A great book description can make the difference between a browser and a buyer. Along with your cover and title, it’s one of the biggest factors that determines whether someone clicks that “Buy Now” button.
The opposite is true, too. A weak or confusing description can make your book look unprofessional and send potential readers running.
I’ve seen countless authors turn things around just by rewriting their blurbs. In some cases, sales doubled or even tripled after a stronger description went live.
In this article, I’ll walk you through proven tips to help you craft a description that actually sells your book.
Table of contents
- What is a Book Description?
- Why Are Book Descriptions Important?
- How to Write Fiction Book Descriptions
- Amazon Description Requirements
- General Tips and Advice
- Should You Hire Someone to Write Your Blurb for You?
- Final Thoughts on How to Write a Dynamic Book Description
What is a Book Description?
A book description (sometimes called a back cover blurb) isn’t just there to fill space. It’s your sales pitch.
A lot of authors make the mistake of treating it like a summary. They’ll explain what happens in the book, list a few characters, maybe even hint at the ending. But that’s not what a book description is for.
A summary tells readers what happens. A book description tells them why they should care.
Think of it as your best chance to intrigue potential readers. The goal isn’t to explain your plot, but to hook their curiosity so they can’t resist clicking “Look Inside” or buying the book.
When you start seeing your book description as a sales tool instead of a recap, your copy gets sharper, more persuasive, and far more effective at selling books.
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Get Rocket NowWhy Are Book Descriptions Important?
A book description can make or break your sales. It’s often the deciding factor when someone is hovering over that “Buy Now” button.
A strong blurb grabs attention. It makes readers curious. It gives them a reason to choose your book over the dozens of others sitting in front of them.
It also plays a big role in first impressions. Alongside your cover and title, your description is one of the first things potential readers notice. If it looks sloppy or unprofessional, many won’t give your book a chance.
On the flip side, a great description can boost sales and give you an edge in a crowded marketplace. It’s not optional. Get it wrong, and your book struggles. Get it right, and you’ve just created one of your best sales tools.
Next, I’ll show you how to write blurbs that actually sell.
How to Write Nonfiction Book Descriptions
A great nonfiction book description speaks directly to the reader and shows them why your book matters to them.
Start by answering three key questions:
- Who is the book for?
- What problem does it solve?
- What outcome can the reader expect?
Your blurb should make the reader feel understood. Talk about the challenges they’re facing, then position your book as the solution. Use “you” whenever possible (it helps the copy feel personal instead of distant).
Keep it tight and easy to scan. Break up long paragraphs, focus on benefits, and avoid stuffing in every detail. You don’t need to explain everything the book covers. Give readers just enough to make them curious and wanting more.
With those basics in mind, let’s walk through the steps to crafting a nonfiction description that sells. For extra inspiration, I’ve also included examples from some of the best-performing blurbs out there.
Step 1: Craft the First Sentence Hook
In the first sentence, you need to draw them in and let them know who this is for and what benefit they will get.
Some first sentences just focus on one or two of those. Regardless, you need to make sure you hook them or else they won't click to read the rest.
Examples of Nonfiction Hooks
Here are some of my favorite openings to various nonfiction books:
From The Miracle Morning for Writers
“Need to find more time to write–without sacrificing the important things? Looking to consistently discover great book ideas? Wish you could generate a steady income from your words…or increase what you already make?”
From 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management
“Double Your Productivity Without Feeling Overworked and Overwhelmed.”
From Habit Stacking
“Master Your Goals, Improve Your Life, or Overcome a Major Obstacle — One Small Habit at a Time”
Step 2: The Scannable Middle
As I've already mentioned, people scan nonfiction book descriptions.
Therefore, call their eyes to the most important spots or phrases by either using larger font, bolding or underlining, shorter paragraphs, as well as bullet points.
But be careful, because overuse can look unprofessional and dilute the rest.
Examples of Scannable Nonfiction Blurbs
Here are some examples of good scannable middles:
From Dopamine Detox:
Reclaim your focus in 48 hours or less.
Do you keep procrastinating? Do you feel restless and unable to focus on your work? Do you have trouble getting excited about major goals?
If so, you might need a dopamine detox.
In today's world where distractions are everywhere, the ability to focus has become more and more difficult to achieve. We constantly stimulate ourselves, feel restless, often without knowing why.
When the time comes to work, we suddenly find an excess of other things to do. Instead of working toward our goals, we go for a walk, grab a coffee, or check our emails. Everything seems like a great idea—everything except the very things we should be doing.
Do you recognize yourself in the above situation?
If so, don't worry. You're simply overstimulated.
Try a Dopamine Detox to reduce stimulation and improve focus in just 48 hours. This will allow you to focus on your most important tasks.
