Readers generally notice book covers first. They usually take in the visual stimulus that comes from the graphic elements of the cover. But what happens after that? Readers need to know more about a book before picking it up. Even if the book is free to read, there has to be something that compels them to spend their time on it.
This is where your book’s description is paramount.
If you don’t have a description at all, how can readers know what your book is about? As such, a good book description can be the difference between readers picking up your book or simply passing on it. In this article, we are going to explore three reasons why your book’s description is absolutely essential.
It Communicates Enthusiasm
Book descriptions must communicate enthusiasm to the reader. Even if the subject matter is highly serious, its description must contain elements that make the reader excited about learning that topic. Please bear in mind that there will always be someone interested in your book’s topic. So, it’s essential that you communicate the enthusiasm with which you wrote the book. That way, reading your material will become a pleasant experience.
It Is a Reflection of Your Passion
There is a reason why you chose to write the book you did. So, it’s vital that you reflect on your passion in its description. Your book’s description is an extension of that love and passion you’re poured into producing it. All successful writers have the ability to transmit their love for the words they have written. Thus, making an effort to convey that in your book’s description will help you infect your readers with the same enthusiasm and passion that went into producing the content itself.
You Have Something to Tell the World
In essence, your book is all about something you want to tell the world. Whatever your message is, your book is the embodiment of the message you want to tell anyone who picks it up. So, your description should encapsulate that message. Readers should get the gist of what you want to tell them. However, they would need to read the entire book in order to get the full picture. This is why your description is meant to tease the reader in much the same way trailers tease moviegoers. A good film trailer tells the story but always leaves something out. That something is what viewers will discover as they watch the film.
So, the same goes for books. You need to give readers enough to entice them but not too much so as to give the entire story away. Ultimately, your description works in tandem with your cover to create an experience for readers even before they crack open the first page. By making your description an extension of your book, you’ll get readers on board more often than not.
