I appreciate all the information you pass along. There's so much to keep track of and to understand, and the writing world keeps changing. Thank you. Question: Are you going to StokerCon this year?
It’s suuuuuper hard to ask for blurbs. In non fiction it’s definitely an expectation. I even wrote a whole post about it if you’re interested in reading that side of things. I offer a template too for those that need a place to begin
As a poet, I think blurbs are different asks. At least for my debut, I knew who to ask. People I workshopped poems with, people who have supported me at readings, etc. If I finish my novel, that will be the harder ask, as I really know few novelists and no one has seen this manuscript yet.
Ah, hadn't thought of it from the poet's perspective. But a lot of what you said applies to debut novelists: make sure you develop a network of writers, it'll make the day you need to ask for blurb easier.
I think most poets spend more time with other poets than novelists do. But I could be wrong. Poets are often sharing work with their writing groups and offering different perspectives. Those relationships already make it easier for blurbs, esp. if the poets being asked have already seen the development of poems in the collection.
Blurbs really mean nothing to readers (at least this one). Been burned too many times with author blurbs (& SM recommends) that seem to be done only for kin or friends or publisher/agent “fam”… Stephen King and David Morrell come to mind right off the bat. And some blurbs are so generic that it feels like authors don’t even read the material that they blurb, sort of like those review shops that hail everything as twist and turny, rollercoaster rides, high octane, etc etc. Collect the blurb fee for leveraging the blurber author’s name and brand and move on. Jack Carr comes to mind. They feel like LinkedIn recommendations when you know both the recommender and recommendee, have worked with them and the recommendation doesn’t reflect the person or their work at all. Making the synopsis sparkle is more important, imho.
I appreciate this! I was terribly shy and only reached out to people I knew well for my first book, and I wish I would have been able to find more advice on blurb requests at that time.
Indie author by choice here. I've had two books blurbed by fairly well-known authors in their space, one was also a subject matter expert, and I have other books with no blurbs. I don't see much difference in sales I can attribute to the blurbs. I write in series, so what I do see is Book 1 sells better than 2, 3, etc. Which is pretty typical.
I'm hoping people don't think this is an invite to ask me :-) because I'm closed to blurb requests right now. I talk to non-fiction writers, experts in their fields, and they are aghast at how almost nothing moves the needle for them. I think it's all incremental, trying to do everything you possibly can and some things resonate with a few readers (blurbs), some resonate with others (the cover, say). Nervewracking.
Ah blurbs ... the anguish! I decided to forgo them for the upcoming release of our second (co-written) retro-noir. It's #2 in the series and decided to put readers' comments on #1 where the praise page usually goes. We'll see how that goes. My feeling is that it won't make one crumb of difference. I rather have fellow writers read and critique the manuscript than ask them to blurb. Then I can thank them in the acknowledgments and send them the final book. I believe this is a lot more meaningful. For the next book in my PI series (due in the fall), I'm on the fence: ask for blurbs or not? I received fantastic ones before ... yet, did they move the needle? I think not.
Having a few pages of praise for earlier books in the series in the front of the new book is a smart idea. I think blurbs do help for sales matter--putting them on your Amazon page--for readers on the fence, or on printed copies for booksellers, to make nudge them toward handselling, but you're right. I don't think they move the needle in a big way.
HA! Love the footnote. And Maggie O'Farrell is one of my favorite "can't miss any book by her" writers. Thrilled to know she has a new one coming out soon.
I appreciate all the information you pass along. There's so much to keep track of and to understand, and the writing world keeps changing. Thank you. Question: Are you going to StokerCon this year?
Thank you for the kind words. It's from being an analyst, I guess--can't help noticing things, can't help wanting to share those thoughts.
I am! Come find me. I have no idea what I'm doing yet.
It’s suuuuuper hard to ask for blurbs. In non fiction it’s definitely an expectation. I even wrote a whole post about it if you’re interested in reading that side of things. I offer a template too for those that need a place to begin
And here's the link https://notsosecretagent.substack.com/p/blurb-your-enthusiasm
Oh wow, thanks for grabbing it and sharing here!
Thank YOU
As a poet, I think blurbs are different asks. At least for my debut, I knew who to ask. People I workshopped poems with, people who have supported me at readings, etc. If I finish my novel, that will be the harder ask, as I really know few novelists and no one has seen this manuscript yet.
Ah, hadn't thought of it from the poet's perspective. But a lot of what you said applies to debut novelists: make sure you develop a network of writers, it'll make the day you need to ask for blurb easier.
I think most poets spend more time with other poets than novelists do. But I could be wrong. Poets are often sharing work with their writing groups and offering different perspectives. Those relationships already make it easier for blurbs, esp. if the poets being asked have already seen the development of poems in the collection.
Blurbs really mean nothing to readers (at least this one). Been burned too many times with author blurbs (& SM recommends) that seem to be done only for kin or friends or publisher/agent “fam”… Stephen King and David Morrell come to mind right off the bat. And some blurbs are so generic that it feels like authors don’t even read the material that they blurb, sort of like those review shops that hail everything as twist and turny, rollercoaster rides, high octane, etc etc. Collect the blurb fee for leveraging the blurber author’s name and brand and move on. Jack Carr comes to mind. They feel like LinkedIn recommendations when you know both the recommender and recommendee, have worked with them and the recommendation doesn’t reflect the person or their work at all. Making the synopsis sparkle is more important, imho.
I can’t argue with this… except the blurb fee part. Never heard of anyone asking for money in exchange for a blurb.
I appreciate this! I was terribly shy and only reached out to people I knew well for my first book, and I wish I would have been able to find more advice on blurb requests at that time.
Yeah, it's hard to overcome that shyness. Better to try to get past it and ask the authors whose endorsement will best help your book--within reason.
So brave - you're going to get a ton of requests!
Indie author by choice here. I've had two books blurbed by fairly well-known authors in their space, one was also a subject matter expert, and I have other books with no blurbs. I don't see much difference in sales I can attribute to the blurbs. I write in series, so what I do see is Book 1 sells better than 2, 3, etc. Which is pretty typical.
Always enjoy the column - Cheers
I'm hoping people don't think this is an invite to ask me :-) because I'm closed to blurb requests right now. I talk to non-fiction writers, experts in their fields, and they are aghast at how almost nothing moves the needle for them. I think it's all incremental, trying to do everything you possibly can and some things resonate with a few readers (blurbs), some resonate with others (the cover, say). Nervewracking.
Ah blurbs ... the anguish! I decided to forgo them for the upcoming release of our second (co-written) retro-noir. It's #2 in the series and decided to put readers' comments on #1 where the praise page usually goes. We'll see how that goes. My feeling is that it won't make one crumb of difference. I rather have fellow writers read and critique the manuscript than ask them to blurb. Then I can thank them in the acknowledgments and send them the final book. I believe this is a lot more meaningful. For the next book in my PI series (due in the fall), I'm on the fence: ask for blurbs or not? I received fantastic ones before ... yet, did they move the needle? I think not.
Having a few pages of praise for earlier books in the series in the front of the new book is a smart idea. I think blurbs do help for sales matter--putting them on your Amazon page--for readers on the fence, or on printed copies for booksellers, to make nudge them toward handselling, but you're right. I don't think they move the needle in a big way.
HA! Love the footnote. And Maggie O'Farrell is one of my favorite "can't miss any book by her" writers. Thrilled to know she has a new one coming out soon.
As a reader I will choose a book based on what a favorite author blurbs about it.