First published: 10 January 2023 @ 6:00 pm
A good book description is one of the basic elements of book sales and marketing, especially when a book launch event, but it is not an easy task.
It requires a lot of time and effort to make your idea sound enticing for readers who want to learn more about what you have written.
As a writer, you need to know how to write the best book description in your own writing style, so that your audience will fall in love with your story and won’t be able to stop reading it.
To write the best book description, you need to know how to create an effective one. A lot of books talk about writing a great book description.
According to experts and other professional writers, a good book description is one of the most important key elements of the entire book as it is the book details as well. The description should be able to draw the attention of readers to your story and make them buy it–book marketing.
However, there is no single formula or guideline that can help you write a good book description. You will have to experiment and see what works for you because everyone has a different writing style, so there is no perfect way to write a good book description.
Part of the Book Descriptions
Before starting to write an effective book description, you need to know what it consists of. A book description consists of three parts, which are:
Title and Subtitle
The title and subtitle are usually displayed on the front cover designs of your book, and they must be short, as well as catchy.
Usually, they can be called a ‘hook’ that will attract readers to buy your book. It’s recommended to use a simple yet catchy headline such as ‘The Best Recipe For Your Belly Bloat’.
Book Summary
This part is where you have the chance to tell readers what they will get if they buy your book. As a writer, you can also include a summary on the book cover, or even on the title page of your book.
It’s worth it to provide this piece of information in case people don’t pick up your book because they don’t like the title.
Plot Description
This is a short paragraph consisting of two or three sentences about the plot of your book. You can also add a small preview of what your story covers in the body of your description.
How To Make A Good Book Description
The truth is, every reader has their own preferences when it comes to reading their favourite books.
This means that you need to adapt your descriptions and content yourself so that they will suit the readers who will read your work.
In order to write a good and effective book description, below are some steps that you can do.
Write in the present tense
This is one of the most important things that can help you to create an effective book description for your work because it will make readers feel as if they are reading the story themselves.
Short sentences and paragraphs
As a writer, you have to keep in mind that shorter sentences are easier to read and understand. It is also better to write in paragraph form so that the readers will be able to follow your ideas more easily.
Well written stories
By that, they will be able to see how you prefer your work, what kind of characters you use, and what situation they are in.
Be creative and original
Readers don’t just want to read about the same things all the time, so it is a good idea to think about different situations for your characters and make them interesting.
This means that you should think about your book in a different way and not follow the rules of writing.
Be professional
This means that you should write in a proper way and try to create the best book description possible.
Write about an interesting topic
Be sure to talk about the topic of your book based on your writing style and make it as interesting as possible for your readers, because they will be able to see how your story is connected to it.
Rules To Write A Good Book Description
The great advantage of writing descriptions is that it allows you to put your personality on the page, and thus generate more interest in your book. It is an opportunity for you to sell yourself as an author and reach the world with this marketing strategy.
Here are some basic rules to follow when writing a good book description:
- Stick to the number of words that are required.
- Do not write a long description–keep it short and attractive. You have a limited amount of space, so do not go overboard.
- Avoid the temptation to insert a description of the book’s plot or setting. Keep your description focused on the main characters and their personalities.
- Use your amazing writing style with a simple structure for your description. Keep it short, catchy, and to the point.
In addition to that, you can also use an online tool such as BookRix to write your book description.
Notes On Writing An Effective Book Description
Even when you don’t have any clue about the book itself, describing it is not an easy task. Here are some tips that you may find useful.
1. Give a description of the book genre
It is important for readers to know if your book is part of a particular genre or not. You need to make sure that your book fits in a specific genre or category and it is very important for you to know what kind of books are already published in this area.
Some people even prefer to read books that belong to their favourite book genres so they can get the best experience and feel the impact of such books without even having to read them.
If your book has the same genre as other books that have already been published, it means that it will be very easy for readers to find it on the internet and even in local bookstores. You may also use some keywords for the genre that you want to promote.