More specifically, in Dopamine Detox you'll discover:
- what dopamine is and how it works
- the main benefits of completing a dopamine detox
- 3 simple steps to implement a successful detox in the next 48 hours
- practical exercises to eliminate distractions and boost your focus
- simple tools and techniques to avoid overstimulation and help you stay focused, and much more.
Dopamine Detox is your must-read, must-follow guide to help you remove distractions so you can finally work on your goals with ease. If you like easy-to-understand strategies, practical exercises, and no-nonsense teaching, you will love this book.
From Fool Proof Dictation:
250 exercise prompts alone worth every penny!
Fool Proof Dictation can help anyone learn to dictate fiction proficiently and fluently. How?
- By taking the fear and mystery out of dictation.
- By providing exercises designed to nurture and connect parts of the brain used during dictation.
- By offering specific tips to remove the discomfort that causes most writers to abandon dictation.
Fool Proof Dictation is the only ebook of its kind, focusing primarily on the mental process of dictation. It’s a self-paced training system that streamlines the dictation process. There are warm-ups, practical exercises, and an easy to follow routine for dictating your scenes.
Fool Proof Dictation serves both absolute beginners and writers who’ve tried dictation but grew discouraged, eventually giving it up. This system offers an ease-of-use that will surprise everyone with how effective and gratifying dictation can be!
This ebook details the method I use when I dictate fiction. It also explains all the exercises I’ve used over time to train my brain for effective dictation. On top of that, it includes enough prompts to keep those exercises working for months!
Step 3: List the Benefits
Use lists; they really help.
When you write them, don't just say what they are. Instead, add a translation of how that benefits them.
For example, instead of saying “four methods of reading faster,” you add “so you can finish your books faster.”
Examples of the List of Benefits
Here are a few examples from other nonfiction books that do this job well:
From How to Be an Imperfectionist:
What You'll Discover
- The lesser known, but most damaging form of perfectionism almost every person has
- A simple-to-apply technique to have unshakable confidence
- Why perfectionism hurts performance, and the rare exception where it helps
- Detailed and customized solutions for these five subsets of perfectionism: need for approval, rumination, unrealistic expectations, concern over mistakes, and doubts about actions
- Fun illustrations with a powerful message to begin each chapter
- …and much more!
From How to Be a Bawse:
- Let Go of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Temptation will try to steer you away from your goals. FOMO is just a test of your priorities, a test that a bawse is ready to pass.
- Be Nice to People: Treat niceness like an item on your daily to-do list. People will go out of their way to help and support you because you make them feel good.
- Schedule Inspiration: Lack of motivation isn’t permanent or a sign of weakness. Expect it and proactively schedule time to be creative.
- Be the Dumbest: Challenge yourself by surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. It’s a vital way to learn and improve.
From How to Be The Girl Who Gets the Guy:
- How to let go of clingy, insecure behaviour that sends men looking for an escape route.
- How to attain the kind of confidence men love.
- How to be Independent without being masculine.
- What to do when a man tells you he’s not looking for a serious relationship.
- When and how to use the “No Contact” rule.
- Tips to keep you date night ready at all times.
- Why bending over backward trying to please every man you date never works.
- Ways to use your femininity to your advantage, even if you’re not the feminine type.
- How to maintain a little mystery in your life.
- Why Financial Independence is key to your happiness.
- What to Do When he pulls.
- How to handle being stuck in relationship limbo.
- What to do when a man stops calling.
- Social Media Do’s and Don’ts.
- The benefits of dating multiple men.
- How to stop playing hard to get and start being hard to get.
Step 4: Use Trigger Words
This is the icing on the cake. Trigger words are words or phrases that are proven to have a bigger impact in marketing.
So, once you've got your description written, go through a list of power words to find some that work for your description. Some examples of these include:
- Certified
- Proven
- Courage
- Deadly
- Crushing
- Triple
- Hidden
I have a full list of these trigger words that you can download for free here.
Step 5: Close with the CTA
Our studies found that when you end your book description with a statement to buy now, it increased conversion rates by 3.7%. So, remind shoppers to take action now and buy.
Examples of CTAs for Nonfiction
Here are a few good examples of calls to action in nonfiction book blurbs:
From Happier Human:
“Pick up your copy today by clicking the BUY NOW button at the top of this page!”
From The Science of Getting Started:
“GET OFF YOUR BUTT and just get started by clicking the BUY NOW BUTTON at the top right of this page!”
From How to Train a Puppy:
“Download now to create an amazing bond with your puppy!
Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy now button.”
Putting it All Together
When you put all of this advice together, you end up with a nonfiction blurb that looks something like this:
Write a powerful hook that either discusses how, what, and/or results in reading this book.
