This free book cover template includes a full front and back cover for a paperback or softcover, including an adjustable spine. This is a guest post by the talented author and editor, kelly exeter of level up your writing. The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover. In this video, well share with you five important tips to keep in mind when submitting your ideas for the design of your cover. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or.
Open the pdf or png file for the paperback book cover template in your image editing software. Put too much content and it will overwhelm your potential buyer. May 27, 2015 book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your books final edit. After the title and the book cover, your description is the most important book marketing material. The artwork should extend to the outside edge of the templates pink zone to. If youre planning on selling your book in print form, a good bcc will boost your sales without any effort at all. Front and back cover copy for book covers cover design. Author julie broad shares 5 back cover tips that will help sell your nonfiction book on amazon and elsewhere. Below are a few examples of back cover copy for fiction. But when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new authors skimp or are unconcerned with what goes on the back cover. If you are citing descriptive copy or a quotation printed on the cover of a book, its preferable to incorporate the necessary details chiefly, the author of the copy or quotation you are citing, if known, and the source where the copy or quotation appears into the body of.
Doing so will keep the reader excited, which will sell your book. How to create a back of the book cover blurb that sells. How to write a back cover book synopsis pen and the pad. Before we get into why most authors hate writing their back book cover blurb, lets clarify what it actually is. Its important for writers to market while they write to make each part of their book sell copies. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. Author julie broad shares 5 back cover tips that will help sell your nonfiction book on amazon. The most important question you must answer in your back cover copy is. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells kindlepreneur.
You already know that, in fact, everyone does judge a book by its cover. Book cover blurb examples from good nonfiction books cover blurb from the marriage code. Back cover blurbs for books tips for wrting blurbs that. Book promotion expert ben cameron always says writing the blurb is the hardest 100 words youll ever write, and many authors are also stumped when it comes to writing the front and back matter another task that usually falls just when youre feeling least like writing another word, after completing your book s final edit. Super simple to customize with your own sizing and design, this book cover template is the perfect canvas for creating your own printready layout. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either.
How to build the back of a book cover with template. Fail to engage your target readers in that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. The description should ideally say something that draws the reader into the story concept, but ends with a reason for the reader to want more. A boring back cover text will cause the reader to lose interest and put the book back on the shelf. Each of our book cover templates is printready complete with book spine, front and back cover. This blurb also features a clever play on words by incorporating the little league baseball theme core to the books plot line. Aug, 2015 after the book title and front cover, the back cover is the next thing readers look at when deciding whether to make a purchase. And even if youre planning on only selling through online retailers, bcc is still incredibly useful. How to write successful back cover copy mascot books. Itll be easy to use, or fast to use, or itll keep your reader uptodate. You can also save money on design by using this book cover creator. That sounds complicated enough but take the sheer amount of book genres out there, and coming up with a book cover to attract readers can be a monumental task. Mar 10, 2018 this free book cover template includes a full front and back cover for a paperback or softcover, including an adjustable spine.
Why and how will the reader benefit from this book. It goes without saying that the cover of your book is key. People often tell me the most impressive part of my book cover portfolio is that theyre all so different. If the book, for example, offers a strong message about personal freedom, make sure this is not lost in the back cover description. Oct 26, 2018 the back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. Back cover copy is the blurb on the back of a book. It will lead readers to your pages and because of its role as an ambassador, your book cover deserves thoughtful planning. Not only will it appear on the book itself, but youll probably use it as your amazon description. Book covers today are often simple, revolving around a central imagery thats symbolic and can capture the essence or theme of the plot with one glance. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information.
The next step is grabbing the readers interest with a tempting back cover synopsis that leaves her guessing. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more. The occult art of the poetry book blurb rachael mead. Writing an author bio examples of professional bios. You pick up a book because the cover or title looks interesting. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. How to write a back cover book blurb with examples. Dec 04, 2019 a book blurb also called a backcover blurb or a book description is a short description of the books main character and conflict, usually between 100 and 200 words, that traditionally is included on the inside cover or on the back of a book.
