As a reader, I rarely pay attention to blurbs! The only exception is if I find myself at the bookstore, admiring a book I've never come across before. Then I might take a look at the blurbs.
As an aspiring author, I think it'd be good to make blurbs optional, and let authors and agents choose whether they want to ask for them or not.
I think this is an important point. As an unknown author, blurbs--particularly from Substack writers--have helped provide an inkling into what I'm all about in a concise sentence written by a respected person connected to the literary community.
I’ve never bought a book because of a blurb. I can see their importance, but it seems daunting to ask for blurbs. What if you’re new to the industry and don’t know any well-established authors whom you could ask?
As a writer, getting blurbs was low-key one of my favorite parts of the whole process. People I admire saying the absolute nicest things about my book! I still look back on them fondly.
IDK how many books they move, but I'm in a "can't hurt!" kind of outlook. We get to feel good about ourselves; readers get a bit more information for their decision.
Also, it's very helpful from an SEO standpoint - once my website has nice words hyperlinked to Person X, I think Google approves.
Thanks for the wisdom here. Here's my take on blurbs as an indie author with my own imprint: I sent The Requisition to various writers who I respected and who I also thought would be actively interested in reading my work, and I'm so very thankful for the blurbs I received in response. I didn't, however, ask them for a blurb at first; I sent them the book as an act of faith that it would resonate with them, and only after they'd emailed me saying they'd read it did I inquire about using some of their words for a blurb.
Otherwise, getting blurbs from "names" reminds me of those letters of recommendation that prospective college kids get from wealthy / influential people who "recommend" a kid they've never met. I think a good blurb remains a good blurb, and can reveal the soul of a book, but the blurb has to beautiful in and of itself, not simply an endorsement from a supposed celebrity, which is just nepotism.
I never buy a book because of the blurbs and rarely even pay any attention to them. In fact, while I can understand their function from a marketing standpoint, I actually have a very strong disliking to seeing blurbs on book covers. Doesn't bother me a bit if they're in the description of an online listing, but I can't stand them on a cover as I find them to be distracting and kinda ugly (at least if they're on the front cover; sorry, but I like to see the cover art unblemished by blurbs). I'm interested in the cover art, the title, the author, and the synopsis and I've seen too many books that filled the back cover with just their bio and so many blurbs that they didn't even have the synopsis. That's an automatic hard-pass for me unless it's an author I already know I like. Otherwise, if I can't read what your book is about then I'm not buying it no matter what some other author says about it. Another reason I don't like blurbs is that I, frankly, don't trust them. I find myself questioning how genuine they really are and that taints my view of the book. So, yeah, as a reader I'd be happy to see books without blurbs.
The thought of having to solicit blurbs makes my knees shake! And I suppose if I were a famous author, being asked to give one would elicit similar reactions. What if I were to say yes and then hate the book?? My predisposition towards politeness would send me into an avoidance tizzy for months.
Having said all that....I don't buy a book based on blurbs from other authors...BUT...after I've purchased a book, I do read them, and if they are from an author whose work I admire, they carry some weight....
As for your blurb from Ethan, congratulations! As you said, what a lovely and kind thing for Ethan to have done--invest his time in reading your work and then following that with what was clearly a heartfelt and sincere "blurb."
As for other applications of blurbs--I have often asked people I coach (primarily women entrepreneurs) to write a blurb about themselves--or their business--as if it were appearing on the back of a book. i.e. What are the couple sentences that best describe who you are and what you stand for? It's a fun exercise that helps improve pitch decks...(Or at least I think it's fun. :)
I always read the blurbs, but I don't feel like they sway me one way or the other. I just think, "Wow! How nice that they read this person's book!" I love how the book community raises each other up. But I tend to agree with the Simon & Schuster guy -- there is already so very many things authors are expected to do themselves nowadays that this seems like just one more thing to add to the list.
It’s a tough question. To me, it’s not a yes or a no. It’s just a sometimes. I think it depends on the situation, the book, and the authors. Honestly, it can be a great thing, but there are drawbacks. So no, I don’t have a solid answer lol. Great piece!
