A question

[Christine Hammar]

Does the Cover Copy text have to follow the order of events in the story itself or can it be written as a kind of short synopsis of the story?

[Benjamin Sobieck]

What do you mean by "cover copy?"

[Jon Loomis]

Flap copy, maybe? If so, it really only has to set the stage: who's the victim, who's the hero, what's he/she up against. It should do so in dramatic terms, though. It's actually really hard to write well, for me, because it's so reductive and so blatantly promotional. My editor and/or her staff have done the lion's share of mine so far, although I've tweaked it here and there, given the opportunity.

[Christine Hammar]

By cover copy I mean the short text on the back cover of the book.

[B.R.Stateham]

Write it to entice the reader to dig in. Suggest. . . . but do not declare. Cater to the reader's natural curiosity. If it is a mystery. give'em a mystery.

[I. J. Parker]

Nothing to add to this. And yes, they are hard as hell to write because you need to praise yourself. Short of doing that, make the plot sound exciting but leave some mystery.

[Jon Loomis]

Maybe look at a few of the books you've got lying around to get a sense of what people do. You're basically trying to set the hook.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Establish the conflict of the novel. If a reader can't tell what needs to be resolved, they won't be curious to see how it all ends.

[John Desjarlais]

It's advertising. Make it a tease. Give just enough info about the premise and the stakes for the protagonist so the reader will open the book. Most buyers look at the cover, read the cover copy, and then read the first page or a random page near the middle. You'll probably use that cover copy a lot - in media releases, web site and blog, in social space postings, brochures - lots of places in the marketing campaign.

[Christine Hammar]

Thanks!
Your answers are much appreciated.

Yes, I've looked at some back covers and came up w 290 words for it.
But the question remains: does it have to be written in the same order as the story i.e. if there's a murder at the end of chapter one, do I start with the murder and go on to describe the MC, setting & circumstances, or do I start w the descriptinof the MC, setting a.s.o.?

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Not at all. I wouldn't go too much into background that isn't plot. Cut right to the chase.

[Jack Getze]

Start with the most interesting line you've got. Forget the order.

[Bob]

In most cases, the blurb on the back cover is created by the publisher's marketing team. They write to sell. We write to tell a story. They are much better at that sort of promotion than most authors.

If your talking about writing a cover letter or query letter, it takes a similar form (sell) but is targeted at the agent with the intent of having them ask to see more.

Smiles
Bob