The third example shows how part of the back cover copy the author bio, in this case can show up on the inside flap of a hard cover book. The 150 to 200 words youll choose to place on your books back cover might just be the most important words in your entire book project. It simply wouldnt make sense on the cover of any other book. How to write a catchy backcover blurb that sells 2020. In this example, the backcover copy ends with another appeal to the readers need, and with the personal and inviting statement, this book is for you. Writing your back cover copy book designer fiona raven. Back cover copy includes the book summary and author bio. Apr 28, 2016 the most important question you must answer in your back cover copy is. You also know that you have only two or three seconds to attract a potential reader with your front cover.
How to write a back cover blurb for a nonfiction book. Explanations and back book cover examples for both fiction and nonfiction. Sample cover blurbs from this centurys most successful novels lets look at a few samples fiction cover blurbs from some of this centurys most successful novels so far. How to write a nonfiction book cover blurb that sells. Dec 08, 2017 how the back cover of your book can sell your book. Testimonials are incredibly persuasive in transforming potential readers into readers. October 22, 2015 by diana urban writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a wellcrafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. In a nutshell, its the 200 odd words on the back cover of your book that describes the book to the reader. How to write kickbutt bcc back cover copy wise ink blog. Jan 03, 2018 january 3, 2018 2 comments what is the back matter of a book.
After writing and polishing an entire book, many authors are surprised when they become stuck when trying to write blurbs. Book summary and author bio on the back of the book. Design book cover for free with online templates adobe spark. Five tips for a professional cover design authorhouse. Writing about yourself is a task that many even full time writers shy away from. Youll have to make the font size so small that people will need a. The back cover often contains biographical matter about the author or editor, and quotes from other sources praising the book.
Sample book back cover a man can never truly run away from his past, jack preacher thought, as four mysterious horsemen appeared from beyond the desert threatening to throw the quiet and dusty town of cameron into disarray. The third example shows how part of the back cover copy the author bio, in this case can show up on the. As an author, how can we turn this to our advantage. For nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same topic will help sell your book. But when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new. This is one of the most important pieces of copy youll write, since it has a lot of work to do representing your book and showing people whats unique, interesting, or especially valuable about what you. On the inside of the back cover page, extending from the facing page before it, is the endpaper. Make sure that you arent the focus of the back cover. Its design matches the front endpaper and, in accordance with it, contains either plain paper or pattern, image etc. How the back cover of your book can sell your book. Thats because each cover is a partnership between me and the author, and together we come up with something bold and unique. Youll want it to have a design that grabs their attention and portrays an accurate idea of what your book is about. Steps to writing your own back book blurb and back cover. This blurb also features a clever play on words by incorporating the little league baseball theme core to the book s plot line.
The occult art of the poetry book blurb on taking up writing it had not once occurred to me that one of the tasks of being a writer might be to come up with those concise, quippy phrases on the covers of books. For example, my sisters keeper by jodi picoult tells the story of. Ill say it impossible, without examining dust jackets from successful novels, that is. Back cover definition and meaning collins english dictionary. An examination of some of the top selling books in the kindle store yields surprises. Front and back matter in books selfpublishing advice. The 150 to 200 words youll choose to place on your book s back cover might just be the most important words in your entire book project. The next thing you do is read the back blurb, or if you are online, you read the first excerpt which is usually the same thing. This article will cover both what you need to include in your author bio and some examples of tight professional bios. If you leave images or text on this part of the cover, the barcode will cover them during printing, so dont leave anything important there. If youve ever bought a book on impulse, it was probably due at least in part to the blurb on the back or the sales copy on the website. Nov 23, 2015 but when it comes to the back cover of their printed book, many new authors skimp or are unconcerned with what goes on the back cover.
This article has helpful approaches to writing back cover blurbs. Its not every day you run into someone whose specialty is back cover copy for your book. Emmanuel polanco, moby dick polish book cover book cover design by paul bacon book cover photo frame cover design by roy kuhlman. Mar 23, 2017 british indie novelist carol cooper, who has also had many nonfiction books tradepublished provided balance against the naysayers i think puff quotes can be useful if they are from someone really well known, or they add to the info thats already on the book cover. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. Sep 12, 2018 creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. How to write a fiction book cover blurb that can make your. Before sitting down to the task of writing your back cover copy, examine the backs of other books in your genre for examples of how the copy should read. The examples you find will make everything you read in this article clearer. How can we write that back cover copy that hooks a passing browser, and turns him or her into a loyal reader. How to write a book description that sells with examples. Not only is it useful to know what you need to include in an author bio, it is also useful to see examples of how your vital information should look. How do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book cover or jacket in the text and in the workscited list. We did a similar one on the front matter youll remember that the front matter is all of the material that comes before the central story or body text in a book.
