Use this guide when you need a description for a retailer listing, the back cover or your website. Have a few descriptions of similar books you admire and a one-sentence summary of your own book.
Step by step
Study similar books
Read the descriptions of five books aimed at the same readers as yours. Note the length, tone and what they reveal or hold back. This shows you what readers in your genre expect.
Write a strong opening line
Your first line should grab attention with the central problem, question or promise of the book. It is often all that shows before a reader clicks to see more. Keep it short and concrete.
Show the core of the book
For fiction, introduce the main character, what they want and what stands in the way, without giving away the ending. For non-fiction, state the problem, who the book is for and what they will be able to do after reading it. Keep to two or three short paragraphs.
Make it easy to read
Use short paragraphs and plain language, and cut anything that sounds like a summary of every chapter. Write in the third person for fiction and address the reader directly for practical non-fiction. Read it aloud to catch clumsy phrasing.
End with a clear finish
Close with a line that raises the stakes or states the benefit clearly. For non-fiction, a short list of what the reader will learn can help. Only include genuine review quotes or awards you are entitled to use.
Test and refine
Ask two or three people who read your genre which version would make them want the book. Check it for errors carefully. Update it later if readers seem to misunderstand what the book is about.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Similar descriptions studied
- Hooking first line
- Main character or reader problem clear
- No spoilers
- Short paragraphs
- Clear closing line
- Proofread and tested on readers
Practical tips
- Write several versions of the first line and pick the one that is clearest, not the cleverest.
- Keep the description honest so readers who buy it get the book they expected.
- Save your description in a document so you can reuse it consistently across platforms.
Common problems
My description is far too long.
Cut anything that explains the plot beyond the opening situation or lists every topic. Keep the hook, the core conflict or benefit, and the closing line.
It sounds flat and generic.
Replace general words such as amazing or unique with specific details from your book, such as a place, a choice or a concrete result. Specifics are more convincing than adjectives.
I cannot summarise my own book.
Ask a friend who has read it to tell you in two sentences what it is about. Their plain summary is often the best starting point.