The Blurb Issue
To Blurb or Not to Blurb
What’s Blurbs Got To Do With It?
Blurby Buzz At The Water Cooler
Things got shaking around the publishing industry’s water cooler when Simon & Schuster publisher, Sean Manning, said they’d stop requiring authors to get blurbs for their books.
Let’s backtrack for a sec. A blurb is one of those boosts of praise you see on the back cover of a book—a quote from a fabulous and established author. For a hybrid debut author, it’s one of the most intimidating phases of book publication. We go blindly into the abyss to request these mandatory words of wonder from our heroes. They don’t know us or our craft. Even if we’ve met them for two seconds at a conference, or we’ve attended their workshop, we are peons on the bookshelf. Couple that with a solid case of imposter syndrome, and try to compose that email:
The remarkable thing is that 98.9% of the authors who receive your letter are out of this world gracious. Even when they reject you—lovely!
The other 1.1% are ghost writers (cause they ghost you, get it?).
A best-selling author’s willingness to blurb a book is one of the best gifts. Receiving their positive endorsement is a breath-taking high.
To what end have we subjected ourselves to this quest? To have your favorite authors’ quotes share space on your book’s cover is dreamy. You’ll read them in delight and disbelief over and over. But who else will? The big question has always been, does the consumer read your cover? If so, will these quotes sway their purchase?
Since Publisher’s Weekly reported Sean Manning’s decision to eliminate blurbs, the conversation has been mixed. Many say they never read back covers, while others rely on them. The latter finds authenticity in seeing known authors saying, “hey, I liked this book, you will too”
Another benefit for newbie authors is that when an author agrees to blurb, a connection forms. Not saying you’re now BFFs for life, but a mutual respect and dialogue open up. They want you to succeed. That’s worth everything.
Authors have also noted the marketing benefits of having blurbs. When that top-selling author name comes up in association with your book, many of their followers will take notice. That’s priceless too.
To dissect Sean Manning’s point about the need for blurbs, one has to wonder if he’s right, at least for the best of bestselling authors. As fans, we’ll buy and read as fast as they produce. No need for that extra boost of praise from other established authors. But the unknowns? Yeah, we’ll take it. Please and thank you.
Some authors cheered Simon and Schuster’s decision that their imprints will no longer require authors to get blurbs. Some were relieved, and some others disagreed, having depended on those short sentences to boost their brand. Many revealed they rely on blurbs to choose their next read. Regardless of the buzz, it’s TBD if the industry will follow suit and say farewell to blurbs.
Where do you stand? Are you a reader of blurbs or turner of blurb eye?
Whatever happens, I am eternally grateful for Not Yours to Keep’s blurbers:
, , , , Jen Craven, Katie Sise, Taylor Larsen
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I was a member of Lainey’s inaugural “12 Weeks to Book Launch Success” group. I say group, not class, not webinar, not workshop, because Lainey brought us all together and created an experience, and we gained much more than she promised.
A new Book Launch Mastermind For Authors session is starting February 25, 2025. Tell Lainey Zelly sent you. And if it’s filled, make sure you get on her waitlist for the next one!
For those early- to mid-career novelists who’d benefit from career strategy and mindset coaching:
is running a new Career Novelist Mastermind. This session kicks off March 7th.Camille is a Bestselling Author, Master Certified Coach, founder of Even Better Co, and an incredibly wise and wonderful human. Her Mastermind coaching program is both uplifting and grounding.
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Tell her Zelly sent you!
And Now For Something Completely Serious…
Once again, Substack is telling me I’ve run out of space.
Come back next time for the continuing saga of “What’s in Zelly’s Brain”
Last Licks
Celebrating Love, Friendship, and Gratitude for our Snarkastic Readers.
Thank you so much, Zelly!
I think I'm more interested in how so much has been devoted to the blurb conversation. Once again, I feel the publishing industry is navel gazing when it should be looking more at engaging readers.