Comments on Nathan Bransford, Author: Guest Blog Week: The Fine Art of Getting Blurbs

I'm a bit late to the party here, but I wanted...

2009-08-09T07:19:06.806-07:00

I'm a bit late to the party here, but I wanted to say thanks for the great post. As a result, I just sent requests for endorsements to Rachel Pollack and Mary K. Greer for the tarot workbook I've just completed and am seeking an agent for. I would never have even thought of doing so before reading your post!

This is something that I, admittedly, hadn't t...

2009-08-06T07:54:03.158-07:00

This is something that I, admittedly, hadn't thought about before. Thank you for opening my eyes. So many things I have yet to learn...

I am at the stage of trying to find people to prov...

2009-08-05T13:06:28.746-07:00

I am at the stage of trying to find people to provide "blurbs" so your information was VERY helpful.
Thanks again,
Christi Corbett

I got my first blurb today! Paul Torday, author of...

2009-08-05T10:48:01.060-07:00

I got my first blurb today! Paul Torday, author of the rather wonderful 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' sent my publisher a gorgeous blurb. I'm so excited, as I'm a huge fan of his books.

Of course, Lauren, I sent him a thank you straight away.

Great post! I especially like the word "blurb...

2009-08-05T10:43:08.037-07:00

Great post! I especially like the word "blurbee."

Erin, it's the writer, not the illustrator, th...

2009-08-05T09:03:42.383-07:00

Erin, it's the writer, not the illustrator, that would typically seek out the blurb, although you could certainly ask your writing partner what she/he thinks of asking the person you have in mind. That said, the youngest age group I've ever thought about obtaining blurbs for is my YA work, meaning I've never thought about it for middle grade or The Sisters 8 series for young readers, which I co-write with my husband and daughter. Hope this helps!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and wis...

2009-08-05T08:43:37.691-07:00

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and wisdom with us! That was a part of the publishing business that felt like a black hole to me, and you've shed some serious light on it. Thanks!

Many thanks for your reply, Lauren!

2009-08-05T08:34:11.249-07:00

Many thanks for your reply, Lauren!

Wow, what great information. And I learned a lot b...

2009-08-05T08:06:52.983-07:00

Wow, what great information. And I learned a lot by reading others comments. Thanks, Lauren and Nathan.

I have a pretty specific question about blurbs, ma...

2009-08-05T08:06:42.860-07:00

I have a pretty specific question about blurbs, maybe someone here can give me an opinion. I'm a children's book illustrator, and I've worked with a much more well known children's book writer/illustrator through a previous job. He's done 20+ books and 2 have been made into movies. I'm pretty certain he'd blurb the book I'm working on if I asked him. Am I, as the illustrator and not the writer, in a position to ask for a blurb? Or would this be impolite to my writer? Do children's books even need blurbs, given the audience? Any suggestions would be great! Thanks.

Donna Hole, On that last WV (and this one)... Ye...

2009-08-05T07:56:33.721-07:00

Donna Hole,

On that last WV (and this one)...

Yeah, I got nuthin.

Thanks for this informative post Lauren. I ghostw...

2009-08-05T07:14:16.428-07:00

Thanks for this informative post Lauren. I ghostwrite nonfiction books and, as the ghostwriter, have never contacted authors or experts to obtain the all-important blurbs. This information will be a great help for me in guiding my clients.

An excellent post, although I'm constantly sur...

2009-08-05T06:59:47.356-07:00

An excellent post, although I'm constantly surprised that people need to be reminded to show basic civility. I would also suggest an additional technique: the pre-existing relationship.

I discovered Tanya Huff's work in my library, and I started writing to her to enthuse about her books. I figured I wanted that sort of thing from my readers (to be)(if any), so it would be a good idea to do so myself. When my first novel was coming out, I asked her if she would be interested, and she ultimately said yes, because she's a wonderful person and you all should read her books. The blurb I got was just stunning, comparing my book to ancient mythologies I'd never even heard of at the time of writing. If you're an aspiring writer and you have role-models, let them know now. Not only will they love to hear how great you think they are, but it makes asking for a blurb later more natural and personal.

Richmond, to answer the question of how I read so ...

2009-08-05T06:56:07.022-07:00

Richmond, to answer the question of how I read so fast: well, let's just say that would involve yet another blog post. ;)

Anonymous 6:31p.m., I don't know if I'd call it rude to ask a writer you don't know to read an unagented ms, but if it's a writer you have absolutely no connection with, it is presumptuous. Imagine that you wanted to be a lawyer or somesuch and you contacted a lawyer you had absolutely no connection with and asked, "Could you give me ten hours of your time for free to show me the ropes?" So can you do this with a writer? Well, yeah. Just don't be surprised or offended if most writers say no. Of course if what you're really looking for is a blurb and you send a kickass letter, someone may say yes. Hope this helps!

Winter, keep working on that 7yo!

Another awesome guest post - thanks Nathan! And t...

2009-08-05T06:55:11.289-07:00

Another awesome guest post - thanks Nathan!

And thank you Lauren for opening a window into another room in the pubbing world.

I see a lot of folks saying they hope to get to the point where they need to seek blurbs.

I've been taking some little babysteps toward that end and here's hoping I get to take advantage of them.

