Describing your book

People do judge books by their covers and also make quick decisions about book purchases based on brief details. So, when you describe your book try to make the key points up front.

The same principle applies even at the planning stage – and for your own benefit.

Here are some suggested points to make when describing your book, including information that needs to go on the cover or just inside…

• What is the title? (Is it clear and engaging?)
• What is the sub-title? (Make sure it is a short descriptive phrase that adds useful information to the title.)
• What are the three key benefits the reader gets from reading your book? (What will they know or be able to do? How will they feel?)
• Who is the book for? (“If you are looking for …. this book is for you.” is one useful format you might try.)
• How should the reader use the book? (Is it for reference, to accompany something else of just a cover-to-cover read?)
• When should the reader use the book? (What does it prepare the reader for or help them with?)
• Why did you write the book?  (Presumably there was a need that you had in mind and cared about – so say what it was.)
• Where does the book fit? (Is it a companion to anything else?)

If all these points strike a chord with a prospective reader you probably have a sale.