Back-cover copy has limitations that online copy does not. Back-cover copy includes a barcode, two blurbs, an author line and a publisher logo, and a box of a specific size at a specific type size. Unless you have 300 words to fill a 140-word void, you’re wasting your time.
To begin, we need the cover template. Then we write to the word count within a rhythm tolerant of being read standing up while someone waits.
The back needs to address the front. An isolated and breathless jacket copy tells a viewer that there was a lack of control, and as a result, they leave the book unaware of why they don’t want to buy it. We look at the cover, check the title and the blurbs and then align the copy, because they have already established an expectation for us.
Generated back-cover copy ignores the physical page. It arrives at whatever length the model felt like, in long paragraphs that break badly in a narrow column, with a closing question that lands under the barcode. Length is not a formatting detail here; length is the brief.
We begin with the cover proof. We then write to the number of characters allowed. We do this because we can edit deliberately with our text trimmed to the limit instead of beginning with a longer text. Text that is shortened from the first draft of copy has a different style. That style consists of less clauses, stronger verbs, and a line that is easier to read and follow.
This is different than reviewing a PDF on a screen. Line breaks look fine when zoomed out, but when printed at 9 point, they look completely horrible and a widow is sitting at the end of the second paragraph. Plus, one sentence that seemed to be a breeze to read turns out to be a dicey sentence to read and needs to be read twice. These fixes, on average, are one word changes each.
One rate, whatever the format: $10 per 100 words. You are paying for the writer’s time and judgement, so the price scales with the words rather than with a package tier.
| Typical back-cover copy | Words | Writing | Fee (1%) | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 500 | $50 | $0.50 | $50.50 |
| Standard | 1,000 | $100 | $1 | $101 |
| In-depth | 2,000 | $200 | $2 | $202 |
The writer receives 100% of the writing price. Our 1% fee is added on top of it, and 0.5% is donated to tree planting. Full pricing breakdown.
Yes. Send two or three pieces you like the sound of, or your style guide. Matching an established voice is ordinary work for a writer and close to impossible for a model that has never read your back catalogue.
Yes. Tell us the volume and cadence and we keep the same writer on the account so the voice stays consistent. The rate does not change with volume.
The cover proof or template, body type size, and character count targeting the space. If the design isn’t done, we will write to about 150 words and give a shorter cut to give the designer some flexibility.
Yes, it’s a short piece and it’s important you get this draft right as well. Here is the sample email asking for an endorsement. We include only the context an author needs to make a decision on your request and provide their endorsement. We don’t write the blurb as that should be provided by the person signing it.
Completely. Copyright transfers to you on delivery, with no attribution requirement and no licence back to us. Nothing written for you is resold, repurposed or republished.
Reviews from completed, paid orders in this category.
My novel took four years, and the back cover took three sentences and had me stumped for six weeks. The writer must have read the full manuscript (instead of the synopsis) which I know because the copy references a scene from chapter fourteen.
Chapter seven got me stuck for almost a year, and the suggested structure finally helped. Great outline, but the email with it was a two-sentence filler. I had to ask for a paragraph explaining the order of the chapters.
I had managed to write around 40 thousand words. Unfortunately those words didn’t provide any structure. When I received the feedback on this, it contained a merged chapter, one chapter completely removed (along with an explanation as to why) and the additional feedback stated that the chapter that had been removed was essentially doing the work of three chapters which I had already written. It was a bit painful to read, but correct.
We do not ask you to take the no-AI promise on trust. Each draft is run through these platforms and the reports are attached to your delivery email.
Originality.aiAI detection + plagiarism
GPTZeroAI detection
TurnitinAI detection + similarity
CopyleaksAI detection + plagiarism
Winston AIAI detection
ZeroGPTAI detection
SaplingAI detection
Content at ScaleAI detection
Send the brief, get a human draft back within 3 days. No account, no subscription, no AI.
$10 per 100 words · all of it to the writer · 0.5% to trees