Like many newbie authors, Michelle and I used to think there wasn't much more to being a writer than putting pen to paper.  But ever since that magical day when we got our offer, we've learned that writing the book is just the very beginning of the long, long journey from manuscript to finished bookstore product.  For one thing, our vocabulary has grown to include words like "galleys", "first pass pages", and "jacket meetings."  And then there are the "blurbs."

Truth be told, Michelle and I had absolutely no idea what blurbs were before this whole process.  Oh, yeah, we'd seen the quotes on the backs of book jackets before, but we'd always assumed that these were procured through the magic of the publishing house.  It was only after we'd handed in our manuscript, and our agent and editor told us it was time to start getting blurbs that we realized this was yet another part of the author job description.

Now, if the idea of having to go out there and get blurbs from other writers seems like a daunting one, you're in good company.  Like us, you're probably wondering how in the world you go about getting authors who don't know you from Adam to write some glowing endorsement for your book.  So how exactly do you go about doing it? Well, there are a number of ways.  Yes, your publisher (or agent) may be able to help you and ask other in-house authors to read your book.  But that's the extent of what your publisher can do; whether or not those authors will actually read your book and give you a blurb is a completely different matter.  Often times, the authors are simply too busy to devote a precious few hours to reading some new writer's book.  Or it may be that they have a stack of manuscripts to read and yours is stuck somewhere at the bottom of the blurb slush pile.  So how do you get to the top of the blurb pile?  The answer is that dreaded word: networking.

Use your contacts - every single one of them.  If your Aunt Marge has a friend who's neighbors with Amy Tan, see if you can score an e-mail address or phone number from them.  Once you have that, it's up to you to strike up a conversation with them - and that doesn't mean asking them in the first two minutes if they will blurb for you.  Instead, think of this as an unique opportunity to have the benefit of another writer's experience and wisdom.  Ask them about their book, tell them about your book, ask them any questions you may have as a neophyte writer - in short, try to develop a relationship that will go far beyond just getting a blurb.  Once you have that relationship in place, getting a blurb is a much easier proposition.

What if you don't have any contacts?  Well, look for opportunities to make them.  One great way to meet authors is to go to writers' conferences.  At RWA nationals, for example, numerous notable authors conduct workshops, speak on panels, and are more than happy to talk to writers who approach them afterwards.  Now the idea of going up to one of these speakers and introducing yourself may make you squirm, but make yourself do it.  Most writers are more than happy to talk to aspiring/new writers, time permitting.  Even if you only manage to talk to them for a few minutes, you have at the very least put a face to the name so that when these authors receive your manuscript from your publisher - maybe, just maybe - you'll make it to the top of the blurb pile.

Hopefully, these tips will help.  This has been a learning process for Michelle and me, and while we're still getting blurbs ourselves, we're happy to report that we've gotten blurbs from some great (and some of our favorite) authors, including Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin ("The Nanny Diaries"), Emily Giffin ("Something Borrowed"), and Beth Kendrick ("Fashionably Late").  So take a deep breath, and go out there and start meeting your peers.

 

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