As a reader, I rarely pay attention to blurbs! The only exception is if I find myself at the bookstore, admiring a book I've never come across before. Then I might take a look at the blurbs.
As an aspiring author, I think it'd be good to make blurbs optional, and let authors and agents choose whether they want to ask for them or not.
I think this is an important point. As an unknown author, blurbs--particularly from Substack writers--have helped provide an inkling into what I'm all about in a concise sentence written by a respected person connected to the literary community.
Good point! Social proof for new authors is never a bad thing.
I’ve never bought a book because of a blurb. I can see their importance, but it seems daunting to ask for blurbs. What if you’re new to the industry and don’t know any well-established authors whom you could ask?
As a writer, getting blurbs was low-key one of my favorite parts of the whole process. People I admire saying the absolute nicest things about my book! I still look back on them fondly.
IDK how many books they move, but I'm in a "can't hurt!" kind of outlook. We get to feel good about ourselves; readers get a bit more information for their decision.
Also, it's very helpful from an SEO standpoint - once my website has nice words hyperlinked to Person X, I think Google approves.
Thanks for the wisdom here. Here's my take on blurbs as an indie author with my own imprint: I sent The Requisition to various writers who I respected and who I also thought would be actively interested in reading my work, and I'm so very thankful for the blurbs I received in response. I didn't, however, ask them for a blurb at first; I sent them the book as an act of faith that it would resonate with them, and only after they'd emailed me saying they'd read it did I inquire about using some of their words for a blurb.
Otherwise, getting blurbs from "names" reminds me of those letters of recommendation that prospective college kids get from wealthy / influential people who "recommend" a kid they've never met. I think a good blurb remains a good blurb, and can reveal the soul of a book, but the blurb has to beautiful in and of itself, not simply an endorsement from a supposed celebrity, which is just nepotism.
Blurbs have never impacted my choice to buy or read a book to be honest, I usually don't pay any attention to them.
I never buy a book because of the blurbs and rarely even pay any attention to them. In fact, while I can understand their function from a marketing standpoint, I actually have a very strong disliking to seeing blurbs on book covers. Doesn't bother me a bit if they're in the description of an online listing, but I can't stand them on a cover as I find them to be distracting and kinda ugly (at least if they're on the front cover; sorry, but I like to see the cover art unblemished by blurbs). I'm interested in the cover art, the title, the author, and the synopsis and I've seen too many books that filled the back cover with just their bio and so many blurbs that they didn't even have the synopsis. That's an automatic hard-pass for me unless it's an author I already know I like. Otherwise, if I can't read what your book is about then I'm not buying it no matter what some other author says about it. Another reason I don't like blurbs is that I, frankly, don't trust them. I find myself questioning how genuine they really are and that taints my view of the book. So, yeah, as a reader I'd be happy to see books without blurbs.
The thought of having to solicit blurbs makes my knees shake! And I suppose if I were a famous author, being asked to give one would elicit similar reactions. What if I were to say yes and then hate the book?? My predisposition towards politeness would send me into an avoidance tizzy for months.
Having said all that....I don't buy a book based on blurbs from other authors...BUT...after I've purchased a book, I do read them, and if they are from an author whose work I admire, they carry some weight....
As for your blurb from Ethan, congratulations! As you said, what a lovely and kind thing for Ethan to have done--invest his time in reading your work and then following that with what was clearly a heartfelt and sincere "blurb."
As for other applications of blurbs--I have often asked people I coach (primarily women entrepreneurs) to write a blurb about themselves--or their business--as if it were appearing on the back of a book. i.e. What are the couple sentences that best describe who you are and what you stand for? It's a fun exercise that helps improve pitch decks...(Or at least I think it's fun. :)
I always read the blurbs, but I don't feel like they sway me one way or the other. I just think, "Wow! How nice that they read this person's book!" I love how the book community raises each other up. But I tend to agree with the Simon & Schuster guy -- there is already so very many things authors are expected to do themselves nowadays that this seems like just one more thing to add to the list.
It’s a tough question. To me, it’s not a yes or a no. It’s just a sometimes. I think it depends on the situation, the book, and the authors. Honestly, it can be a great thing, but there are drawbacks. So no, I don’t have a solid answer lol. Great piece!