Cover Copy
Cover copy is the persuasive text that appears on a book's front and back covers, including the book description, author biography, and promotional quotes (also called "blurbs"). This text is crucial for marketing books to both retailers and readers, as it's often the first thing people read when deciding whether to purchase a book. It includes the compelling description on the back cover or inside flap that summarizes the book's content and hooks potential readers. In publishing job descriptions, this term relates to writing, editing, or managing this important marketing content.
Examples in Resumes
Wrote and edited Cover Copy for over 200 fiction titles, resulting in 30% increase in pre-orders
Developed compelling Back Cover Copy and Jacket Copy for bestselling mystery series
Collaborated with marketing team to revise Cover Copy strategies across young adult imprint
Typical job title: "Copy Writers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Copy Writers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Online Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop cover copy guidelines for a new imprint?
Expected Answer: Should discuss creating style guides, understanding target audience, market research, analyzing successful competitors, and training team members on implementation.
Q: How do you measure the effectiveness of cover copy?
Expected Answer: Should mention tracking pre-orders, sales data, A/B testing online descriptions, reader feedback, and bookstore buyer responses to different copy approaches.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What elements do you consider when writing cover copy for different genres?
Expected Answer: Should explain how different genres require different approaches - romance focuses on emotional hooks, mystery on tension, non-fiction on benefits to reader.
Q: How do you handle disagreements between authors and marketing about cover copy?
Expected Answer: Should discuss diplomatic communication, balancing author vision with marketing needs, and using data to support decisions.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the essential elements of good cover copy?
Expected Answer: Should mention hook, brief plot summary or book overview, author credentials, target audience, and call to action.
Q: How do you research comparable titles when writing cover copy?
Expected Answer: Should explain looking at successful books in the same genre, analyzing their copy structure, and adapting effective techniques.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Writing basic book descriptions
- Following house style guides
- Proofreading and editing
- Basic marketing copy principles
Mid (2-5 years)
- Writing for multiple genres
- Author bio writing
- Adapting copy for different platforms
- Marketing copy strategy
Senior (5+ years)
- Development of copy guidelines
- Training junior writers
- Copy strategy development
- Cross-department collaboration
Red Flags to Watch For
- Poor writing samples or grammatical errors
- No knowledge of different genre conventions
- Inability to write concise, compelling copy
- Lack of understanding of book market
Related Terms
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