Each week, I head to the Amazon bestseller list to find a super-enticing book description and then breakdown what makes it so good…
Then you can use those techniques and strategies to write a stellar book description.
We all know that book descriptions are vital part of book sales, and one of the biggest pains on an indie author’s to-do list.
I’m on a myth-busting mission impossible to breakdown the elements of bestselling blurbs so that you can use the techniques to write your own best selling blurbs…and make it a lot less painful in the process.
Heck, I’m gonna go so far as to say that I actually want you to start enjoying writing the bleddie things…
Because you’ll have a handy bag ‘o’ tricks to refer to, grab inspiration from, and stop using the spaghetti-thrown-at-the-wall approach.
Here’s how these weekly blurb breakdowns are gonna go down…
Every week I’ll take a best selling book off the digital shelves of Amazon’s top 100 in a given category… and I’ll break it down, sentence by sentence, so you can see the techniques and strategies at play.
Then, you can use those techniques to strengthen or create your own best selling book description.
If you come across an awesome book description out in the wilderness, and you want me to break it down, I’m more than happy to do it. The catch is, it can’t be for one of your own books.
Just email me with the Amazon link and tell me what you liked about it – if it made you want to buy it, or if you bought it.
Right, so them’s the rules, let’s dive in…
Week #21 – Hugh Howie – Wool (Silo Trilogy 1)
Striking the balance between world building and character in a book description can be tricky. Check out how they handle it in Wool.
Week #20 – Chris van Tulleken – Ultra-Processed People
An open social proof sandwich, anyone? This non-fiction book description taps into our fears and need for safety. Find out more in this week’s blurb breakdown.
Week #19 – Robinne Lee – The Idea of You
A book description that speaks to our egos will grab attention in away that other hooks don’t. Find out more in this romance blurb breakdown.
Week #18 – Dandy Smith – The Perfect Match
This week’s blurbology breakdown spots a common theme in the techniques that trad publishers are using in their book descriptions.
Week #17 – Chris Voss – Never Split the difference
This weeks blurbology looks at a bestselling non-fiction blurb that demonstrates how to establish your authority and credibility.
#WritingCommunity #Blurbology #Amwriting
Week #16 – Reverend Richard Coles – Murder Before Evensong
In this weeks blurb breakdown, we see a prime example of showing verse telling, using active language, and understanding what makes us buy.
#WritingCommunity #Blurbology #Amwriting
Week #15 – C N Crawford – Frost
In this weeks blurb breakdown, we see a prime example of showing verse telling, using active language, and understanding what makes us buy.
#WritingCommunity #Blurbology #Amwriting
Week #14 – Sarah J. Maas – A Game of Thorns & Roses
In this weeks blurb breakdown, we see a prime example of showing verse telling, using active language, and understanding what makes us buy.
#WritingCommunity #Blurbology #Amwriting
Week #13 – Mike Gayle – Brand New Friend
Here’s a breakdown of the book description for Mike Gayle’s humorous fiction story, Brand New Friend.
Week #12 – Ken Follett – A Place Called Freedom
When you’ve got two main characters, how you structure the book description is key to avoiding confusion. Here’s a good example of how it’s done.
Week #11 – Bella Mackie – How to Kill Your Family
This week’s blurb breakdown is short and sweet… but oh boy does it pack a punch. We’ve got ‘Ooh’ moments, alliteration, and sandwiches.
Week #10 – Anita Waller – The Family at No 12
Here’s a breakdown of what’s working in this bestselling psychological thriller book description. It’s pretty explosive stuff.
Week #9 – Cody Smith – Stage Fight
Here’s a non-fiction book description that nails its target audience and the problem using the PAS (problem, agitate, solution) copywriting formula.
Week #8 – Sarah Morgan – Beach House Summer
This weeks book description breakdown is a holiday romance that offers an alternative way of formatting the hook.
Week #7 – Misty M Beller – The Lady and the Mountain Man
This week’s breakdown takes a look at open loops and asks, is it ok to close a loop in a blurb?
Week #6 – David Walliams – Spaceboy
Need to write a children’s book description? This breakdown of David Walliams’ book description for Spaceboy show’s how to layer in social proof and build desire.
Week #5 – Claire Douglas – The Girls who disappeared
This book description goes all in on the social proof. What can we learn from breakdown this bestselling book description?
Week #4 – Miriam Margolyes, This much is true
Week #4 – Learn how to write a book description for a biography – here’s the breakdown of techniques used to sell Miriam Margolyes’ biography.
Week #3 – C J Cooke – The Ghost Woods
Week #3 – Breaking down the blurb – How CJ Cooke uses the setting as the main selling point for her bestselling book – The Ghost Woods.
Week #2 – Taylor Jenkins Reid – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Week #2 – Breaking down the blurb – what’s working in this contemporary romance bestseller by Taylor Jenkins Reid?
Week #1 – Blake Crouch – Upgrade
What makes a great book description? Check out this breakdown of Blake Crouch’s bestseller and use the techniques on your own blurb.