This Is Mostly About Blurbs
First: Interesting fact about dental bone grafts: They often used sterilized bone from a cadaver. So there is some dead person's bone inside my jaw bone, which is probably an extremely resonant metaphor, although I'm not sure for what.
What I'm saying is that if I ever write a novel about the interconnectedness of all people, dead and living, I will be sure to include some dental surgery. Fortunately for everyone, the book I'm currently working on isn't about that at all (it's about whether or not the future exists, a question that was spurred by Sarah, who once told me "Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia," which ended up going into "Alaska" word for word). So you will be spared my dental metaphors for at least a while.
And now about Blurbs: (Blurbs, for those who aren't obsessed with all things publishing, are those little quotes on the backs of books from other authors.) I remember when "Looking for Alaska" was about to be published, and my tireless and fearless and magnificent editor would tirelessly and fearless and magnificently attempt to contact every major author in America to get them to read and hopefully blurb the book. I was very very lucky that K. L. Going (who by the way is one of my favorite YA authors, and I very much look forward to getting ahold of her widely lauded new book "Saint Iggy") wrote such a nice blurb for "Alaska." Julie wanted a second blurb, but it never happened.
Anyway, during that whole painful process of being unable to get anybody famous other than K.L. Going to read "Alaska," I made a solemn vow always to read anything that was sent to me in hopes of a blurb.
I ended up keeping this solmen vow for approximately four hours. I mean, I'm not famous. I'm not a bestselling author or a TV talk show host or a decorated American general or a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. So you wouldn't think that I would be in very high demand as a blurber. And yet, I get a lot of blurb requests. And the only fair way to deal with it was to say no to everyone, even close friends. Because A. I need time to write books, and B. you cannot just become a blurbing machine, because then no one will take your opinion seriously, and C. it is really hard for me, once I've read a book, NOT to blurb it. The problem is, I like books. I like them a lot, and not only the very good ones, but also the sorta good ones. I'd imagine that most authors enjoy and appreciate books, on average, more than most non-authors, just as most basketweavers enjoy and appreciate baskets, on average, more than most non-basketweavers.
I've stuck with this no-blurbs-no-matter-what thing since January, and it hasn't been very much fun but I've stuck with it anyway. But now I am starting to feel pangs of regret. I'm starting to think that maybe it is unfair of me not to at least read a book that I'm offered the opportunity to read. (And yes, I know, I just split an infinitive--all the more reason not to take my opinion on literature, as expressed in blurb form, with any seriousness). So, what do you think? Are blurbs important to readers? Do all authors have a responsibility to their readers and fellow writers to consider blurbing manuscripts?
Also: Contest results early next week. Thanks for your patience. I think incidentally I may have to ask for your help when judging the pictures contest, because there are some pretty fantastic pictures.
10 Comments:
As an editor who had to try and chase down blurbs and protect my authors from becoming blurb machines, I think it's important to find a balance. I mean, I'm a firm believer in What Goes Around, Comes Around, and so if you want blurbs, you should be willing to blurb others (especially considering your award-winning status). But you also need time to write.
So what I'm getting at is removing the No Blurbs policy and going to a Limited Blurbs policy. Say you'll do one blurb every one or two months. Don't hesitate to ask whomever is asking you for a blurb why it is he or she thinks you would be an appropriate blurbist for the book or why he or she thinks you'll like the book. Don't be afraid to tell said person that you only review and blurb a few books a year, so you need to be selective about which books you read for blurbing purposes.
Doing so also protects you from becoming known as a Blurb-o-matic.
Well...as an avid reader, I find that I don't take blurbs very seriously because almost every bad book I've read has two or three blurbs. I've always wondered what happens when an author has to blurb a really horrible book. Anyway, I've found that blurbs tend to be really vague adjectives,like "poignant" "thrilling" or "a book filled with...humor...and insight." If I want a more objective opinion, I read actual reviews.
Blurbs can sometimes push me over the edge if I'm on the fence about buying a book, but I don't tend to notice them much.
As a first-time author, however, I have a totally different take on it. Never mind what people who see the book in a store or online think - a good blurb can make your own publisher take you more seriously, and can help immensely when it comes to impressing booksellers and librarians. With so many books out there, every little thing helps.
I think it's good to be open to blurbing (she said self-interestedly), as long as you don't turn into the Gene Shalit of the literary world. And, yeah, you have to protect your own writing time and energies, as those can feel very limited even when you've got nothing else going on.
I had a bone transplant, too! Although the idea of a dead person in me freaked me out so much that I had them take marrow out of my own hip (you know that extra part that sticks up) and put it in my finger. That's where the graft was.
I always thought about how cool it was that that hip bone was going to spend the rest of it's days in a new place in the body. What an adventure for it!
As for blurbs - I think a limited blurbs policy is good. I mean you don't want to blurb everything because then no one will take your blurb seriously. They'll be all like, Oh that John Green, he likes everything!
Also, you need to be writing. (I'm not writing right now. With my manuscript right next to me. So much more fun to talk to you.) Reading and thinking take up a lot of time.
I have only blurbed one book so far (out next year for a company that doesn't usually do YA) and I am just reading my second book to blurb, which is about stuff that is so dear to my heart that when the editor asked me for another authors email addy, I actually said, oh, yeah, they'd be great, but Wait! Can I read it, too! That's right up my alley! (page 8 and so far it's terrific!)
I am such a slow reader that I think pretty much my answer is usually "I don't have time."
So -- I think blurbs should be like a fine spice. Used sparingly.
I'm with JS -- blurbs mean something if they come from an author I respect, I ignore them if they're from newspapers & magazines.
(I do love it when blurbs very obviously leave bits out. Like this:
Blurb: "...loved it..."
Full review: "I would have loved it if the editor had shredded the manuscript.")
I've beem flooded with blurb requests of late myself. I would like to blurb every book for the reasons you mentioned, but I don't want to become a "blurb-o-matic" either, not to mention the lack of time. So I have decided on a policy of one per year. It wouldn't seem fair to blurb multiple books in the same season.
I would go with one a year also.
Or, you can trade blurbs... For each book you put out, you will blurb one book.
Pick your favorite of all received between your published books and go for it.
I agree with edgy killer bunny that a no-blurbing policy seems kinda selfish and karmically bad -- you expect blurbs from others, so you've got to give them yourself. But I also know you to be someone who can't do things halfway -- weren't you addicted to nicotine gum for a while? -- so blurbing selectively, as a policy, may not work either. My suggestion is to blurb at random: put on a blindfold, spin in a circle til you're dizzy, and then grab a book from the pile you've been sent.
Hex Education will not be in the pile, btw. My editor says she only wants blurbs from lady authors (?!)
I know this is an old post, but school is canceled for ice and I like reading blog archives.
Anyway, I really do read the blurbs on the back of books and I seriously dislike books that lack them. I mean, the cover may be amazing, but am I going to shell out $20 on a book who has a coyly blank backside? Not likely. However, I realize publishers aren't going to put negative comments on the book either. I guess they count for about 20% of my purchasing decision.
"What I'm saying is that if I ever write a novel about the interconnectedness of all people, dead and living, I will be sure to include some dental surgery."
Come on John! The strings, the dental bone graft, and the vessel. What's wrong with that?
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