentially. Park, the international history of communication study page 268 edward r. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. The secret is a bestselling 2006 selfhelp book by rhonda byrne, based on the earlier film of the same name.
How to write a book blurb by far, the weakest part of many selfpublished books is the synopsis found on amazon and elsewhere. The secret does contain characters from the first book except theyre in different time frames or the author is embellishing on what happened in the silence and how secrets from that time are now emerging. Proper usage and audio pronunciation plus ipa phonetic transcription of the word blurb. A simple outline for writing a killer book blurb ink and. The tiny green shoots sprouting up from winterworn ground and inflexible buds transforming themselves into magnificent blossoms. Secretand, later that year, rhonda byrne followed with a book that became a worldwide bestseller. Publishers summary and recommendation of a book, printed usually on the front flap of the book s dust jacket, or in an advertisement or catalog. Armstrong several months ago i was scrolling through twitter and came across the most interesting book cover reveal for a middle grade novel. The book has sold 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages.
Here is a complete outline about how to write your book blurb that will help you to write that killer book blurb that will make people want to read your book. The living, breathing, teeming kingdom that exists in the dirt tiny creatures and glossy leaves all squirming towards the sun. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. Ive made several books with blurb, most recently with bookwright. I read this book when it first came out, when it was a new book at the public library. Writing a great book blurb great ideas to write a blurb that works for your book. Change your default dictionary to american english. It is based on the belief of the law of attraction, which claims that thoughts can change a persons life directly. You have 15 days for someone either you, your friends, or your clients to order your book before we remove it from the site, and a copy is purchased, the book will remain on blurb. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. The book is based on a pseudoscientific theory called the law of attraction the principle that like attracts like.
A sort of mythic field guide to for urban fairies and fey folk in north. Christmas is coming, and the biggest book publication day of the year is already over. What is the summary of the book the secret by rhonda. A road is a flattenedout wheel, rolled up in the belly of an airplane. I enjoyed the book as a whole, but was expecting more after reading the blurb and the high rating. Definition and synonyms of blurb from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. 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. If youd rather have someone else write you an amazing blurb then let us know, but if you want to write your own.
When she owns his heart and he owns her body, it will set them both free. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. The catalain book of secrets was compared to practical magic, which i thought unwise. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. My only disappointment and its longstanding is the lack of a size between 20x25 cm and 30x30 cm. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb posted on january 14, 2014 by conjurors its ironic, after writing thousands of words to create your novel, that a 100200 word blurb pitching your baby to potential readers could completely stump you. Three publishing experts show you how to write a book blurb and. Dictionary term of the day articles subjects businessdictionary business dictionary. The secret place is a powerful, haunting exploration of friendship and loyalty, and a gripping addition to the dublin murder squad series. Blurb definition, a brief advertisement or announcement, especially a laudatory one. Murrow and other leading radio personalities blurbed the book, published in 1950 by oxford university press, and siepmann thanked paul lazarsfeld and herta herzog in his acknowledgments further reading. Upload and order a book from booksmart help center. Blurb noun definition and synonyms macmillan dictionary. A smarter you in 15 minutes what is your time worth.
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