Write Your Cover Blurb

A "blurb" is a short description of a book that is typically found on the back cover. It's the first thing most readers read, and its purpose is to entice the reader into buying the book.

You might think that the blurb is the last thing the author writes; however, many authors write it first, in order to ensure that they have a marketable story.

Fortunately, you have already written your blurb—sort of. That's what we we've been doing for the last six lessons. Of course, it's still very rough. We followed a crude, step-by-step formula. Now it's time to polish it up.

Our finished blurb might look something like this:

Bernard Stanley is a shy baker. His wife died five years ago, and now he is terribly lonely. He wants to ask one of his regular customers out on a date. Her name is Felicia.

Unfortunately, Felicia's father would never approve. He wants Felicia to marry a rich banker called Ralph. Can Bernard win Felicia's heart and overcome her father's objections, before she marries Ralph?

Polishing Your Blurb

Look at the sentences you wrote in the previous lessons (Six Story Elements). Your job now is to turn those sentences into a tight, readable paragraph (or two) that ends with your story question.

Whatever you do, try not to leave out any elements. A reader should be able to identify all six story elements from your blurb.

Study these examples. Notice how each blurb ends with the story question.

When humans suddenly start dying from a mysterious illness, Sarah Walton tries to find out why. But can she defeat the traitors in high places who want to kill her in order to hide the truth?

1	Character	Sarah Walton
2	Situation	Humans are dying from a mysterious illness.
3	Objective	Sarah wants to find out why.
4	Opponent	traitors in high places . . .
5	Disaster	. . . want to kill her in order to hide the truth.
6	Story Question	Can Sarah defeat the traitors?

Lonely, frustrated, and tired of living in a home where she's treated like an unpaid servant, Cinderella wants to go to a ball being held at the royal palace. Will she lose this chance for happiness because her selfish godmother won't let her go to the ball?

1	Character	Cinderella
2	Situation	She is lonely, frustrated, and tired of living in a home where she's treated like an unpaid servant.
3	Objective	She wants to go to a ball being held at the royal palace.
4	Opponent	Her selfish godmother . . .
5	Disaster	. . . won't let her go to the ball.
6	Story Question	Will she lose this chance for happiness?

A young Jedi warrior, Luke Skywalker, must rescue Princess Leia from the clutches of a galactic empire. A Sith lord, Darth Vader, is determined to stop him. Will Luke succeed in rescuing the beautiful princess?

1	Character	Luke Skywalker, a young Jedi warrior
2	Situation	Princess Leia is in the clutches of a galactic empire.
3	Objective	Luke must rescue her.
4	Opponent	Darth Vader, a Sith Lord . . .
5	Disaster	. . . is determined to stop him.
6	Story Question	Will Luke succeed in rescuing the beautiful princess?

Little Red Riding Hood must deliver a basket of freshly-baked bread to her sick grandmother. On the way, she meets a hungry wolf. Can Little Red Riding Hood escape with her life and protect her dear old grandmother?

1	Character	Little Red Riding Hood
2	Situation	Her grandmother is sick.
3	Objective	She must deliver a basket of freshly-baked bread.
4	Opponent	A hungry wolf . . .
5	Disaster	. . . endangers the lives of Red Riding Hood and her grandma.
6	Story Question	Can Red Riding Hood escape with her life and protect her dear old grandmother?

Blurb Formulas

Unfortunately, there is no "magic formula" for writing a blurb or anything else. That said, you may find the following formulas helpful. Tweak them, as necessary, until you have a blurb that you're satisfied with.

[Name of Protagonist] is a [character trait & occupation]. One day, she learns that ________[situation]___________, and she decides to __________[objective]__________. There's just one problem: [Name of Antagonist] is determined to stop her. Can [Protagonist] overcome [some obstacle / danger] and succeed in [accomplishing her goal]?

When ________[bad situation happens]___________, [Name of Protagonist] decides to __________[objective]__________. Can [Protagonist] succeed in [accomplishing her goal] before [Antagonist] [does something horrible]?

Instructions for the Quiz

Write your cover blurb in the textbox.

Quiz