Be Efficient in Your Approach

When you're reaching out to other authors for potential blurbs, make sure you're efficient in your approach. Be concise, clear, and respectful of their time. You don't want to write a long email only to have it ignored. A good way to do this is to include a brief summary of your book, along with a few questions about whether or not they would be interested in reading it and possibly providing a blurb. You must also be very clear about your timeline for blurb submission. Publishers will often set a deadline for cover design, and if a blurb is not received by then, they won’t be able to include it. Ask your editor to provide specifics before approaching your blurb targets.

Accept Rejection

Unfortunately, not every author you reach out to for blurbs is going to say yes. You have to prepare yourself for the possibility of rejection. Keep in mind that authors are busy and may not have time to read your book, or may not feel that they're the right person to write a blurb for you. The risk of rejection increases if you approach a prominent author. If you do get rejected, don't take it personally, and move on to the next author. While blurbs are an industry standard practice, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get enough (or notable) endorsements. Try to keep this part of the process in perspective.

Sometimes an author will agree to blurb but may drop out later due to scheduling conflicts. While this is disappointing, it can happen. Don’t burn bridges or get emotional with this author, as publishing is a small community and your paths might cross again.

Facilitate the Blurb Process

Once an author has agreed to write a blurb for your book, make sure you facilitate the process. Provide them with a physical or digital advanced reader's copy (ARC) of your book, along with the kind of clear deadline discussed above. Make sure you follow up with them as the deadline approaches (without going overboard). Remember that they are doing you a favor, so make sure you're grateful, courteous, and professional in all of your interactions. Accept their blurb with a heartfelt thank you, even if the content of the blurb differs from your expectations. You, your literary agent, and the publisher can decide if and how to use it if it’s not exactly what you’d hoped for.

Ask for a Specific Blurb

One final tip for getting blurbs is to ask for a specific blurb. Some authors appreciate a few ideas so they can set their expectations in advance. If you feel like the relationship can handle it, give them some ideas for what you want them to say without outright micromanaging or dictating the phrasing. Maybe you want this author to comment on your world-building, if they’re a well-known fantasy author. This will make it easier for them to write a blurb and will ensure that they include the most important aspects of your book. This is a very fine line to walk, though, so tread carefully and leave the bulk of the content to them.

Getting blurbs from other authors is an important part of the publishing process for any debut or established author. To succeed at this, reach out to authors early, be efficient in your approach, accept rejection, facilitate the blurb process, and seed ideas for blurbs, if you feel it’s appropriate. Remember that authors are busy and you may not get a blurb from everyone you ask, or the kind of blurb you were hoping for, so be prepared to move on if necessary. By following these tips, you'll increase your chances of getting the endorsements you need to succeed in the book marketing world. Good luck, and happy blurb-hunting!