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You are here: Home / BAIPA News / How to Submit Your Blurb for Our March 19 ‘Killer Blurb’ Workshop

How to Submit Your Blurb for Our March 19 ‘Killer Blurb’ Workshop

March 2, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

In the olden days, before self-publishing, publishers wrote book blurbs. Now you’re the publisher and you need to write the killer blurb that will sell your book in today’s crowded marketplace.

The blurb, a.k.a. the book description, appears on the back cover of the book and on your online sales page, and is arguably more important in attracting readers than anything but your cover and title. 

On March 19 at 10 am, I’m leading a BAIPA workshop on “How to Write a Killer Book Blurb.” (Register here.) We’ll start with a brief overview and some formulas and examples, and devote most of our time to strengthening and sharpening your blurbs.

We will put your blurb up on the shared screen and, together, brainstorm ideas and edit copy. 

Which means we won’t have much of a workshop unless you send me your blurbs.

I don’t know how many we’ll get, but it’s first-come, first-served, and we’ll aim to give attention to all of them. We will cover fiction and nonfiction. 

You need not have completed your book, or even started it, to participate. A compelling blurb can be just as important before you’ve written your book, because it can guide you as you write.

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A blurb is usually one to three paragraphs and less than 100 words, though there’s no required word limit. It is not a synopsis, but a promise that persuades potential readers they must read your book. 

You want to reveal enough to entice your readers, but hide enough so they’ll pay to find out more. You may also want to share setting, genre and tone. Is it light and funny or dark and tense?

And no spoilers. Blurbs are like movie trailers, which never give away the endings. 

But how do you distill your several-hundred page book into one or more memorable paragraphs?

Let’s look at a well-known example. 

Jurassic ParkAn astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them—for a price.

Until something goes wrong. . . .

 

 

Your book may not feature a dangerous predator, but you can use a similar formula, which has three parts — setup, hook, and punchline. Like a joke. 

For Jurassic Park, the punchline is, “Until something goes wrong.” For most books, you want to be more specific, but if your premise is as brilliant as Jurassic Park, you can let readers use their imagination. 

Either way, you let readers know that something does go wrong, and to find out how the hero solves the problem, you have to read the book. You don’t give the “how” away in the blurb.

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Here are the instructions for submitting your blurb.

  1. Register for the workshop here. It’s $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers. Members must log in to register. 
  2. Send a blurb of 100 words or less to [email protected] by March 17. One blurb per participant.

You may submit a shorter blurb for social media or Amazon ads, which limit you to 149 characters. (That’s how many characters are in this paragraph.)

Here’s an example of an Amazon ad for my most recent novel. 149 characters is not many.

I look forward to working with you to make your blurbs better. 

P.S. At the April meeting, we will be hosting a book blurb contest. Like the cover contest, but in this case, we will share the entries in advance as well as at the meeting. Winners will receive a free workshop. We’ll share details and instructions later this month.

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Filed Under: Author Platform, BAIPA News Tagged With: book blurbs, book descriptions, keywords

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About John Byrne Barry

John Byrne Barry is author of three "page-turners with a conscience" — When I Killed My Father: An Assisted-Suicide Family Thriller, Bones in the Wash: Politics is Tough. Family is Tougher, and Wasted, a "green noir" mystery set in the Berkeley recycling world. He's also an actor, bicycle tour leader, and crossing guard. He lives in Mill Valley.

Becky Parker Geist of Pro Audio Voices

Welcome to BAIPA

UPDATE: BAIPA continues to meet via ZOOM ONLY. However, we held a very successful HYBRID meeting on May 6. The board is in discussion about future events like that one, and we will get the word out as soon as decisions are made. Even when we decide to resume regular in-person events, we will continue the Zoom option. We are implementing all the recommended precautionary measures to keep our meetings private and safe for all participants. All members and visitors who register in advance will receive a link to attend via Zoom video conferencing. On the … More

Current BAIPA members do not need to register for our monthly meetings. The night before the meetings, they will receive the Zoom info. However, members must log in to get a discounted ticket for workshops. 

Upcoming Events

  • Audiobooks: From Pre-Production to Distribution
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    • Audiobooks: From Pre-Production to Distribution
       June 3, 2023
       9:00 am - 12:15 pm
  • Workshop: Putting Your Audiobook to Work for You with Becky Parker Geist
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    • June 17 Audiobook Results workshop with Becky Parker Geist
       June 17, 2023
       10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • What's happening in Indie Publishing?
    • Andrea Fleck-Nisbet on Current Trends & Challenges for Author Publishers
       September 9, 2023
       9:00 am - 12:15 pm

BAIPA Monthly Meetings

IMPORTANT
BAIPA is now meeting on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom only for now. In general, if the first Saturday falls on a holiday or holiday weekend, we will meet on the second Saturday.

We are also having workshops on the third Saturday of every month (also via Zoom only for now. In general, if the regular monthly meeting moves to the second Saturday, then the workshop will be two weeks later.

Future Events

  • May 6th: HYBRID EVENT (In-person in Novato, CA + Zoom, followed by MEMBERS ONLY in-person celebration party) What every author needs to know about Amazon NOW with Ruth Schwartz of Wonderlady Books
  • June 3rd: Becky Parker Geist on the latest trends in audiobooks
  • June 17th: WORKSHOP with Becky Parker Geist on audiobooks
  • July 8th: Patti Thorn of @BlueInk Review shares how to get #book reviews that count to enhance your #book marketing efforts. NOTE: that this is the SECOND SATURDAY of the month.
  • August events TBD
  • September 9th: Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Book Publishers Association on the latest trends in indie publishing.NOTE: that this is the SECOND SATURDAY of the month.
  • October 7th: Melody Owen speaking on how to partner with podcasters to build your following and sell more books.

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