Launch Diaries: Asking for Author Blurbs

I once believed the hardest part of becoming an author was querying the novel—which is like believing parenting can’t possibly get tougher than during the infant stage. 

(Insert maniacal laughter of parents with teenagers and authors asking for endorsements here.)

Before my own publishing journey, I noticed jacket quotes on books, I just never considered how they got there. Perhaps the endorser bought it at the bookstore, loved it, then…said so in public, while (naturally), nearby paparazzi recorded it?

I don’t know. Seemed more plausible than authors asking for the quotes themselves??

Me, I’d sooner scratch my nails along a chalkboard, then drive the other kind of nails into my eyeballs. On my best authorial day, my inner cocktail is pest complex shaken over impostor syndrome and blended to a neurotic swirl, with post-trauma of the industry having punted my pages from here to infinity as rimmer. 

The idea of sharing my book with readers used to be paralyzing, never mind asking professional writers to take time to read (despise? Laugh at? Use for kindling?) an advance copy, then publicly declare nice things about it. 

Nonetheless, I had to do it. I’ve been swayed by endorsement quotes myself. They carry weight with (some) readers, providing social proof that encourages taking a chance on a new author. 

(Also, my publisher told me I had to.)

To start, I asked published authors I knew in real life who had participated in the book’s journey. Among them, a creative writing instructor whose feedback powered me through my first draft, friends I met through the Women’s Fiction Writers’ Association whose guidance got me to that point. (If your aim is to be published, this is one of ten thousand reasons why you must find your writing community. No writer goes it alone.)

Then I shot for the moon. I asked big-name authors who had no clue I existed, but who also directly impacted my book or writing journey (i.e., authors of my comp titles or books set in Toronto as mine is). 

In both cases, I cringed from beginning to end. Still, when my publisher offered to do asks on my behalf (for their in-house authors), I declined and did those myself, too.

Personalized requests actually made the process less cringey by letting me explain the why behind my ask and share how they impacted me. Which felt like giving a little something, too, rather than strictly aiming to receive. Of course, not everyone agreed to blurb—but shockingly, nearly all replied. Their lovely messages of encouragement, advice, and appreciation for sharing my why made it a thrill just to connect. Absolutely worthwhile, endorsements or not.

Then my book came out, and I started getting asked to give blurbs. Having so recently experienced the ICK of the ask, I was determined to say YES! To all of them! Immediately!

Which got really overwhelming, really fast.

Many of the books were far outside my wheelhouse, making it difficult to offer comment. Others were in my “lane,” but had turnaround times I couldn’t meet. A few contained content I was uncomfortable reading. Eventually, I worked out my “policy” of sorts for fielding the requests in a way that allows me to support as many authors as I can in a way that’s manageable for me.

And now, having been on “both sides of the blurb,” here’s what I know:

Published authors know the ick of requesting blurbs. They’ve been there. By and large they’re a remarkably supportive bunch, keen on paying forward kindnesses other authors showed to them. (Read: not as scary as you think.)

They also get a lot of requests. For context, I’ve published one not-so-recent, modestly selling release with an indie press, and I’ve been asked to blurb nine ARCs so far this month. I cannot fathom how many Liane Moriarty is getting.

If an author commits to a blurb and then you hear crickets, they don’t hate your book. More likely, life has simply been lifeing and they haven’t gotten to it. Similarly, if they don’t agree to blurb, most likely they don’t have time, or it’s not a fit for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

That said, part of their decision does have to do with you in that a little homework can increase your chances:

Shoot your shot—but don’t do it blind. Yes, blurbs are part of published author life and most feel a moral duty to provide them, but that doesn’t mean you should throw ARCs at the wall expecting them to stick. Have a reason for asking that author specifically, and share it with them. Remember, they’re sifting through many requests, deciding which to accommodate.

Where possible, buy, read, and review their books (and again, tell them if you have). This is by no means a requirement for me to blurb a book, but it is for some and I won’t deny when faced with more requests than I can take on, all else equal, I’m more likely to support an author who’s been kind enough to support me. 

Assume an author will want to read the entire book before endorsing and allow ample time to do so—even if means missing your publisher’s deadline. While publishers do have drop-dead dates for including endorsements in the final book, a “late” blurb can still be used everywhere else (and it can often be added to a later edition of the book anyway).

Bottom line: ask for the blurb, but don’t just ask for the blurb. Make it a meaningful exchange. Take the opportunity to connect with your peers (yeah! They’re your peers!). Be selective, have a why, tell them about it. Above all, never forget how it feels to ask for a blurb—least of all when it’s you being asked.

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RACHEL STONE writes stories of hope and redemption, set against vibrant Canadian backdrops. Her debut novel THE BLUE IRIS has won multiple awards, and her acclaimed lyric essays have appeared in international journals, magazines and blogs. She lives near Toronto, Canada with her family. Join Rachel on Substack for The Launch Diaries: Reflections, Lessons, Real Talk and Confessions from a Debut Author.

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Category: How To and Tips