At a recent conference I met a couple of authors whose work I like. I write in their genre and they have the type of career I aspire to - in other words, someone I would approach for a blurb.

I bought their books, got autographs, attended their conference sessions, and made sure I got seats at their meal table more than once. After returning home, I sought out their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and signed up as a follower. I've written and posted positive, but not gushing, reviews on their works for Amazon, LibraryThing, etc.

Neither is a blockbuster, but both have solid track records in publishing. I am hoping that when the time comes and I 'make the ask', my actions will trigger a positive connection and response.

I also agree with Rick, The Thin Pink Line sounds like a hoot and will go on my TBR list.

Thanks again and Happy Blurbing!

Very helpful. Thank you. I knew nothing about ho...

2009-08-05T06:30:34.112-07:00

Very helpful. Thank you.

I knew nothing about how to go about this. You lowered the intimidation factor for me.

Your novel sounds good as well. Fake preggos. Probably less morning sickness:)

Thanks so much for the info. I didn't know a w...

2009-08-05T05:28:41.514-07:00

Thanks so much for the info. I didn't know a whole lot of this, but there is one thing I did know - in fact it's common sense. Use manners. I can't believe people were so rude, and as for getting snippy - a big 'no, no'.

Stephanie Faris - I am not sure if you'll see this, but I tried to comment on your blog, but it just wouldn't work . If I can't get it to work, please take this as my most humble apology.

Book Maven - I'm with you. I am in Australia and we call blurbs the little speil on the back or inside front cover. We also drive on the correct side of the road ;P

Thanks for a LOT of info on a topic I hadn't r...

2009-08-04T22:37:24.231-07:00

Thanks for a LOT of info on a topic I hadn't really considered yet. Also, I can't wait until my 7yr. old gets the 'good manners will get you far' approach to life. It drives me crazy that one would need to point this out to adults.

It’s late. I hope that I am not too late to comme...

2009-08-04T18:31:03.085-07:00

It’s late. I hope that I am not too late to comment and then ask a "quick" question.

Thank you for clarifying blurbs. I'm so new to the publishing process that I've never even heard of blurbs.

Since you broached the subject, I was wondering if I could ask you -

How do published authors feel about being asked to provide an un-agented author a blurb? Would it be rude to ask an author to read a manuscript?

If it’s even done, how would a writer know if they should or shouldn't approach a published author?

Don't worry, this is a rhetorical scenario. I won't be submitting my manuscript to all of the authors you've listed ;)

I'm just asking about the appropriate protocols.

Again, thank you for taking the time to help new writers learn.

Why yes, Bane; I'd love to read/blurb your nov...

2009-08-04T18:03:27.320-07:00

Why yes, Bane; I'd love to read/blurb your novel!

Oh, wait, you wanted someone published, with credentials behind their name. Ah, so sorry. But hey, I make a great beta reader, though the last novel I critiqued, he isn't speaking to me right now . . .
............dhole

WV: discom: Discom to me as I was reading all these posts . . .

365 books a year? You are my heroine. I can barely...

2009-08-04T18:03:15.549-07:00

365 books a year? You are my heroine. I can barely read 1 a week. I love reading, but, wow. How do you read so fast?

Oh no she DIDN'T send back a snippy note after...

2009-08-04T17:49:46.350-07:00

Oh no she DIDN'T send back a snippy note after you blurbed her book! Un-freaking-believable! A little politeness goes a long way, doesn't it...

I don't buy books based on their blurbs either...

2009-08-04T17:47:06.279-07:00

I don't buy books based on their blurbs either. I always thought the "famous author" that wrote the encouraging epitaph was paid for his opinion. One of the reasons behind this arguable opinion is that I've read a couple books that had excellent author reviews and the book was - shall we say less that satisfying and not even close to the expert author's judgement of what is quality work.

Thanks for the post about how blurbs really work, but at least I am better informed now.

............dhole

And Thermocline: where's your word verif? Did you get a dud, like mine: perichea. What do you do with that?!?

Thanks, Lauren, for the link! I appreciate your ex...

2009-08-04T17:41:40.067-07:00

Thanks, Lauren, for the link! I appreciate your expertise.

Tricia, the answer is: it varies. Most people wait...

2009-08-04T17:18:31.523-07:00

Tricia, the answer is: it varies. Most people wait until the book's sold to a publisher and has a pub date before soliciting blurbs; some, already agented but unsold, get blurbs for the agent to use as part of the submission package; and some even do solicit blurbs to use while querying agents. It can be difficult to get some authors to blurb unsold/unagented submissions because they're concerned they'll be accused by a stranger later on of stealing their stuff. So you need to decide which path works best for you.

Nick Earls! Ooh, look, "the Aussie Nick Hornsby" is in the house! I trust you are still doing good works Down Under.

Ann, BookMaven absolutely made good points about UK etiquette. I hope no one thinks I was disparaging her by accusing her of wrong-sided driving!

And thanks again, EVERYBODY, for all the kind words. I hope that even though I didn't have time to address every commenter unless they had a question, I appreciated ALL the comments. It's my feeling that all you regular readers of Nathan's blog increase your chances of going farther than those who don't because Nathan is a constantly shiny presence in the publishing world, providing fabulous wisdom and insight.