Asking for and Delivering Endorsements

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

The word ‘blurb,’ which is what publishers used to mean ‘endorsement’ has gradually changed in meaning to ‘book description,’ so I’ll use ‘endorsement’ to be clearer.  Regardless what you call it, endorsements have been a source of chagrin for authors for ages.  It’s tough asking for them and it can be tough to deliver them.  But the general feeling is that they’re good for visibility.  Do they help?  Who knows? They definitely don’t seem to hurt.

I’ve written endorsements for a long while.  I learned not to feel awkward about them when a  bestseller in my genre told me in an email that she felt terribly inept blurbing and that she never really knew what to say. That’s when I knew that everyone has that feeling.

For the writer giving the endorsement

Know when it’s due.This is also key to deciding whether to take on the endorsement.

Know your limits. Take an honest look at your calendar.  Are you facing deadlines (either self-imposed or publisher-imposed)?  Are you already committed to endorsing other books? Do you have a vacation or holiday approaching?

Be honest if it’s not your thing.  It likely is someone else’s.   I’ve turned down requests before because I knew I wasn’t the best person for the job…why would a SF/F reader think the endorsement of a cozy mystery author is worth anything?

Be pithy.  This is not the time to go on and on.  Short and sweet usually works best.

Alliteration and assonance can help with punch.  

Give variations on the theme.  A short and long blurb can help.  Usually I’ll give permission to mix and match elements from several options or to cut the endorsement to just a word or two, if needed.

Be sure to designate how you’d like to be attributed.  This is probably not the time to be modest. If you’re a bestseller, go ahead and include that…it can only help the writer who needs the blurb.

Pay it forward.  Most of us received endorsements as new authors.  It’s good to return the favor.

For the writer asking for the endorsement:

Give a due date. Be specific in what you need. Is this a review or an endorsement? Is it going on the cover? On Amazon’s editorial review section? On your website? All of the above?

Give the book’s genre, word count, and offer the text in different formats.  Let the endorsing writer know exactly what they’re in for and allow them to read it in Kindle, epub, or PDF formats, if possible.

Provide background on the project, yourself, and why you thought of the writer to endorse.  Although not strictly necessary, it’s nice.  You don’t have to have read the endorsing writer’s books, but it’s nice to let them know why you thought of them.  And I like to know a little about who’s asking for the blurb…are they just starting out?  Trying to reinvent themselves? Just went indie?

Make sure you know how the endorsing writer wants it attributed/credited.  Maybe they’re wanting to promote their latest book or a particular series.

Bonus tip: For me, I like to know what marketing direction a writer is trying to go in.  Are they playing up the romance in the cozy mystery? Billing it as a humorous cozy? Trying for edgy? This can help with the direction my blurb goes in.

Do you ask for endorsements?  Give them?  What tips have I missed?

Tips for Asking for and Delivering Endorsements:
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