Comments on: The Art of Blurb http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:23:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Melissa Marsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17511 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:25:08 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17511 I don't look at blurbs. I want to see what the book is about and not ready what someone else thinks of it. Reason being is that most of time, I disagree with the reviewers! I don’t look at blurbs. I want to see what the book is about and not ready what someone else thinks of it. Reason being is that most of time, I disagree with the reviewers!

]]> by: Allison Winn Scotch http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17494 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:26:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17494 Ray- We sent in two rounds: the first was a bound manuscript, and that's where I think I actually got nearly all the blurbs from. The second was when the galleys came out - the blurbs I'd already gotten were actually on the back. Allison Ray-
We sent in two rounds: the first was a bound manuscript, and that’s where I think I actually got nearly all the blurbs from. The second was when the galleys came out - the blurbs I’d already gotten were actually on the back.
Allison

]]> by: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17482 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:00:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17482 Blurbs only influence my decision to buy a book if they're by an author I really respect, such as Neil Gaiman. I get asked to write blurbs quite often (by publishers rather than authors, usually.) When I really hate the book I decline to do a blurb and I tell the publisher why. My blurbs are always truthful. However, when a book has strengths and weaknesses I do write about the strengths only, and I guess that is a little misleading. Blurbs only influence my decision to buy a book if they’re by an author I really respect, such as Neil Gaiman.

I get asked to write blurbs quite often (by publishers rather than authors, usually.) When I really hate the book I decline to do a blurb and I tell the publisher why. My blurbs are always truthful. However, when a book has strengths and weaknesses I do write about the strengths only, and I guess that is a little misleading.

]]> by: catie http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17441 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:02:18 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17441 I tend not to pay attention to blurbs at all, unless I'm stuck somewhere without any other available reading material. :) I tend not to pay attention to blurbs at all, unless I’m stuck somewhere without any other available reading material. :)

]]> by: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17432 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:29:42 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17432 A question for Allison: in what form did you send your book to authors for blurbs? Manuscript? ARC? Blurbs do influence me if they are from a reviewer or an author with whom I'm familiar. And, if there are a host of positives from authors that I haven't heard from, it still increases the likelihood of buying IF I like what I see in flap copy, browsing, etc. Ray www.floggingthequill.com A question for Allison: in what form did you send your book to authors for blurbs? Manuscript? ARC?

Blurbs do influence me if they are from a reviewer or an author with whom I’m familiar. And, if there are a host of positives from authors that I haven’t heard from, it still increases the likelihood of buying IF I like what I see in flap copy, browsing, etc.

Ray
www.floggingthequill.com

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17426 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:26:08 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17426 I don't. Sometimes an overly generic thumbs up is even a turn-off. Review blurbs, on the other hand, from say Booklist or Library Journal seem to have more cred with me. I don’t. Sometimes an overly generic thumbs up is even a turn-off.

Review blurbs, on the other hand, from say Booklist or Library Journal seem to have more cred with me.

]]> by: RfP http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17425 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:23:37 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17425 I ignore almost all author blurbs. Reviewer blurbs can sway me sometimes. Why the difference? Because I've read too many glowing author blurbs for terrible books. However, I don't think it's all about back-scratching. I think the issue is partly that not all authors are great reviewers, and partly that often author-reviewers have strong biases due to friendship. Over a several-year period I noticed that one group of authors tended to be featured on each other's covers, always with glowing quotes. In my opinion this group includes a couple fantastic authors and a couple mediocre authors, so I was puzzled by the uniform praise. I researched them a little, and found that they've been friends and writing partners for decades. I think that group's loss of objectivity is particularly extreme, but different forms of it are common. I ignore almost all author blurbs. Reviewer blurbs can sway me sometimes. Why the difference? Because I’ve read too many glowing author blurbs for terrible books. However, I don’t think it’s all about back-scratching. I think the issue is partly that not all authors are great reviewers, and partly that often author-reviewers have strong biases due to friendship.

Over a several-year period I noticed that one group of authors tended to be featured on each other’s covers, always with glowing quotes. In my opinion this group includes a couple fantastic authors and a couple mediocre authors, so I was puzzled by the uniform praise. I researched them a little, and found that they’ve been friends and writing partners for decades. I think that group’s loss of objectivity is particularly extreme, but different forms of it are common.

]]> by: Jen http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17421 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:46:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17421 I sometimes review books, and sometimes the galleys come with blurbs. I ignore them -- don't want my opinion to be swayed by what someone else said. But when I bought books for the fun of it, I might glance at the blurbs and see if I knew any of the authors who chose to comment. I sometimes review books, and sometimes the galleys come with blurbs. I ignore them — don’t want my opinion to be swayed by what someone else said. But when I bought books for the fun of it, I might glance at the blurbs and see if I knew any of the authors who chose to comment.

]]> by: Trish Ryan http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17415 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:22:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17415 I just bought a book on vacation based on a blurb. I'd read everything by a certain favorite author, but wanted something with that same "feel." I found a book she'd blurbed by an author I'd never heard of, and it was perfect. I just bought a book on vacation based on a blurb. I’d read everything by a certain favorite author, but wanted something with that same “feel.” I found a book she’d blurbed by an author I’d never heard of, and it was perfect.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17413 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:35:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17413 If the blurb is written by an author I really do respect, YES, definitely, I'd be more inclined to buy a book blurbed by them. If the blurb is written by an author I really do respect, YES, definitely, I’d be more inclined to buy a book blurbed by them.

]]> by: theamcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17409 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:51:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/08/the-art-of-blurb/#comment-17409 if i am actively looking for a particular book, probably not. but if i'm just browsing, it could be the deal breaker. i'm not sure i actually buy books based on blurbs, but i do read the blurbs. and if some top name author (like stephen king) actually took the time to endorse a book, i'll give it a second glance. i do think most successful authors do not have the time to endorse any newbie who asks, and if they do, it would be for a good reason, like the book is exceptional. most authors i have met really have a lot of integrity. if i am actively looking for a particular book, probably not. but if i’m just browsing, it could be the deal breaker. i’m not sure i actually buy books based on blurbs, but i do read the blurbs. and if some top name author (like stephen king) actually took the time to endorse a book, i’ll give it a second glance. i do think most successful authors do not have the time to endorse any newbie who asks, and if they do, it would be for a good reason, like the book is exceptional. most authors i have met really have a lot of integrity.

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