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A book blurb is probably the most important part of your query letter to literary agents. You want your book blurb to stand out and make agents say, “Wow! I want to read this book!”
The publishing world is competitive, so you need to know how to write a book blurb for a query letter that captures the interest of agents and publishers. This is the part of your letter that can make the difference between your manuscript being read or sent to the slush pile. No pressure, right?
A well-written book blurb briefly connects the heart of your story, highlights its unique elements, and leaves the agent and publisher eager for more.
This how-to guide will walk you through the key elements of a captivating book blurb. You’ll learn how to write a book blurb for your query letter that will make agents request your full manuscript.
What is a book blurb?
A book blurb is basically a teaser of what your book is about, sort of like a movie trailer but for a book. It’s very similar to the blurb you’ll see on the back of printed books or book descriptions online.
Book blurbs for query letters are promotional descriptions that are short and sweet. The goal of the blurb is to get agents and publishers curious and interested in reading your book and representing you. Blurbs highlight major events in the book without giving away too much.
What’s the difference between a book blurb for a query letter and one for the back of my book?
Book blurbs for query letters are similar in some ways to blurbs found on the back of books. However, they differ when it comes to spoilers and the target audience.
The biggest difference is the level of detail.
Query letter book blurbs are the secret-sharers at the party. The gossipers who spoil just about everything. However, spoilers in blurbs are done for one reason: to attract the attention of agents and publishers.
Literary agents and editors get thousands of query letters. They’ve read every single type and only a few make it through. (The rest are tossed.) They understand story structure on a deep level. You need to share more than just the surface level of your story. They want the deep secrets.
On the other hand, book blurbs for book jackets are secretive. They need to be vague and avoid spoilers. The goal of these blurbs is to get the reader curious enough to want to read the book. There should be just enough information to tempt the agent, but not enough to give everything away.
Here are the ways book blurbs for query letters are similar to book blurbs for books:
- Meant to lure the reader in
- Written in present tense
- Contains plot and character elements (and more if possible)
- Does not reveal the resolution of the major peak of the story
- Meant to “sell” your book
And here are the differences:
| Query Letter Blurb | Book Back Blurb |
| Spoilers, secrets are revealed | Spoilers are avoided |
| Specific details | Simplified language |
| Attached to a manuscript | Attached to a published book |
| Needs to prove itself worthy of being a published book | Doesn’t need to prove itself |
| Aimed at publishing industry professionals | Aimed at readers |
How long should a book blurb be?
There’s no rule stating how long a book blurb should be. However, it’s best to keep it under 200 words. Of course, this can vary depending on your book’s genre and length and what the publishers require.
How to Write a Book Blurb That Stands Out
Here are the steps you need to know on how to write a book blurb that stands out to agents and editors:
1. Start with a jaw-dropping hook.
The first line of your blurb is your first impression. It should be short yet full of jaw-dropping facts that grab the reader’s attention immediately. If agents aren’t drawn in by the first sentence, they may not continue reading and toss your query letter into the slush pile instead.
You want to hook the reader with your story’s main idea, making them want to read more. Use words that will create a need-to-know urgency in your reader. For example, you could ask a thought-provoking question or start with a surprising or bold statement.
Don’t use preparatory language. Don’t start your blurb with sentences that use words like, “In my story…” or “This book starts with…”. You only have so many lines to catch the attention of the agent so you want to just dive right in and hook them immediately.
2. Introduce the main character(s).
It’s important to introduce the main character at the beginning of your blurb. If possible, try working them into the opening line. This sets the stage for your narrative and gives agents a quick glance at who the protagonist is on a personal level. If there are multiple protagonists who share equal importance or if the story alternates between different perspectives, make sure you introduce all the characters.
After an agent reads your blurb, they’ll look for those characters in the manuscript you submit, whether it’s the full book or just sample pages. You want to set clear expectations for who the reader will meet, so it’s important that the characters are vividly portrayed right from the beginning. This helps the agent connect with the people in your story. They’ll get a strong sense of who the story belongs to and what the characters are all about. This connection is extremely important because it can make your characters memorable and your story more engaging.
3. Outline the main conflict.
When outlining the main conflict in your blurb, it’s important to give the agent a clear understanding of what the story is about and what your characters are experiencing. Instead of using vague phrases like “My characters are going through challenges” or “They face many obstacles,” focus on providing specific details that reveal a vivid picture of the central conflicts. For example, if your protagonist is wrestling with a personal dilemma, describe these challenges in a way that shows how they impact the character and drive the plot forward.
