Welcome back to Self-Pub Saturday!
Today we will be talking about your book blurb. Even though we would prefer that people wouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it will inevitably happen. Might as well create a blurb worthy of your book, as it will be read before the first page most of the time.
Writing a Compelling Blurb
A great cover may stop readers from scrolling, but it’s the blurb that makes them click Buy Now. Think of your blurb as a sales pitch: it teases the story, promises an emotional payoff, and solidifies your book in its genre with a single paragraph or two.
Understand what the blurb does:
- Hook attention in the first line.
- Introduce the protagonist, setting, and central conflict.
- Convey tone and genre so the right readers feel at home.
- Create urgency with stakes or a question to be answered.
- Invite action—end on a cliffhanger, not a conclusion
Core Ingredients
| Ingredient | Purpose | Quick Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Hook (1 sentence) | Jolt curiosity. | A shocking fact, witty line, or unsettling question. |
| Setup (1–2 sentences) | Ground the reader in who, where, and when. | Keep names to 1–2; choose vivid nouns over adjectives. |
| Inciting Incident & Conflict (2–3 sentences) | Reveal the problem that upends normal life. | Show what the hero wants vs. what blocks them. |
| Stakes/Cliffhanger (1 sentence) | Make “so what?” crystal-clear. | Pose a dilemma, hint at a twist, avoid spoilers. |
| Call-to-Action (CTA) (optional) | Nudge the sale. | “Perfect for fans of…,” award mentions, or series hook. |
Writing the First Draft
- Free-write each ingredient separately. Don’t polish it yet.
- Trim every word that doesn’t add mood, character, or momentum.
- String sections together so each sentence leads naturally to the next.
- Read aloud to catch rhythm snags and tongue-twisters.
- Test genre signals—does a romance blurb promise a happily-ever-after? Does a thriller blurb pulse with danger?
Polish for Impact
- Tighten verbs: swap “was running” for “sprinted.”
- Use concrete nouns: “rust-red pickup” beats “old truck.”
- Mirror point of view (optional): third-person blurbs for third-person books; first-person blurbs feel confessional.
- Focus on one POV character: ensemble casts overwhelm in 200 words. More than one POV can make the blurb too long, or watered down.
- Avoid clichés: “heart-stopping,” “page-turner”—unless you give them a fresh twist.
- SEO & keywords: work in sub-genres (“gaslamp fantasy,” “small-town romance”) naturally. Amazon’s algorithm notices.
Stress-Test Your Blurb
| Test | How to Run It | What to Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Beta feedback | Drop into reader or writer groups. | “Would you keep reading? Why or why not?” |
| A/B split | Run two blurbs on BookFunnel or social ads. | Compare click-through rates and cost-per-click. |
| Read-through | Record yourself reading the blurb aloud. | Does energy sag? Are sentences too long? |
Plug-and-Play Template
[HOOK]
[PROTAGONIST] thought [STATUS QUO] would last—until [INCITING INCIDENT] shatters everything. Now, with [ANTAGONISTIC FORCE] closing in, [HE/SHE] must [GOAL] before [STAKES]. But [OBSTACLE/TWIST] could cost [HIM/HER] more than [WHAT’S AT RISK].
Perfect for fans of [COMPS], this [ADJECTIVE] [GENRE] will keep you reading long past midnight.
To use this format, fill in the brackets, trim to 150–200 words, and you’re 80 % done.
Example (Urban Fantasy)
Death is easy. Coming back is where it gets tricky.
Grave-witch Mara Winters spends her nights guiding restless spirits to the other side—until a murdered guardian angel crashes into her basement apartment. The celestial’s shattered halo holds a secret that could ignite a war between Heaven and the things lurking beneath Chicago’s streets.
Hunted by a rogue seraph and shadow-eaters that smell like burning feathers, Mara has three nights to piece together the angel’s final memory or watch the city she loves drown in ash. If she fails, the next soul she shepherds might be her own.
Fans of Kim Harrison and Ilona Andrews will devour this snark-fuelled ride into the afterlife’s dark alleys.
Final Checklist
✅ Under 250 words (or 100 for short-form retailers).
✅ First sentence hooks; last sentence raises a question.
✅ No spoilers; only the premise.
✅ Stakes are visceral and personal.
✅ Genre signposts and comps included.
Wrap-Up
Your blurb isn’t a synopsis—it’s an irresistible promise. By spotlighting your protagonist’s dilemma, ratcheting up the stakes, and ending on a breathless question, you’ll tempt the perfect readers to dive in—and keep turning pages until the end.
If you enjoyed today’s post, follow this blog to be notified when the next post goes up. At the moment, I post every other Saturday. Subscribe for free or sign up for a paid subscription below to get access to my Library and any premium content on the plethora of blog posts I have. The Library has two sections, the Herbal Library and the Self-Pub Saturday Library. They are ongoing archives of my two main points of interest that make it easier to find certain posts on the related topics. It’s only $2.99 p/month and you can cancel anytime. You can also check out my book if you want to read some of my work. I did everything myself with the help of hours of research, the internet, Microsoft Word, the ‘Chicago Manual of Style,’ and Photoshop. And if you like social media, I have a Facebook and Instagram page.
Many blessings,
Emma Lee Joy
Red Hawk Ridge 
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