The perfect pitch/Book Blurb
In my last blog, I talked about choosing a great cover, one of three primary keys to selling your book. In this blog we will talk about the perfect pitch/blurb.
If you have written a book, look at the blurb and be brutally honest with yourself. Would this make you sit up and take notice, would it make you buy the book? E-books are even more dependant on a great cover, title and blurb. You have one shot at getting the customer to buy your book.
After the reader looks at the title( which I will talk about in my next blog) and the Cover, an enticing blurb clenches whether they buy the book or not. A blurb must catch the reader’s interest, make them want to read more and NOT give away the story. Often we are tempted to tell far too much.
Ask yourself why a person would buy a book if they already know what is going to happen and why? Leave them guessing and wanting more.
Think of your book blurb as if it were a pitch to an editor or agent. You want to showcase your talent as a writer, dazzle them with your words, and hook them in a few short sentences. Three is common for a pitch. There is no difference between pitching to an editor or a reader. The end result is the same. You want them to contract/buy your book. If you get too wordy, include unnecessary details, colorful metaphors and bog it down with information that might be important in the book, but not the blurb, you will lose the reader in the first few lines.
Writing a pitch/blurb takes practice. Jot down the key events in your story as they occur, details that give the reader some insight as to the internal and external conflicts facing the hero and heroine. Incorporate an introduction to your hero and heroine in the information. Stick to the important details, avoid repetition and be sure to end with a hook. I can’t express enough that giving away the entire plot will lessen your chances of a sale.
Once you have written your pitch/blurb go over it again and eliminate things that are not needed. Then do it again. Your ultimate goal is a short concise description of your book and a hook to catch the reader’s attention. See if you can do it in three lines, four lines at most.
Once it is done, show it to a friend or your hubby or another writer to see if they would read your book based on the blurb. Take suggestions and use them to your advantage. Once you are certain you can make no more changes, it is time to submit it to the editor for their final okay.
If you have difficulty writing a pitch or blurb that meets the above criteria, consider taking an online workshop. They are out there and you will be amazed at the insight you gain. Your once lengthy, boring description, will be honed and polished, leaving the reader compelled to buy your book.
Happy writing!