Follow it up with a great couple of sentences to keep them reading and if you didn't use one of the three in the top sentence, then use it here.
Write scannable sentences that are power statements
Be sure to go through your sentences and your lists and make sure to bold, underline, and in some cases italicize appropriately, so as to direct their eyes to what you want them to actually read.
In this completely comprehensive guide, you'll learn:
- Something new they'll learn plus a benefit
- Something else with a trigger word plus the benefit
- A change in their life because of what they learned
Another great list is what this guide or book includes:
- Come up with a list of things you can include
- Best when written like they are bonuses
- Upgrades like case studies or certain data?
Now comes time for the strong call to action. So, make your last sentence count, and drive them for that sale like I do below.
Start living the best life possible, and pick up your copy by clicking the BUY NOW button at the top before the price changes.
How to Write Fiction Book Descriptions
Fiction blurbs play a different game than nonfiction. The job is to spark curiosity and create tension.
Skip the full recap. Offer a snapshot: who we’re following, what they want, and the trouble in the way. Stop before the answer.
Turn the heat up. Make the risk clear. Give a glimpse of what could be lost, and what might be won.
Keep the formatting quiet. Short paragraphs. Plain text. Save bold or italics for rare emphasis. Lists and gimmicks pull attention away from the story.
With those principles in place, here’s the step-by-step process I use to write fiction blurbs that sell.
Step 1: Craft the First-Sentence Hook
This is the most important sentence of your entire book description because it will be the deciding factor as to whether or not a shopper will read the rest.
Because of this, I actually spend 80% of my time thinking about this one sentence. It should be catchy and draw them in.
Examples of First-Sentence Hooks in Fiction
Here are a few examples of some really great hooks in fiction books:
From The Dare:
“Have you ever had one of those really bad days at work?
You know, one where your hot boss catches you photocopying your backside in his office?
No? Just me then?”
From Tell Me I’m Wrong:
“What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?”
From Protecting What’s Mine:
“If you can’t stand the heat, don’t fall for a firefighter…”
Step 2: A Simple Layout for the Middle
Fiction book descriptions are clean and rarely use bold font or headings. Generally, you can make the first sentence bold and perhaps parts of the final Call To Action, but that’s about it.
Also, you should keep the paragraphs short and to the point. Research shows that readers are less likely to read the book description if you use large paragraphs.
Examples of Simple Layout for Fiction
Here are some book descriptions that have a nice simple layout:
From The Emperor’s Wolves:
Multiple races carefully navigate the City of Elantra under the Dragon Emperor’s wing. His Imperial Wolves are executioners, the smallest group to serve in the Halls of Law. The populace calls them assassins.
Every wolf candidate must consent to a full examination by the Tha’alani, one of the most feared and distrusted races in Elantra for their ability to read minds. Most candidates don’t finish their job interviews.
Severn Handred, the newest potential recruit, is determined to face and pass this final test—even if by doing so he’s exposing secrets he has never shared.
When an interrogation uncovers the connections to a two-decade-old series of murders of the Tha’alani, the Wolves are commanded to hunt. Severn’s first job will be joining the chase. From the High Halls to the Tha’alani quarter, from the Oracles to the Emperor, secrets are uncovered, tensions are raised and justice just might be done…if Severn can survive.
From Unsouled:
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.
Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.
When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known…and forge his own Path.
Step 3: The Mic-drop Moment
Your last sentence of the book description section should be powerful and encapsulate the plight of the story and the struggle your antagonist faces.
Examples of the Mic-drop Moment
Here are some mic drop moments that are absolutely perfect:
From Three Mages and a Margarita:
“It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a margarita during my trial? Yeah, they were mages. Either I'm exactly the kind of takes-no-shit bartender this guild needs, or there's a good reason no one else wants to work here.
“So what's a broke girl to do? Take the job, of course—with a pay raise.”
From The Girl in the Ice:
“The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband.”
From The Vault:
“With ambiguous loyalties, clashing agendas and danger beyond measure, these two men will struggle to form a team. But in a battle as unequal as this, the unexpected might be the best strategy that they have.”
Step 4: Add Comparison Points
Especially if you’re a newer author, it is best to help the shopper know what kind of book this is by relating it to books, specific genres, or authors the shopper would know.
This helps build credibility and lets the reader know that if they liked those things, then they’ll probably like your book.
Examples of Comparison Points in Fiction
Check out these examples for some great comparison points:
From The Cleaner:
“If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, and Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, you won't be able to put down the compulsively addictive John Milton series.”
From A Mother’s Secret:
Full of twists and turns, this is perfect for fans of I Invited Her In and The Mother-in-Law.
