How to Write a Book Description That Works
The potential of book descriptions can be overlooked at times. But truth is, it is as important as the book cover and title that catches your readers’ attention by the time they decide which book is worth their time.
What is a book description and why does it matter?
A book description is a pitch that determines if your readers pursue in buying your book or not. Aside from your title, cover image, your pen name, and good reviews, the next thing most readers first notice is the book description. This is why book description is a crucial part of marketing your book. It’s a real game-changer when it comes to communicating or pitching your book to your potential market. If you get the right formula, it drives sales to your books.
Aside from the greater visibility and chance of getting found, it also saves your readers’ time and gives them an idea of the book they are looking for. Truth be told, some readers look for a reason to not buy your book, so your book description has to have the elements that qualify to their to-buy-lists.
Learning How to Write a Book Description
Come up with a compelling idea
Your book description’s first line will always be the first feature that grabs the readers’ attention. Apart from the visually-inviting book cover designs and title, book descriptions determine the entirety of the book or how you brand yourself to your target market.
Generally, this means you need to come up with a bait that captures them even at first glance. Don’t sound too cliché, at the same time, be clear and concise in communicating with your market. Emphasize your book’s sensational or compelling idea that motivates them to flip the next few pages of your book.
- Giving them value
One way of giving your story description value is offering them benefits and how it caters to their survival needs if they purchase your book. This can be an emotional, relationship, or self-help needs that are essential to their well-being or survival.
In formulating an effective book description, ask questions like “How can this book help them during their spare time? Or how can this change their perspective of living? Or in what way can your book redefine their idea about fiction?
Remember that books to some are considered as wants and may not appear to be as important as any other basic essentials that they need in their everyday life. Hence, we need to instill the value they will possibly miss if they don’t read or buy your book. We can execute this by stating the problem and how you can solve it for them.
Your book description should have the components that give them an idea of how it impacts their life and how it solves their problems if they get one.
- Position yourself as a guide/expert
Position yourself as a guide or an expert with your craft. Positioning yourself as a guide to your market legitimizes yourself to your audience. It represents you as an authority or an expert at what you do, which gives them a reason why they should listen to you. This can be done through a blurb or acclaim.
The most basic example you see in most books is “…the New York Times Bestselling Author”. It doesn’t always have to go with that phrase because you have to base your claims on existing facts and recognitions. But by adding some social proof, it’s an extra advantage that drives readers to take the next step in buying your book.
- Include an intriguing question
State the problem and let your audience find the missing piece to solve the problem. Your book description has to have an open-loop or a cliffhanger where it encourages readers to find out what’s the solution by reading the book.
One example goes like “Lana has everything she wants, from material luxuries to the man of her dreams. What else could go wrong?”
- You’re not writing a summary but an elevator pitch
Book descriptions are commonly gotten wrong. Some think book descriptions are your plot’s summary so writers end up throwing all the good parts of the story they think is essential to their summary. But that’s not how it should be done. See yourself in the shoes of your readers’ minds, see what happens if the author drops off every detail about the book that leaves you nothing to be interested about.
Your book description is a pitch where you keep your readers engage by feeding them with interesting parts and letting them figure out the key piece through purchasing your book.
Writing or learning how to write a good book description matters. You can have the most unique plot that would possibly be a bestseller, but if your book description didn’t have the right blend or mixture of what makes a good book description, your book will remain where it is right now. A book description should be designed to have an engaging hook or bait, important keywords, and a clear solution on how it is beneficial or helpful to your readers’ survival needs.
Let the book description do the work for you and never underestimate its ability to hook a potential book buyer.
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