Ever looked at those raving book blurbs on novels in the bookstore and wondered how the author managed to receive such high praise – and from such influential people no less?
They aren’t blessed by the book gods. They no doubt put in the work to get such shining book blurbs.
It’s uncommon that a publisher does all the heavy lifting to secure blurbs for their authors. The onus falls squarely on the author’s shoulders. While this fact may be disappointing, in a way it’s good news for independent authors because it means they too can secure stunning book blurbs as long as they know how.
Set your sights early to secure raving book reviews
Know early on people who you’d love to have write endorsements for you. This will give you time to develop a strategy for reaching out to them. You should be securing potential book blurbs as soon as you have some ARCs (advanced reader copies).
Book blurbs don’t come out of thin air. Every now and then reviews from prestigious people are collected after a book is already released, and then printed on new editions of a book, but the majority of book blurbs are collected before a book is even published. These book blurbs are harvested because of carefully timed solicitations by publisher and/or author.
It’s smart to put in the networking footwork before you even have ARCs. That way when it’s time for you to start making asks you’ve already had some points of contact. This will allow you to have at least a few people likely to say yes to writing you a book blurb.
The types of people you might ask to write a book blurb:
An expert in your book’s industry
Fellow writers in your niche
Well-known influencers whose praise would automatically garner attention from readers and the media
Esteemed academics in the subject area of your book
Book bloggers
Professional reviewers
How to ask for a book blurb
First and foremost, be polite and understanding. Since you’re asking them to reserve hours of their life toward the purpose of reading your book and writing meaningful feedback, it’s the least you can do. Take the time to personalize each and every request you send out. Briefly let them know how you know them (whether you met at an event or are a friend of a friend) and how much you admire their work or think you have similar audiences.
It’s crucial to be concise in your request. Nothing reads desperate writer with probably equally long-winded book like a discursive blurb request.
It’s best to stick to email when sending out your book blurb requests. This is more professional and effective than DMing prospective reviewers. Be sure to include a small sample of your book (say, the first chapter) so it’s easier for the person to say yes to reading your book. Their concerns of being bored to death may be assuaged by taking a peek at your sample.
DO NOT send over your entire book. This is presumptuous.
Adhere to people’s blurb policies. Some authors will spell out on their website that blurb requests must be run through their agent. Others will flat out tell you they don’t do blurbs. Following protocol is the prudent thing to do and may increase your chances of actually getting a blurb.
Don’t forget to set an explicit deadline!
A good rule of thumb is to choose a due date about a month before you actually need it to create a late submission time buffer.
Ask potential blurbers if they mind getting a reminder to read your book halfway to the deadline. This might help jog their memory that they’ve yet to dust your book off their TBR pile and encourage them to read it in time to deliver the blurb.
When you finally receive your much-anticipated blurbs be sure to thank those reviewers. You can do this by giving them a shout out on social media, mailing them a hand-written letter with a hard copy of your published book, or sending them a gift.
A dreaded question may be balancing on the tip of your tongue.
What if they never send me the promised blurb?
There are two most probable reasons they haven't gotten back to you:
They didn’t have time to read your book.
They didn’t like what they read enough to give you a nice blurb, so they’ve opted not to give one at all.
While both of these outcomes may make you cringe, it happens. Make sure to respect this unfavorable response by simply burying the hatchet.
Whoa, that actually sounded kind of violent and vindictive.
Let’s try that again.
What should you do if someone doesn’t deliver on their book blurb commitment?
Just let it go.
Don’t make an awkward situation unbearable by requesting an explanation beyond that last, “Hi, I was wondering if you got a chance to write that book blurb” message.
A word to the wise. . .
Don’t undervalue the lesser-known author blurb.
While you may not have gotten that yes to your Amy Tan book blurb request, don’t let bitterness seep into your ego while requesting blurbs from lesser-known authors. For all you know it is the fact these lesser-known authors vouched for your work that will get one influencer to say yes to a later book blurb request.
Use traction of the blurbs you’ve already gotten to motivate more celebrity authors to take a peek at your book. Include existing blurbs with your requests as you receive them. If you have the time built into your publishing schedule you might even stagger your book blurb requests so you have some positive reviews already to send to your most-desired blurbers.
What about reviews from places like Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews?
Many of these professional review magazines provide both paid and unpaid review options. If you don’t have the budget or simply want to take your chances that your book gets chosen to be reviewed, you can send it in for free.
Feel icky about paying for a book blurb?
Don’t.
An editorial review is different from typical reader feedback.
Paying consumers to write positive Amazon reviews? Pretty deplorable.
Paying professional editorial reviewers to give feedback on your work. Not only acceptable, but pretty common.
The reason for this is because these professionals don’t actually guarantee a positive review and therefore preserve the integrity of the blurb exchange. Since their goal is to keep the trust of readers by alerting them to only truly amazing up-and-coming books, they strictly provide sincere feedback. If your book needs some work, the money you paid won’t convince them to write a glowing review. They will simply tell you what they think is wrong with the book.
Don’t worry. If you get a bad review you can simply put it in the handy little trash folder on your computer, delete it from there too, and then close and reopen it for good measure (just to really make sure it’s been banished to oblivion). No one ever needs to lay eyes on it.
Here are some links to the submission guidelines of a few well-known editorial review companies:
(👆IBR even provides an option for quote graphics or book quote videos so you have ready-made praise material to post on social media!)
If you’re lucky, you might get bonus writer street cred if one of these companies chooses to honor your book with an award.
All in all, the book blurb request process can be a frustrating one but it’s definitely a process that is worth it.
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