Blurbity Blurb Blurbage

I've talked about blurbs before. Today I thought I'd go a little more into detail on suggestions for how to approach authors to get them.  (These suggestions mainly apply to debut authors.)

I'm fortunate in that my editor and I draft a list of potential authors we admire and think write similar things/have a similar audience demographic, and then she does most of the legwork in contacting their editors/agents and trying to get the book into their hands.  However, if I know the author personally, I'll usually contact them myself.  But many editors are not doing anything blurb-wise, leaving it to the authors to try and secure quotes from other authors.

It's...an awkward thing to have to do.

(No, seriously, it's like if Awkward and Uncomfortable got married and had triplets and then you had to babysit those triplets, and just before your crush knocked on the door to say hi and ask if maybe you wanted to hang out sometime, the triplets vomited all over you and you were covered in Triple Awkward Uncomfortable Vomit and you worried that, even though your crush liked you before, he or she would now be disgusted every time you saw each other and you'd just ruined any potential relationship and you are never going to get the smell out of your hair.)

(Like that.  But with even more vomit.)

So, here is my handily organized advice for How To Win Blurbs and Not Insult Authors.  Every author has their specific guidelines (mine are in my FAQs, thanks for frequently asking that question) and researching beforehand is always recommended.  Otherwise, on to the generals:


A) Authors who are HUGE and established in your genre almost never blurb anyone they aren't already friends with. This isn't because they are cliquey; it's just because they get so many requests they honestly don't have time. They are reading their friends' stuff anyway, thus, their friends get blurbs and few others do. It never hurts to ask, but odds are VERY strong you will get an "is not accepting review requests" response from any BIG name author with several books under their belt. I have seen a lot of times where these authors get the books through other means and end up loving them and talking about them online, which really is as good as a blurb (and can turn into blurbs for future books). So don't hesitate to try and get your book to them.  (And you'll still be surprised sometimes by which huge, awesome, holy crap authors DO accept books for review.  It never hurts ask.)  (Unless you are asking while standing barefoot on a hot stove, in which case, IDIOT GET OFF THE STOVE BEFORE YOU ASK and why aren't you wearing hot pads on your feet if you're going to try and stove dance??)

B) However, authors who are bestsellers/successful in your genre but only have one or two books out are much, much more likely to agree to take a review copy, simply because while they get a lot of requests, they are not yet inundated, and they are much closer to being where you are and can remember what it felt like to be a debut author and how important those blurbs were. Closer to the situation = more sympathy. Trust me when I say we are not as "cool" as you think we think we are.

C) When emailing your thoughtful and typo-free request, don't forget to tell the author why you admire their writing. I once got a blurb request and it said, "I think my book would be a great fit for your audience and a blurb from you would really help me." And then the author went on to summarize his/her book and offer me a copy. I honestly don't think he/she has read my book. He/she just sees the title that is attached to my name and wants my name on his/her book to try and get my audience. That's...kind of offensive. If that author had said, "I loved Paranormalcy and really admired [insert very specific, non-vague thing more related to my writing/story-crafting than just 'I loved Evie and Lend's relationship! So cute!' (although I don't mind hearing that, either)]," and THEN segued into a request, I'd be much more sympathetic and willing to say sure, send it my way. (And, uh, those specific things can totally be faked if you read a few reviews. Not that I'm advocating deception, but, well, I guess I kind of am if you haven't had time to read their book yet. As long as you promise you'll read their book very, very soon, especially if they agree to a review copy of your book.)

D) We are all in the same business. Is it awkward to receive a manuscript from someone I know and consider a friend online and then not offer a blurb? Yeah, it kind of is. But I trust that we both get that this is a business, and that they know I still like them and support them.  Most authors try not to blurb more than a few books a year.  Some authors only blurb one book per season.  Often it's not a matter of the author not liking your book.  I like many books that I don't blurb.  I just can't put my name on every single thing I read or there's no longer any point.

E) When writing a request, include a deadline. (Not in a "Get it back to me by this date OR ELSE" but in a "My publisher wants to finalize the cover copy by [insert date here], and if you get a chance to read it I'd really appreciate hearing back from you by then," way.)  I almost missed out on a blurb from Lisa McMann because I didn't give her a deadline. I also almost chickened out on sending a follow-up email because I was mortified she'd say, "I read your book and I hated it, thanks anyway." (Which is ridiculous because she is a lovely, lovely person and one of the kindest writers in YA.) But I sent the email and was so glad because she had set it in her pile of books, and knowing that the deadline was coming she moved it to the top. We all get busy. Knowing dates helps us organize our time accordingly.

F) Don't feel bad about asking! If an author does not want to read your book, they will give you a reason why they are not taking books for review at this time, allowing you both a graceful out. If an author accepts a review copy but doesn't want to blurb it, they'll let you know that, too, in a very kind way. (And it doesn't doesn't doesn't mean they hate your book if they pass. I promise.) I like authors I don't have any connection with to go through my editor via their editor, but if I know an author enough to recognize their name and be able to match some sort of personality to it through social networking or whatever, I never mind getting a direct request. And, honestly, it's harder to pass on a direct request. Which is always a bonus for the person asking. And which I probably shouldn't admit. But requests from editors do carry a bit more gravitas. Publishing is a small industry and editors talk between houses; no one wants a bad reputation. Here's another thing I shouldn't admit that I think is common: Authors are more likely to say yes/be more kindly inclined toward requests that come from editors/authors within their own house. Is it nepotism? I don't know. I consider it more along the lines of Team Spirit. But again, just because a book comes to me from an editor at my own publisher doesn't mean I'm going to blurb it. You or your editor get your book into the author's hands. It's then up to your book to be awesome enough/connect with the author in such a way that she or he cannot possibly avoid blurbing it.

G) As in, Gee, Isn't Trying to Get Blurbs Miserable? Hope this is helpful. Also as in, G for Good Luck Oh My Gosh Our Jobs Can Be Painful Sometimes.