‘More chilling than Gone Girl and twistier than The Girl on the Train, this emotional, raw, dark family drama keeps you guessing until the end’ JANE GREEN, author of The Friends We Keep
From American Dirt:
“Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic”, Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.”
Step 5: Close with a CTA
Our studies found that when you end your book description with a statement to buy now, it increased conversion rates by 3.7%. So, remind shoppers to take action now and buy.
Examples of Fiction CTAs
Here are some examples of good calls to action for a fiction book:
From BBQ With a Side of No Apologies:
“Go up and click Read Now or Buy Now to find out what happens when James reminds everyone why they should fear the Granite Ghost.”
From Superdreadnought:
“Don't miss out on the action of Superdreadnought 5 and Superdreadnought 6! Both included in this fantastic boxed set!”
From Enemy Territory:
“Buy Enemy Territory to journey into a strange new world today!”
Putting it All Together
Once you’ve drafted each piece, here’s how it flows:
Start with a hook, a line that catches readers off guard and pulls them into the rest of the blurb.
From there, ground them in the setting. A short paragraph works best here. Give them a sense of time, place, and tone. Introduce the main character only if it feels natural.
Now bring in the protagonist. Help the reader connect with them and their struggle. Explain just enough about who they are and why their journey matters.
Next, raise the stakes. Show what’s at risk if the character fails, and hint at what’s possible if they succeed. Keep it tight and energetic. Think movie trailer, not book report.
Finish with a mic drop moment, a single, provocative line that leaves readers hungry for more.
After that, you can add a quick comparative statement if it fits: “If you enjoy [X], you’ll love [Your Book].” This is also a natural place to mention awards or credibility in your genre.
Finally, wrap with a call to action that nudges them toward buying:
Will Scarlett find love again, or will she face a life of loneliness? Click “Buy Now” and start reading today.
Amazon Description Requirements
In addition to the general advice above, it's important to be conscious of Amazon's description guidelines so that you don't do anything they won't approve of.
Generally, Amazon does not accept any of the following:
- Anything pornographic, obscene, or offensive
- Direct reference to phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, or website URLs
- Reviews, quotes, or testimonials (many people get away with this, but I advise against it to be safe)
- Requests for reviews from your readers
- Advertisements or promotional material
- Time sensitive information such as dates of a promotional tour or lecture
- Pricing information
- Referencing other websites to place orders
- Spoiler information
- An overabundance of keywords
While Amazon is not always able to police everything on this list, if your book blurb contains any of them, you are running the risk of having your book delisted.
For that reason, I generally recommend you adhere to Amazon's guidelines at all times.
General Tips and Advice
Before we wrap up, here are a few extra tips that can make a big difference when writing your book description:
- Keep it lean. Copywriting isn’t the same as writing a book. Every word has to earn its place. Cut anything that doesn’t move the reader closer to buying.
- Choose the right point of view. Most blurbs work best in third person, but some nonfiction does better in second person, and certain fiction genres even use first person. Scan top-selling books in your category and match what’s common.
- Work in keywords naturally. Including a few search-friendly terms can help your book get discovered, especially on Amazon. Just don’t overdo it. Readability comes first.
- Think like a publisher. A blurb isn’t your personal recap of the story. It’s a sales tool. Step back and write it as if you were selling someone else’s book.
- Study what works. One of the fastest ways to improve is by examining blurbs from indie books that are already selling well. Pay attention to how they open, how they build tension, and how they close. Model your structure after the best examples in your genre.
That last approach is how I learned to write effective blurbs.
Spending time breaking down successful examples transformed the way I write my own, and it’s one of the easiest shortcuts to leveling up your book descriptions.
Need Help with Your Keywords?
Take my full featured video course on how to select the best keywords and categories for your book.
Take the CourseShould You Hire Someone to Write Your Blurb for You?
This is a personal decision that you will have to make. If you don't like writing your own book description or don't have the time to learn how to do it, you can hire someone to write it for you. This can be a good choice.
However, book descriptions can be costly, sometimes exceeding $200 for a high-quality one.
I suggest looking at popular indie books in your genre and trying to write like them. It can help improve your writing.
However, if you are finding that sales are stagnating and you don’t know what to do to fix them, it could be the blurb. Perhaps hiring a professional to fix that blurb for you will be the key.
Final Thoughts on How to Write a Dynamic Book Description
I hope that all was helpful for you. I looked for great examples of each step in the process, for fiction and nonfiction, that you can use to guide your book description.
As with all forms of writing, your book description is something that will take practice. That is why I recommend writing several versions of your book description every time, then picking the best parts of each.
In addition, examining other best-selling blurbs will greatly help you hone your craft and understand what works and what doesn't.
If you need help, download our free Book Description Formula and use the Book Description Generator to get started!
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