Writing a novel is hard. Writing a book description is even harder. Let’s take a look at an example and see what we can learn!
Before I write about Mr. Dawson’s book, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out to my writer-heavy readership that Mr. Dawson has an awful lot to teach us about our craft and how to market our work. If you haven’t already, do check out the Self-Publishing Show Podcast. You will also benefit from joining the SPF communities on and . Seriously: he does a lot of good work for fellow writers, and I like to think that I offer some small fraction of the help that he does.
Okay, that aside, let’s look at his actual work. Without having read a word, I am pleased that Mr. Dawson has adhered to the Rule of Threes. There are three sections in the book description. Splitting our work up this way is often a good idea because one…two…three just feels good to people in a number of ways. Remember Schoolhouse Rock? Three is a magic number!
There is also comforting symmetry in the bolded section headings. “Lost” creates tension in the reader…what will happen next? Then we have “found.” Okay, great. There’s some kind of resolution. But we know it’s not the end because “the search begins.” Not only do the bolded headings catch our eye, but they take us on a journey that also makes us want to go on the journey unspooled in the novel.
I love that Mr. Dawson introduces the two main characters and gives them motivation and and a goal. Beatrix wants to get her daughter back, and she’s a cool assassin. The reader can understand those things. Danny also wants to get a daughter back, but there are clear and formidable obstacles in his way. We’re already rooting for the two characters.
So the book’s conceit is pretty clear by the last paragraph of the description: Beatrix and Danny, different as they probably are, will team up to help each other achieve their goals. And Mr. Dawson ends on a question.
As you might expect from the author’s success and authority in the self-publishing community, the book description is clear and concise and a very clean example of what works when one is trying to convince a reader to purchase the book.
Something I might change: It’s hard to think of anything, but I think I was a little distracted by the name of the female protagonist. Beatrix Rose is a skilled assassin who wants her daughter back and to exact revenge. Beatrix Kiddo, protagonist of Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a skilled assassin who wants her daughter back and to exact revenge. Like I said, a small thing that probably wouldn’t occur to most people.
What would make me click “purchase?” Mr. Dawson’s reputation precedes him, so it is more useful to ignore that part of the purchasing decision; few of us have that kind of platform. Instead, I would click purchase primarily because the whole package is so professional. The book description is solid. The cover is solid. At the very least, it is worth downloading the free sample.
Check out the author’s web site and read his book!
