The excellent Publishing Training Centre at Book House has asked me to develop a one day workshop for them on the subject of Copywriting for Publishers. Now I'm never short of views on copywriting for just about anything... but publishing is a world I have thus far had only limited involvement with. So... if you are in publishing, or bookselling, or are just a book buyer and reader with views on what's good, what's bad and so on, I'd welcome any thoughts you may have on the whole business of writing on, for, about or around books.
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Been writing a few fiction-book blurbs recently, probably the main contribution of copywriters to publishing. Obviously, keep it to 100 words or so, use dynamic action verbs (sizzling is good), compare with more-famous authors (unless your author is JK Rowling), describe the journey and end with the central resolution - say what's at stake.
Posted by: Nigel | Wednesday, 30 September 2009 at 10:09 PM
Not sure if this is helpful, Laurence but I did an assigment in this area as part of a Publishing Training Centre copywriting course. The task was to write the strapline/ back cover blurb to promote Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca.
I thought the book's current image placed it too firmly in the literary classics market, when it could have wider appeal to light horror/murder mystery fans.
I used a quote from the book on the front cover to draw in attention. It was:
"She's still the mistress here.
Even if she is dead."
I then wrote a paragraph for the back cover, using the tone and style of the book itself, and trying to focus on the horror/mystery elements of the story. Don't have a copy of it any more but got my best mark and feedback for that module!
Sounds like a fun project you've got anyway...
Posted by: Catherine North | Monday, 21 September 2009 at 11:46 AM
They'll be interested to hear about using keywords and SEO phrases such as "bodice-ripper" and "page-turner" and "unputdownable". I know this because I read a couple of books many years ago.
Good luck!
8-)
Posted by: Rustle | Monday, 07 September 2009 at 11:19 PM