Sunday Book Review – How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis by Bryan Cohen
How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis
Today’s book review is on a great little read I’ve had on my Kindle for awhile now, How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis by Bryan Cohen. Bryan is an author, podcaster and writing coach. For you authors who want to learn a couple of good tricks for writing a good blurb, I highly recommend this short but informational book.
Get this book on Amazon!
Blurb:
Struggling to find new readers? Learn how a compelling synopsis can make your book fly off the digital shelves!
Do you hate writing blurbs? Do you wish there was an easier way to summarize your novel and get more sales in the process? Author and copywriter Bryan Cohen’s book descriptions have hit both the Kindle Store’s Top 50 and the USA Today Bestseller list. Let him show you exactly how to craft the copy you need to hook new readers.
After writing hundreds of book descriptions for other authors and helping thousands with informative training, Bryan has learned what all the best book synopses have in common. Through easy-to-follow tips and helpful examples in a variety of genres, How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis gives you the tools you need to get a steady stream of online book browsers to click the Buy button every single day.
In this book, you’ll discover:
- How to simplify your plot to create a short, engaging synopsis
- Why using certain words can make customers fall in love with your story
- How to shed unnecessary subplots and make writing your blurb a joy instead of a chore
- The step-by-step system for writing and editing your synopsis for rhythm, momentum, and clarity
- Why you need a synopsis cliffhanger, and much, much more!
Finally, you no longer have to take on the challenge of copywriting alone. With a more intriguing synopsis in place, all your future promotions, ads, and marketing campaigns can perform significantly better. You want more readers to buy your books, and Bryan’s system is a great way to make it a reality.
If you like detailed writing guides, plenty of examples, and a touch of humor, then you’ll love Bryan Cohen’s look behind the scenes at how he creates copy that sells.
My 5 Star Review
A Short Little Book that Packs a Punch!
This book isn’t very long, but it’s succinct at explaining, with good examples, on how to write what many authors tend to struggle with, the blurb, for back cover of paperback and Amazon ebook descriptions.
Cohen simplifies the process for us using his own experience of being a copywriter. But blurb writing is not copywriting as he informs us. There’s a basic formula for extracting the best parts of a book for the synopsis, and it works no matter the genre and Cohen is sharing that with us.
Sometimes it’s difficult to look at our own book and figure out how to condense it into a mere 300-500 word description to hook our readers into wanting to read more. So if you’re an author struggling with the often dreaded synopsis writing, this book is for you.
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dgkaye
D.G. Kaye is a nonfiction/memoir writer, who writes from her own life experiences and self-medicates with a daily dose of humor.
61 Comments
Jacqui Murray
Very timely. I’m struggling with this for my upcoming book. I’ll go check it out.
Jacqui Murray
Looks good. I just bought it. I’m hoping he can inspire brilliance!
dgkaye
Wonderful Jacqui. I love that the book is laid out in simple terms. The formula makes sense! Let me know what you think. 🙂
Sue Dreamwalker
This book sounds like it has some expert advice and he obviously knows his stuff.. Now you may or may not guess Debby But I am in the process of sorting out a few poems along with a few thoughts here and there to compile in a book you and others are often telling me to put together..
I have a long LONG way to go as yet.. Just sorting through years of poems and putting them into categories, as many were written to help me through my dark days..
So in the future I may well be tapping upon your own expert Knowledge Debby for any writers advice as to how best to get it started and with whom..
Sending much love your way and warm hugs for a peaceful Sunday xx <3
dgkaye
Oh Sue, I’m so happy to hear you’re contemplating a book! When you get there, I’ll be glad to help you out with questions as best I can. <3 xx
Sue Dreamwalker
Thank you Debby.. your a star. :star:
dgkaye
<3 Not really. :)
hilarymb
Hi Debbie – this sounds to be an excellent book to have on hand – I’ve noted it … thanks for letting us know about Bryan’s book – cheers Hilary
dgkaye
HI Hilary, I’m so glad you found it useful. 🙂 Cheers!
D. Wallace Peach
Thanks for the recommendation, Debby. Back blurbs are hard to write and this sounds quite helpful. 🙂
dgkaye
I thought many of us would find it helpful. I know it was for me. 🙂
John Maberry
If the book is exactly as you say above in your bullet points, it sounds a bit like wagging the dog. Writing a book to make the synopsis better, all the better to sell the book. Maybe I don’t get it but simplifying the plot and shedding unnecessary subplots to make the synopsis easier to write doesn’t make sense. Maybe I am misunderstanding–just simplifying and shedding for the blurb but not the book itself?
dgkaye
Yes. The book is titled ‘Synopsis’ but it’s all about blurb writing. Go figure! 🙂
Marje @ Kyrosmagica
I always struggle to write blurbs and synopsis. Thanks for this Debby. 🙂
dgkaye
I highly recommend it Marje. 🙂
Aquileana
This is definitely a great book. So useful.
Being able to summarize is not the easiest thing, when you have to avoid spoilers or telling too much but at the same time you´ll need to say it well enough so as to catch eventual future readers. ((Synopsis equals blurb, I am guessing!?)). Sending love dear Debby! 😀
dgkaye
Thanks Aq. Yes, in the case of this book, he refers to the synopsis as the blurb and product description. 🙂 xx Hugs back to you my friend. <3
Terri Webster Schrandt
Great review, Deb! Bryan has some great books! I might even have this one 🙂
dgkaye
Awesome Terri. Yes, his books are great help for self published writers. 🙂 x
lisa thomson-The Great Escape...
