The goal of the blurb on the back of a novel is to entice readers to buy the book. It's very similar to the query pitch, which is used to entice the publisher or agent to read your manuscript.

There are different ways to write a book blurb. Some people start with a hook, and then move to the more detailed blurb. Others skip the hook and jump right into the meat. There's no perfect formula. Experiment until you find a combination that works for your book.

To write the blurb, I recommend starting with the following information:

1. Who is the protagonist, how did he get into this situation, and what is he trying to achieve?

2. Who is the antagonist, and how/why is he trying to stop the protagonist from reaching his goal? The antagonist doesn't have to be a person. For example, if your protagonist is trying to climb a mountain, the mountain and the weather and his own physical short-comings could be the antagonist.

3. What horrible thing will happen if the protagonist fails? (This is where most beginning novelists trip up. They fail to have significant stakes.)

When you write the blurb, be specific about what happens. Skip nebulous descriptions and cliches. If you've heard a phrase before, it doesn't belong in your blurb!

General tips:

--You do want the blurb to reflect the voice and style of the book. If the book is funny, the blurb should be funny. If it's a tightly-written thriller, the blurb should be equally tight and exciting.

--Workshop your blurb extensively. Expect to do a LOT of different versions before you get it right. Writing a killer blurb is hard.

--Don't be surprised if, when writing your blurb, you find out that your story needs work. It's better to find this out before you publish and get a ton of negative reviews.

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Did this chapter answer a question you had? It would be great if you would press that little star graphic in the top right corner. If not, just carry on reading and vote for one you find more helpful. Oh, I'd be happy to answer your questions in the comments below, as well. --XG