For nonfiction, establishing yourself as an expert and differentiating your book from the others written about the same. Some informative blog posts have addressed techniques for creating an effective front cover, but an often overlooked aspect of book cover design is the back of the book you might ask, does the back of the book even matter. For the last couple of weeks, weve been doing a blog series on the back matter of a book. British indie novelist carol cooper, who has also had many nonfiction books tradepublished provided balance against the naysayers i think puff quotes can be useful if they are from someone really well known, or they add to the info thats already on the book cover.
Books with great back cover texts usually go up in high sales. Design your cover in the design layer, using the template pdf or png file as the guide layer. How to write a back cover blurb with examples book editing. Aug 14, 2017 keep your backcover copy in the moment. The saying may be, never judge a book by its cover, but every author and book publisher will tell you that your book cover is a key aspect for the marketing of your book. In the small size the distinctive typography just about disappears into illegibility, and the most valuable real estate. Its crucial it be compelling, because readers make buying decisions from the book description. A few simple steps can get an effective bio that will impress interested readers and help sell your book. The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages youll craft.
We can write your back cover blurb for you when we write your fiction book. And out of the hundreds of books at your fingertips, it is the back cover copy bcc that helps you decide whether or not a specific book is for you. In this example, the backcover copy ends with another appeal to the readers need, and with the personal and inviting statement, this book is. The back of a book cover is the perfect place to put this social proof. Book cover design samples creativindie book cover design. Its the essence of your books most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words.
Konraths most recent post included 3 examples of animated book covers. Home book cover design samples people often tell me the most impressive part of my book cover portfolio is that theyre all so different. How to write kickbutt bcc back cover copy the wise. The top two thirds of the back cover should be reserved for information pertaining to the book in hand, but the lower section can promote other items related to the book. The space on the back cover of a book for blurbs, which are brief promotional paragraphs, is one of the more valuable spots for book promotion. Unless its an oversized coffee table book, youll have room for at best 150 to 200 words. How do i cite descriptive copy or a quotation from a book. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. If you know your audience well, then you know the problems they face. For example, a searing expose gives the reader more than something like this book is about that old writing advice of show, dont tell.
It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. With adobe spark, you can capture the essence of your words and display them for your audience, so your book speaks louder than ever. Mar 10, 2019 your back cover blurb is what they will use to decide whether your book is interesting enough or useful enough to buy. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. A blurb is the book description you find on the back of a book or online to describe a book s contents. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. And, when youre done, come back and share it with us. The backcover copy also functions as the primary ad for your book. Our friends at bookbub carried out an ab test in which they sent group a a book description with a testimonial and group b a version without a testimonial. Once you have written your book and it has been edited, and you have decided on your enticing title and. Your headline can be a short phrase or a whole sentence. Call to action carrie morgridge has written a mustread primer for anyone considering philanthropyread this book and learn from one of the best.
Failure to realize the value of the back cover seems to equate with the failure to realize that the text for the finished back cover can always be changed before the printing of the book. Jun 01, 2015 the occult art of the poetry book blurb. The third example shows how part of the back cover copy the author bio. Tell your reader what a great benefit your book will be. Its so tempting to think if everyone is doing x and i do y, then ill stand out from the crowd. If it makes sense, include your blog, social media links, or other books in the series toward the bottom of the page. Your chance to have a onetoone lesson with bestselling language expert paul noble, try a free audio sample of his. Use these tips to help you craft a winning book cover that you can be proud of. Most run several paragraphs, but some publishers want them shorter or in a special format so be sure to check with your publishers guidelines before you begin work. Your back cover copy is what sells your book to a potential reader and is one. Then they flip to the back of the book cover and its a boring solid.