2. Describe the book’s main characters
A book is much more interesting when it has a strong plot and many interesting characters as well. As an author, here are some things to keep in mind so you know what readers may expect from your book:
- Some of your main characters may be very boring and similar to each other, while others may be very interesting and unique.
- It is important how you describe their personality and appearance because the readers will immediately make up their minds about who they are and what kind of reactions they should have when they see them. As a result, it is crucial for them to know what kind of characters they are dealing with.
- It is necessary that you describe the main character well enough for your readers to be able to imagine what he or she looks like because this will help them to get a positive impression of your book.
3. Describe the plot and the resolution
Keep in mind that It is still important to describe the plot and the resolution of the book because many readers will prefer to read a book that has some sort of story but they won’t want to start reading it if they have no idea what will happen in the end.
Moreover, it is crucial for you also to know how fast your story should be finished and how fast the book should be read.
If you have some difficulties in describing your story, your alternative is to look for help from professional editors or proofreaders who can help you with that.
4. Do not overexplain
It is not necessary for you to describe all the things that your entire book has. In fact, it is better to describe only what is really important and make your readers decide if they are interested in reading this book or not.
It will be more persuasive if you are able to describe just a few things and then show them the reasons why your book would be very interesting to read. So, this is also one of the marketing strategies of authors
5. Show your readers why they should buy the book
As an author, you have to make sure that you are able to show your readers why they should buy your book because if you don’t do it, no one will be interested in reading it and this will affect negatively not only your sales or marketing but also your reputation.
For example, you can show them how your book will help them with their problems or how they will be able to take advantage of the offered experience or by showing how attractive your book covers are that describe the content. This is what helps a lot in making readers want to buy your book.
6. Do not hesitate to use some keywords in your book description
Another thing to keep in mind is that it is not necessary to mention all the keywords that you want to promote in your book description because you should choose only those that can really help people to find your book.
If you do so, it will be much more effective and persuasive. You may also use some of the keywords that can also help you to promote your book on the internet and in local bookstores.
Final Thoughts
In summary, it is very important for you to know how to write a good book description because this is exactly what will help people to find your book.
This way, more people will be interested in reading it and thus it will be easier for you to reach the market and sell your book from time to time.
The truth is that there are no perfect rules and guidelines to follow when writing descriptions but you should be able to do so because it will help your readers get the most out of this book description.
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About the Author
I hope that my post has helped you know more about Blogs and Writing Tips. Feel free to leave a comment and tag me and I will answer them. Follow my profile to get the latest content I post to stay ahead of the curve.
I am the Founder of Cudy Technologies, a full-stack EdTech startup helping teachers and students learn better. I am also a mentor and angel investor in other Startups of my other interests (Proptech, Fintech, HRtech, Ride-hailing, C2C marketplaces, and SaaS). You can also find me on Cudy for early-stage Startup Founder mentorship and advice.
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FAQs
1. How do you write an interesting book description?
Some tips that may help you include focusing on the unique selling points of your book, using compelling language, and targeting readers who may be interested in your topic.
2. How important is a book description to selling books?
A good book description can help you to engage the readers so that they are more likely to buy your book. It also describes how useful a book it is and why readers should buy it. A well-written book description can also help you to attract attention from potential book buyers and generate more interest in your book.
3. How do I write a book description without spoiling the book?
The best way to write a book description that doesn’t spoil the book is to keep it vague. You can describe the setting, the characters, and the plot, but don’t give away too much information.
4. How do you write compelling book descriptions for a novel?
The best way to write a compelling book description for a novel is to focus on the story and the characters. You can also focus on how the story will make readers feel, what themes the book explores, and how the book will change readers’ lives.
5. How many words should a book description be?
The average book description should be between 500 and 1,000 words. However, the length of the book description will vary depending on the book publisher’s requirements, genre, subject matter, and target audience.