Back-of-the-book blurbs: Why to get them.
A publishing/promo tip
In the emerging writer community, I am hearing confusion about “blurbs.”
I take “blurbs” to mean the testimonials we (are fortunate enough to) have more established, preferably famous writers given us, attesting to the brilliance of our book. As I understand it, some writers who are putting together their first book refer to a “blurb” as the description on the back of the book.
The former publishing intern in me calls that piece: “jacket copy.”
For these purposes, please understand “blurb” to mean a testimonial.
One reader asked about blurbs: “Seems like a hassle. Are they worth it?”
I didn’t find blurbs to be a hassle. Nerve-wracking to request? Certainly. Here we discuss “How to.”
Once you have your blurbs, place them on the back of the book—whatever the hassle.
The first place a reader looks is the front cover.
We’re gonna talk about front covers next week.
The second place a reader looks is the back cover.
The first reason a reader buys a book is a recommendation from a trusted reader-friend.
The second is familiarity with the author's work, or simply author name recognition.
Lacking the above, readers go off the blurbs.
How to get them blurbs.
“Why should anything be easy?”
—Anybody’s Yiddishite grandmother