Malcolm gladwell hands out book blurbs like santa does. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. A dictionary of journalism is an accessible and authoritative quick reference dictionary. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. In a world where many consumers are unhappy to pay for news and entertainment content, what is the future of journalism. The best books on journalism five books expert recommendations. But some journalism books so deftly explain the nuts and bolts of the craft, they should be read by every journalism student, and re. When you need to write a blurb for a movie, book, or other project, start by writing a clever and catchy hook that introduces some of the characters and setting of the topic.
Chuck arand from concordia seminary for making time to talk about my book. In this post, we tell you how to write a book blurb in five easy steps. Index definition, in a nonfiction book, monograph, etc. A byline is just a line giving the name of the reporter or writer of the news story.
How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. As such, the handbook of journalism studies is a musthave resource for scholars and graduate students working in journalism, media studies, and communication around the globe. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. Forget the book, have you read this irresistible story on. The endorsement blurb recommends another writers book. Secrets and lies in a silicon valley startup by john carreyrou, catch and kill. Writing the blurb for your selfpublished book is one of the privileges of being an indie author. Sep 27, 2015 whatever the old adage might warn, there is a bit of merit to judging a book by its cover if only in one respect.
The journalist and author praises tabloid hacks, lambasts johann hari, picks a bone with christopher hitchens, and selects five books that exemplify good reporting or satirise it mercilessly. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your book and convert readers. If you prefer books, heres a list of some ive written or contributed to. A short description of a book, film, or other work, written and used for promotional purposes. Publishers summary and recommendation of a book, printed usually on the front flap of the book s dust jacket, or in an advertisement or catalog. This is another byline in intext style often used in british newspapers for small stories or updates.
Your book blurb must be wellwritten to get a readers attention. Blurb definition in the cambridge english dictionary. A laudatory quote about a book, usually supplied by a highprofile 3rd party, for use on the cover in excerpted form and in other marketingadvertising copy. Popular journalism books meet your next favorite book. Independent journalism handbook of deborah potter is executive director of newslab. Thanks to dale ward and the rest of the tech guys at the seminary for making the video. I wanted to print a photo book with blurb for a long time, and finally ordered my first. Top five books every student journalist should own right. Title publisher other links mobilefirst journalism 2018 routledge the online journalism handbook, 2nd edition 2017. It covers over 1,400 wideranging entries on the terms that are likely to be encountered by students of the subject, and aims to offer a broad, accessible point of reference on an evertopical and constantlychanging field that affects everyones knowledge and perception of the world. Styles vary widely among the different types and genres of publications, from journalistic newsstyle leads to a more encyclopaedic variety. Hes been featured on cnn and spoken at dozens of writing conferences around the world. It may be written by the author or publisher or quote praise from others. It uses twilight as an example, but dont hold that.
Consider the blurb, one of the most pervasive, longestrunning. Title publisher other links mobilefirst journalism 2018 routledge the online journalism handbook, 2nd edition 2017 routledge there is also an accompanying facebook page and twitter feed zeroes and ones. The blurb is a product description for the books backcover and amazon page, designed to entice readers. This is another byline in intext style often used in british newspapers for. As such, the handbook of journalism studies is a musthave resource for scholars and graduate students working in journalism, media studies, and communication. A blurb is a short description of a book that is written for promotional purposes. It can be a daunting task, so heres pins giving you a step by step approach for creating your fiction or nonfiction book blurb. Covering china book club an online home for books read and discussed in the covering china course offered by the more close an online home for books read and discussed in the covering china course offered by the journalism and media studies centre at the university of hong kong. The curious history of book blurbs and why theyre still. Whatever the old adage might warn, there is a bit of merit to judging a book by its cover if only in one respect. The best books on journalism recommended by toby young. On any given day, a science journalist might need to explain the details of. May 12, 2017 a byline is just a line giving the name of the reporter or writer of the news story. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more.
The 50 best books for journalism students is a usbiased list that omits as many good titles as it includes the compiler is aware of that, explaining that some staples have. This book is more about how novelists of fiction can transition into. How to sell your manuscript to publishers and your indie book to readers writers craft 19 kindle edition by hall, rayne. It uses twilight as an example, but dont hold that against me. Journalism, like any profession, has its own language and specialist words which practitioners need to know. It suggests a work of transformation, the possibility that through ceaseless unearthing of what we already know our surroundings we may find other ways of reading things our meanings. Park, the international history of communication study page 268 edward r. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of. A blurb is a short promotional piece accompanying a piece of creative work. I feel like we have to promote ourselves, he said of. These days he mostly writes young adult fantasy and science fiction, while helping authors write and publish bestselling books.
