Writing the Book Blurb

If we have or we are considering self-publishing a book, we know there’s more than writing the manuscript. With self-publishing, we do everything that a publishing company would do to market our book. With thousands of titles just on Amazon alone, it’s all about catching the reader’s attention.

If we are lucky to have our book placed in a prominent page within its genre, we still need that something special to shout at the reader, Read Me! A book cover can be synonymous with the retailer’s signs or logos. It is the first and perhaps the only thing a reader sees when they are selecting their next read. If our cover doesn’t grab them, the reader moves on. Experts tell us we have less than five seconds to gain the initial recognition.

If our covers catch their attention, the next essential criterion is our book blurb. We have a few more seconds or our first sentence of the blurb to tell the reader again, Read Me! If we have their interest raised, we need to hold it and continue to convince them they should read our book.

There are many do’s, and don’ts and I’ve found many blogs explaining the successful blurb. I’m not an expert, and I’m not writing this post to advise or instruct. I’m sharing my experience that a book blurb can make or break the marketability of our book. We spend our sweat, blood, and tears, getting the manuscript written. Potentially we can lose all those efforts if we write a weak blurb.

If you have followed my recent post, I’ve been discussing the release of the second edition of One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up. I’m getting closer to announcing the release date, but there’s still much on my ‘to do’ list to get everything accomplished. One of those items is writing a book blurb.

Below are three potential blurbs, and I’m asking you to help me select the one you think will grab the reader. In the comments below, tell me which one you choose and why you think it’s preferable.

Example A:

Do you remember in the 1960s when the Selective Service System mandated all males at age 18 to register? Young men feared the draft and the potential of going to Vietnam. The News focused on the atrocities of the war and the price our military paid for its participation.

One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up is the story of one young man’s account of enlisting in the U.S. Air Force rather than face the Draft. It follows his four years when he volunteers to cross-train into the elite Pararescue. He endures the grueling training where only the best, and those with the desire to push themselves to the limit, become a PJ. Once he proudly wears the maroon beret, he is deployed to Vietnam and assigned to the 37^th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.

It is a story where he learns the horror of war and how he must adapt to stay alive and keep his oath, “These things I do, that others may live.”

Example B:

One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, follows a young man’s account of his four years serving in the Air Force. This book follows him and his best friend as they volunteer to cross-train in the elite career field of Pararescue. He spends 14 months of grueling training where only the best, and those with the desire to push themselves to the limit, become a PJ.

When he graduates and proudly wears the maroon beret, he knows they will deploy him to Vietnam. The book follows his 13 months in Vietnam were he learns the horror of war and how he must adapt to not only keep his sanity, also return alive. His story has several of the rescue missions he and his PJ brothers complete were not all the rescued return alive. When he faces personal bereavement, he must reach deep to restore his integrity and keep his oath, “These things I do, that others may live.”

Example C:

“That Others May Live” is the creed of the PJ (para-jumper). This is an account of one man’s story of what it meant to be PJ. The book follows him through months of arduous training where only the best, and those with the deep desire, become a PJ. It is this man’s narrative of his burning desire to prove his worthiness of wearing the renowned maroon beret.

One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, follows him during his deployment to Vietnam, where he’s forced to adapt to the horrors of war. His story, based on actual events, has several rescue missions he and his PJ brothers complete where not all the rescued return alive. With the 37^th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, he and his team, through their heroism, rescue a down pilot, and they’re awarded the Air Force’s Commendation Medal. Follow the story that brings purpose, validity, and honor to those with whom he proudly served.

Don’t be shy; leave me a comment.