I love writing book blurbs. I’m weird that way. That’s not to say I couldn’t use some expert help though. I often think movie and tv. movie blurbs make or break whether I’m going to tune in. Same with books, yes? Thanks for this recommendation, Deb. I’m now tackling that very thing for my first fiction.
dgkaye
That’s fabulous Lis. I don’t mind blurb writing either. But it is challenging because yes, we want to get the pertinent points and gain a readers interest with just a short paragraph or two, and that is a real art. No matter the book, there is a formula for a book, fiction or not, and Bryan’s book simplifies the process. Great guide for Indies. 🙂 x
Adele Marie
Thank you, Debby, for this post. It couldn’t have come at a more important time for me. I have to do the whole thing as the last challenge of the Great Horror Writer competition. xxx
dgkaye
Wow Adele, good luck with that. I think this book will be a great help! 🙂 xx
Adele Marie
<3
allan hudson
Needed this. Thanks Debby for sharing.
dgkaye
Great Allan! I think most writers would find this useful. 🙂
Annika Perry
Debby, thank you so much for this suggestion and your excellent review – this is a book that will definitely come in handy and I’m making a note of it for future reference. ?
dgkaye
You are welcome Annika. I think it’s a great guide book for every writer. 🙂 x
olganm
Thanks, Debby. This is always a tricky process. I’ve read great descriptions or blurbs for books that I didn’t enjoy that much and the opposite is also true (although we all feel less inclined to read a book if the description doesn’t grab us).
dgkaye
Yes, it seems to be one of the least favorite tasks for many writers, writing the blurb. And as you say, you’ve read good blurbs but didn’t necessarily love the book, obviously means the writers did a great job on the blurb to attract you. 🙂
Carol Balawyder
This sounds like a great book, Debby. Simple, succinct and short. My kind of book! 🙂
dgkaye
It really is Carol. To the point and full of good advice. I think I want to order it in paperback now as a handy guide I don’t have to click around to look for passages in. 🙂 xx
Carol Balawyder
I’ve been reading it while sitting around the pool. Lots of neat easy to apply advice. 🙂
dgkaye
Yes, it’s very simple. 🙂 Are you on vacation? 🙂
Carol Balawyder
No…I moved into a condo that has a pool…very much appreciated!
dgkaye
OH how lovely Carol. Enjoy! <3
Christy B
The “blurb” is one of the toughest things for sure! It sounds like a straight-forward book that you got a lot out of and nice to know it’s recommended, Debby 🙂
dgkaye
It is an author’s friend Christy. And in simple terms. 🙂 xx
roughwighting
Synopsis writing is an extremely difficult necessity- thanks for informing us about this book!
dgkaye
My pleasure Pam. It seems to be many an author’s Achille’s Heel. 🙂 xx
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
Sounds like an excellent book to keep on your desk for easy reference Debby.. hugs xxx
dgkaye
It is Sal. Bryan comes highly recommended. Now I just have to get myself a paperback version because I don’t enjoy clicking around for reference in my Kindle. 🙂 <3
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
I agree and most of my reference books are in a bookcase by the side of my desk.. lots of yellow post-its sticking up in a lot of them… hugs ♥
dgkaye
OMG Sal, sounds exactly like mine. Why am I surprised! 🙂 🙂 xoxo
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
Well at least you would feel right at home here. ♥♥
dgkaye
<3 <3
Kate Johnston
I have heard Cohen guest-speak on other podcasts that I listen to. He does sound like he knows what he’s talking about. Maybe I’ll check it out–I’m awful at writing blurbs for my books! 🙂
dgkaye
Lol Kate, we are not alone. Blurb writing is a challenge for so many writers. I was recommended this book long ago and am going to apply his formulas to my newest book. Bryan has a great reputation in the Indie world. 🙂
L. T. Garvin, Author
Excellent, Debby! I’ve struggled over this very thing before. I’m going to make a note of this one too. Thanks for sharing, happy writing, my friend!
dgkaye
Glad you’ve found it useful Lana. I’m sure many of us would find this book helpful. 🙂 x
Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC
I’m not at this point yet, but it’s good to know there is help out there when the day comes. Thanks Deb!
xx,
mgh
dgkaye
Oh yes, and then, you always know how to find me. 🙂 xx
Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC
Be afraid . . . be very afraid. 🙂
xx,
mgh
robbiesinspiration
This is very useful information, Debby. Writing the blurb for children’s books isn’t very difficult but adult novels will definitely be more challenging.
dgkaye
For sure Robbie. But I think Bryan’s formula would work for all genres. 🙂
Adam Henig
Good selection. I enjoyed reading this one too.
dgkaye
Thanks Adam. A great help for writers. 🙂
marianbeaman
Thank you for once again sharing the tricks of the trade. I have written a synopsis for my memoir, but now the book is shaping into a different narrative arc, so I may need a re-write – with help from this How-to manual. Great tips!
dgkaye
Hi Marian. You are so right. Once the story arc deviates a blurb is going to have to change hence, I never write my blurb until my MS is in my editor’s hands. This gives me lots of time to write and re-write it while I’m not working on the book. But this book should prove helpful.
And glad to see you are here, safe and sound. Did you get damage from H. Irma?
Liesbet
Thanks for this review, Debby. It sounds like any writer would benefit from Cohen’s instructional book. You know, I’d rather read a short book that gets to the point, than reading one that is three times as long, because the author keeps going on about things that can be explained or shared in two sentences…
dgkaye
Exactly my sentiment Liesbet. That’s why I’m recommending this book – short, concise and to the point. A great little guide for all writers. 🙂