If you are like most authors, you struggle to write blurbs and tag lines. You’ve crafted a 40-100,000 word novel and need to hone it down to a few words. It sounds impossible, but with this strategy it should be fairly simple
First, you must understand the purpose of burbs and tag lines.
Blurbs summarize what the story is about. Don’t give away the drama, only tell key parts to entice buyers to read the book.
It’s a good idea to write a short blurb and a long one. The long can be back cover copy and be used many places as you distribute the book. The short one is for distribution and ad channels that require fewer words in the blurb. Shoot for a 20-word blurb and a 40-word blurb.
Example blurb, from Ruth Rendell’s The Rottweiller:
Tag Lines are one-to-two sentences that sell the story, usually placed on front cover. Think of this as advertising or sales copy. It tells the buyer what they’ll get from reading the book—suspense, intrigue, happy ending, magical feelings, whatever your story will provide the reader.
Formula:
1. Hero or heroine
2. Inciting incident
3. Emotional journey to growth
4. What they want/need
5. Disaster that happens if they don’t get it
Great post, Lynda! Book blurbs and tag lines are so important– and they can be tough to write!
Thanks for sharing. I hope some of you find this information helpful.
This is so helpful, Lynda!