Everyone has heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, a saying that transcends the world of literature, often being used as a means of teaching people to unlearn inclinations to judge their fellow man based on superficial factors.
“Don’t judge a book by its blurb” is perhaps not such a popular phrase, largely because it isn’t really a phrase at all, and for good reason. Beyond a captivating or interesting cover married to exciting and appropriate typography, the main selling point of your book is the little window you provide for your readers on the back of the cover; the blurb.
Some would mistakenly assume “synopsis” and “blurb” to be interchangeable terms, but this is very much untrue. A synopsis is much more long form, highlighting the major plot points of the book in question and providing a summary of the events. Basically, writing a synopsis is quite easy.
A blurb, on the other hand, is the writer’s fishing hook. Its purpose is to create intrigue without revealing too much information, whilst still remaining coherent enough to provide a general idea of the story. There are a myriad ways you can approach writing a blurb, but there are some helpful pointers listed below to help you concoct something that will grab onto any prospective reader:
1). Short and Snappy
A blurb that rambles is not a successful one. If your blurb is riddled with long sentences from the get-go, then you’re likely to lose the interest of anyone who has plucked the novel from a bookshop shelf. Your blurb should largely be comprised of short, punchy sentences. You could really think of it as the literary equivalent of a movie trailer, if you like. See below for a suitable example.
“Renfield, Iowa was just another nothing-town. Until now.”
2). Be Aware of Genre
The genre of the novel in question should be a leading factor in how you decide to write your blurb. As we’ve established, not revealing too much information is crucial to reeling in an audience, but in the case of something such as a thriller or horror novel, you can afford to crank up the mystery factor a little more to generate more intrigue and (hopefully) get some hairs standing on end.
See the blurb for Stephen King’s apocalyptic thriller “The Stand”:
“First come the days of plague. Then come the dreams.
Dreams that warn of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil.
His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms.”
3). No Spoilers
This should perhaps go without saying, but revealing a crucial detail of your story in your blurb is a sure-fire way to see your sales slow to a crawl. It seems obvious to say, but spoilers should be reserved for summaries! Nothing will make a reader put a book down faster than having a crucial plot point revealed to them before they’ve even thumbed through the foreword!
4). Characters, Setting, Conflict
As we’ve established, keeping details largely in shadow is critical to writing a good blurb. This of course begs the question “What can I reveal?”
Foremostly, introducing the protagonist (and sometimes the antagonist) is a great way to start:
“Kelly Lee is bored with her life. She’s got a dead-end job, an over-bearing mother and a jar of ashes for a best friend.”
You now have some character backstory in just a couple of sentences, creating interest whilst avoiding spoilers.
Next, you could consider explaining the setting, if it feels relevant:
“The town of Plainview hasn’t felt like home since Kelly left high school. But try as she might, she can’t seem to leave.”
At some point in the blurb, revealing the conflict in some small part is a crucial ingredient. Of course, tread carefully when it comes to detail.
“When several families in Plainview vanish into thin air, Kelly finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that reaches beyond the tiny town she knows so well.”