So there are 1,000 photos id have to skim through while also looking back at my blog posts to see which photos go to which post. I wanted to print a photo book with blurb for a long time, and finally ordered my first blurb photo book in june 2014. Click look inside or download free sample to see how this guide can help give your book the success it deserves. Ten things you need to know about writing your book blurb whitefox pdf advertising books. How to write a blurb, back cover copy or sales description. Thanks also to rod horton for reading robert frosts poem birches at our bible study that morning. The following glossary contains more than 700 definitions of terms about journalism and the media including new media making it probably the biggest, most extensive journalism and media glossary available free online. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and. Thanks to dale ward and the rest of the tech guys at the seminary for making the. Feb 10, 2016 how to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. It covers over 1,400 wideranging entries on the terms that are likely to be encountered by students of. Traditionally, it would be found on the inside back cover of a hardback. Thompson, in cold blood by truman capote, all the presidents men by carl bernst.
This book is more about how novelists of fiction can transition into writing novels with a nonfictional element. I have seen nonfiction blurbs that are more about the. Your blurb will be an important part of your marketing. Many writers find writing book blurbs really difficult. A list of 23 new journalism books you should read in 2020, such as postgate. However, this task typically comes just when youre at your least able. Jerz writing etextblurbs are brief summaries of what a reader will find on the other end of a hyperlink. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind.
Its simply not journalism no matter how theyre trying to define it. If writing testimonials, say what is good and what is not so and disclose your. These headline kickers can establish context and can be used to set up clever wordplay. Blurb distinct from the back book cover blurb is this 12 line endorsement of a book by a celebrity or another author that sits on the books front cover. A blurb is not a just the facts recitation of the highlights of your story. Jun 12, 2015 the back cover book blurb can be the hardest part as an author condensing your book into a few, short paragraphs in a way that makes your book impossible to overlook.
Unsurprisingly, its used mostly in sports contexts. As paperback publishing developed, readers began seeing the blurb appearing on the back cover. Nov 15, 2019 when you need to write a blurb for a movie, book, or other project, start by writing a clever and catchy hook that introduces some of the characters and setting of the topic. Consider the blurb, one of the most pervasive, longestrunning and, at. Then, write 12 additional sentences that explain the plot of the story in a general way. To write a good blurb, you have to make it short and exciting, yet relevant. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. This is because writers dont really understand what a blurb is meant to do. Investigating with data in digital investigative journalism 2018 palgrave data journalism with. A volume in the international communication association handbook series.
Tell us why you chose scoop as your first book others have tried to write comic novels about journalism towards the end of the morning by michael frayn, for instance but scoop has. On back covers of books there is usually a summary which attempts to get the reader interested. The blurb should be written using the same tonevoice that you use in your storyso dont even think. It can also mean, in american informal english, an unexpected or surprising remark, revelation, or set of circumstances, as in the real kicker came when the chairman announced that he was quitting. Generally, 150200 words are more than enough for a full blurb. A blurb is the back cover teaser that lures a reader or an agenteditor into wanting to buyread your book. The images selected attempt to define a twodimensional approach of a 3d built reality. Murrow and other leading radio personalities blurbed the book, published in 1950 by oxford university press, and siepmann thanked paul lazarsfeld and herta herzog in his acknowledgments. Online journalism and multimedia ebooks starting with more general books, mark briggss book journalism 2. Here are some of the reasons you might need to write a book blurb. Blurbs were originally printed on the back or rear dustjacket of a book, and are now found on web portals and news websites. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should know. As many readers of this blog will have received a kindle for christmas i thought i should share my list of the free ebooks that i recommend stocking up on.
Publishers summary and recommendation of a book, printed usually on the front flap of the books dust jacket, or in an advertisement or catalog. Reviews of books, products or films can be influential in which product or book. A distillation of the dramatic arc of the story, highlighting the key forces and consequences that propel its drama. The handbook of journalism studies kerala media academy. Derek murphy is a book editor turned book designer with a ph. Your blurb can usually be used as your pitch in your query letter or when you are doing an actual facetoface pitch session with an agenteditor. A kicker is, at the most basic level, one that kicks. See more ideas about writing, writing a book, nonfiction books. Malcolm gladwell, the bestselling author of the tipping point, and some of the book covers that feature his blurbs. They, too, are looking for easytoread, easytounderstand information, and thats what svo sentences deliver. The following glossary contains more than 700 definitions of terms about. See more ideas about writing tips, writing and writing a book. Blurb definition is a short publicity notice as on a book jacket.
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