Over the years, I have seen a problem with many authors is an inability to briefly describe their work. Since the description is part of the selling package it is crucial to be able to quickly and clearly express why your book is something a person needs. As a result, book jackets reflect often long and rambling litanies of events in the story but lack a clear expression of focus, theme, or genre. If you are a writer you can learn to do a book blurb that will knock the socks off any reader!
How to Write a Blurb:
Use the space of an index card, describe your book in action verbs, tease or hook the potential reader (why should they bother with your work out of all the choices out there?), tell something briefly about the author (longer narrative of the author ONLY if it contributes to the sale-ability of your work (you're an expert in the field, you have other writing experiences, or unique personal background showing you would have something to say).
Think of the teaser for that movie you want to see, that news feature you would stay up to catch, etc. Craft your blurb in active 'sound bites'.
How to Write a Book Review:
For any book, good reviews can be a great boost to sales. Not every book can be reviewed by the leading journals, magazines or online sources. That includes even the titles produced by the so-called main stream publishing companies. Readers can produce reviews that are helpful to their favorite author. Here are tips for writing a helpful review that will encourage others to read - and buy - that author's works.
1. Check your spelling. Make sure your review contains no spelling errors, no mis-used contractions, or similar grammar errors. People WILL judge your book on the quality of the writing used by readers.
2. Give a good specific reason for why you enjoyed the book. That might mean a character, a scene, the treatment of a topic or their writing skill.(Conversely, give clear but fair reasons why you did not like it.)
3. Share who might be most interested in the work. " I am a left-handed porch painter who uses a brush with my toes and I think all my fellow left-handed toe brush wielding peers will enjoy this as well."
4. Will you read something else by this author?
5. Would this work be worth the money spent to add to a library collection, personal shelf or e-book collection?
All of these convey to other readers (and those who buy books for libraries and stores) some clear reasons why the work should be considered.
Writers and readers can help each other by reading and reviewing honestly. Help save a struggling author today!