Avoid generic statements that could apply to any story. Instead, focus on the unique features of your narrative and characters. Explain how the conflict manifests in the story without revealing too much. This could involve highlighting a critical moment of tension, a significant choice the character must make, or an overarching struggle that frames the entire plot.
Remember, you have limited space to outline these key conflicts, so choose your words carefully. Use language that not only informs but also tempts the agent to want to know more. The goal is to make the conflict compelling enough that the agent feels invested in the story and eager to see how it unfolds.
4. Include the genre.
With around 50 genres out there, it can be tough to be very specific about what genre your book falls under. Literary agents and editors want to know more than “it’s a mystery novel”. Specifics are important to them because there are millions of mystery novels out there already.
Be specific about your book’s genre. What type of mystery novel is it? Is it a cozy mystery, a culinary mystery, or a historical mystery?
5. End with a cliffhanger or a question.
Ending your book blurb with a cliffhanger or question will entice the agent to discover what happens. After all, this is the whole point of your blurb. It’s important to end with a sentence or two that makes the agent want to dive into your sample pages or request your full manuscript.
Introduce a question or an element of suspense. Some agents prefer rhetorical questions that make them think. Even if you don’t want to write a question as your book blurb ending, here are some questions you can ask yourself while thinking about how to end your blurb:
- What is the agent reading to discover?
- What is the main point that will be unraveled when reading your story?
- What is the selling point of your story?
- What is the payoff of reading your story?
Don’t spoil the ending. You want the agent to read your sample pages or request the full manuscript. If they know the ending, they will feel like they don’t need to read your manuscript and may not represent you.
6. Edit and revise.
Finally, you need to edit and revise your book blurb and then edit some more. Writing a book blurb for a query letter may seem easy enough, but remember it should be under 200 words. And it shouldn’t have any spelling mistakes or grammar errors.
Check for any typos and grammar errors. If there’s content you think doesn’t belong, take it out. Share it with someone else for feedback on tone, clarity, grammar, and interest.
Remember: Your blurb should be short, sweet, and impressionable!
Here are some questions to ask yourself while editing your blurb:
- Does the tone match the story?
- Is my blurb brief?
- Are the characters and the story introduced effectively without giving away too much information?
- Is the conflict clear?
- Is the stake clear?
- Does it flow well?
- Does it hold interest?
- Is it easy to understand?
- Is it written in third person?
Example of a Book Blurb for a Query Letter
Let’s use the steps above to look at Harper Lee’s book blurb for her book, To Kill a Mockingbird as an example of how to write a book blurb.
1. Start with a jaw-dropping hook.
“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to to kill a mockingbird.”
Harper Lee used a tease and tempt strategy as a hook for her book, To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s also a quote from her book. It’s a little teaser that tempts you to read more because you need to know what this sentence means.
2. Introduce the main character(s).
“A lawyer’s advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee’s classic novel – a black man falsely charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch…”
Immediately we know who the main characters are: a lawyer who has two children, Scout and Jem Finch.
3. Outline the main conflict.
“A lawyer’s advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird…– a black man falsely charged with the rape of a white girl….The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man’s struggle for justice.”
The main conflict in this blurb centers on the struggle for justice in a society wrapped up in prejudice, violence, and moral hypocrisy. Specifically, it revolves around a lawyer who is defending a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl. This legal battle outlines the extensive community conflict between deep-rooted racism and the search for justice and equality.
4. Include the genre.
“To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age story, an anti-racist novel, a historical drama of the Great Depression and a sublime example of the Southern writing tradition.”
Historical fiction is the genre of this book because it takes place in the setting of real historical events. It’s set in the past and pays specific attention to details of the period it represents.
5. End with a cliffhanger or a question.
“But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.”
Harper Lee’s blurb ends with a cliffhanger that makes the reader need to know more. They will ask themselves, “What’s going to happen if the weight becomes too much?” To get the answer, the full manuscript has to be read.
Conclusion
Writing a book blurb for your query letter is a crucial step in getting your manuscript noticed by literary agents and publishers. By following the guidelines laid out in this post on how to write a book blurb, you can write a blurb that not only captures the heart of your story but also piques the interest of industry professionals. Remember, your blurb is your first opportunity to make a strong impression—use it to highlight your unique story elements, hook your reader with a gripping opening, and leave them wanting more. With careful editing and attention to detail, your blurb can keep your query letter out of the slush pile and on the path to publication success.
