How to Write a Good Book Description?

A good book description, no matter the genre, should leave the reader so engrossed in the content they want to learn more…. The initial sentence must capture the reader instantly….

There are 3 sentences to consider before writing a book description…

1. Who are you?
2. What is the book about?
3. Why should the reader care?

However, before the writing begins, there are several factors to consider to help a book achieve the highest potential of discoverability. Published books cannot be purchased if they cannot be found online -- metadata is responsible for whether the book is discovered easily.

Book metadata may seem complicated, but it is essentially the book title, subtitle, series name, price, trim size, author name, book description, keywords, and categories. In most cases, depending on the distributor, authors can include a long and short description. Both play a role in how much traffic the book receives in search results.

While it's fairly easy to write several pages about the book, limiting characters to a short amount can be more challenging. The book metadata should provide the information necessary to help buyers, consumers, booksellers, and librarians understand more about the book. However, while the right information is essential, it must be dedicated to the right audience. The second phase of writing a book description includes telling search engines what queries the book falls into, so it can actually be found.

Book descriptions are detailed, descriptive copy that display a high level of professionalism. It is the pitch line….?the chance to get readers interested. The better a book description, the better chances of gaining visibility and remaining visible.?

Tips to Consider When Writing a Book Description

• A good short description should be under 250 words; the long one should be 250-350 words.
• Provide enough information to understand what the book is about, without giving away the ending.
• Include search terms the reader might use to find the book. What words do you use to find a book?
• Use short paragraphs
• The initial sentence is the tagline – why should they care….
• The second sentence includes the hook – what the book is about…
• The third sentence would be author's name and genre
• ·All book descriptions must include the book title, sub-title, author name, and genre type
• NEVER - NEVER use THIS BOOK… in any part of the description

Authors should also avoid time-sensitive language, such as latest, soon, forthcoming, no date notes and most recent, unless talking about the author’s latest book.?

One way to get wonderful ideas on content is search online bookstores…. find best-selling authors and read their descriptions. ?

Book Description Structure

A long description is the synopsis after you have completed the initial sentence, which is always the tagline, hook. Consider yourself a buyer, not an author. Any specific highlights should immediately jump off the page. Include the keywords, title, sub-title, and genre in the first few sentences or initial paragraph.

It should have a strong selling focus -- an elevator pitch. Write less about the plot and more specific details on why a busy reader should want this book. As an example, (something like, “A beautifully illustrated picture book about love, friendship, and learning how to develop long-standing relationships based on trust”). ?

The headline should include a detailed exposition. If a consumer clicks to “read more,” you want them to find rich detail about the book. In the meat of the description, give them a taste of the writing they can expect without revealing the book content.

?Topics for Genre

• ?Fiction titles can describe the plot, settings, and key characters.
• Non-fiction details the subjects covered and important people, places, and things.

Essentially, it “sets the mood” and gives readers an idea of the style and tone. Use paragraph breaks and bulleted lists where appropriate to add structure and break up large blocks of text.

Strong Ending

The final sentence must include again, why the reader should care about reading the book. If someone has read this far, they are interested -- make the sale with a memorable pitch.

In conclusion, publishers use the short descriptions to showcase a book in their catalog, or online bookstore. Do not discount the importance of having a well-written book description. It should be informative, engaging, and thought-provoking…

Strong book metadata will determine how a book sells. How to write a good book description is just one piece. If you are ready to publish your own book, please contact Writers Publishing House for more details on our packages. So, you too can publish like a pro….