tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post6466779795253269542..comments2024-02-12T16:32:03.714-08:00Comments on Book of Kells: The Art of the Blurb - The AskingKelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-3793283376170038852010-09-02T12:54:33.217-07:002010-09-02T12:54:33.217-07:00Let's see what the publisher says about going ...Let's see what the publisher says about going blurb-free! I've always loved Dave Eggers' book title "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" because it seems to spoof blurbs. I also hereby coin the phrase "blurbage" in reference to the hyperbolic language of blurbs. NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-2434234983346948672010-09-01T13:21:48.853-07:002010-09-01T13:21:48.853-07:00Thanks everyone for your comments - and esp. for t...Thanks everyone for your comments - and esp. for the good (read: supportive) words.<br /><br />Nancy, I've decided to stop the insanity. I've been thinking about this since I wrote this post & actually decided that I would like my next book of poems not to have blurbs on the back of it. I'm not sure if my publisher will like this or not, but this is my goal-- a blurbless book of poems. Imagine.<br /><br />I don't even like the word, "blurb" - it sounds like what happens after someone eats too much garlicy pasta with a couple mugs of beer.Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-79163990024704023702010-09-01T13:12:27.754-07:002010-09-01T13:12:27.754-07:00The blurb topic is so fascinating. I've been ...The blurb topic is so fascinating. I've been on both sides--asking for a blurb from someone you admire is so emotion-crushing . . . even when the outcome is positive, it's like high-school anxiety all over again. Then being asked to write blurbs is usually pretty awful too. Part of my dislike about the whole thing is that blurbs are just about entirely meaningless--they are pumped full of hyperbole and I can't remember the last time I read a blurb and actually believed it. The only exception I can think of is when a contest judge writes a short, frank blurb to explain why the MS was selected. The blurb is a very odd species of writing, with so much emotional baggage. I wrote a found poem just using blurbs from the backs of poetry books I had on hand--it helped me see how crazy they can be! Why do blurbs persist? Who will stop the insanity? --NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-32668248618573568332010-08-19T07:01:49.842-07:002010-08-19T07:01:49.842-07:00The top of my "to do" list tomorrow is t...The top of my "to do" list tomorrow is to write to ask for blurbs for my first full-length book -- your post could not have come at a better time. My stomach has been in knots over the prospect for days. As ever, I HUGELY appreciate your honesty and insight - I will re-read your post before beginning! Many thanks.Elizabeth Austenhttp://elizabethausten.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-70663183643068816272010-08-18T11:58:32.546-07:002010-08-18T11:58:32.546-07:00Kelli:
One of the very reasons that I love readin...Kelli:<br /><br />One of the very reasons that I love reading your blog and recommend to others, is the fact that your shared wisdom/insight/experiences are always so honest. I can certainly understand Mrs. Goldbarth’s response; I could picture my wife given similar circumstances writing roughly the same kind of reply. <br /><br />Kelli, reading this post I didn’t see your comments at all in a negative light – you well stated your respect for Mr. Goldbarth personally and you made room for very plausible explanations but still related your personal feelings of disappointment all the while you acknowledged you could have picked up the phone and called him. Your post demonstrates how heart wrenching this process can be and by this very example provides a lesson to learn. <br /><br />I hope there is no feeling of grief or second guessing on your part for writing on this subject in such a forthright manor. Like with your poetry, readers get the genuine Kelli. I know that’s why I keep reading.Michael A. Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06015233939646285069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-51792855909691601162010-08-17T15:06:24.354-07:002010-08-17T15:06:24.354-07:00Thanks for your kind words, Kelli.
This reminds ...Thanks for your kind words, Kelli. <br /><br />This reminds me of my own recent blurb-seeking. I am always very grateful to those who do provide, and, sad to say, very hurt when people refuse. Human nature I suppose!<br /><br />I did want to tell you a story - a very good poet asked me for a blurb, and I said yes. I sent him the blurb via e-mail, but he never got it, and never asked about it (probably for the same reasons you didn't contact Albert G.) so his book came out without the blurb. I have been heartbroken about it ever since, especially because I like his work very much. This is a good reminder to everyone to follow up, especially with e-mail, which can be unpredictable.Jeanninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16419593830749483323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-33989192944952145072010-08-17T11:49:14.721-07:002010-08-17T11:49:14.721-07:00I definitely don't think this blog post was un...I definitely don't think this blog post was unkind! It was very honest. It is a stressful thing to get blurbs.<br /><br />My husband got a great one for me for my first chapbook as a surprise not knowing my publisher wouldn't use it. A friend did my second chapbook - we just did one and then my publisher found one person for my book and then I found the other.<br /><br />I'm already thinking about the second book and who I could ask because I don't want to use the same people and I'm going to stick to two again. Oh the decisions!<br /><br />I've done one blurb and I turned down one offering instead a review because the book was out of my area of expertise (more of a poetry therapy book) but I'd love to do more of them when I have the time :)Jessie Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181286764480973423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-83870473725864063082010-08-17T09:29:50.194-07:002010-08-17T09:29:50.194-07:00P.S. If my blog post came off as unkind, it defin...P.S. If my blog post came off as unkind, it definitely was not my intent.Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-8741550584118719972010-08-17T09:11:51.248-07:002010-08-17T09:11:51.248-07:00Hi Skyler,
Thanks for your note.
I wasn't...Hi Skyler, <br /><br />Thanks for your note. <br /><br />I wasn't alerting cyberspace to point out anything bad about Albert, in fact, I've only ever had good things to say about him. If you read, it's *my* lack of assertiveness/follow-up that affected the blurb, nothing on his part. <br /><br />I mentioned this on my blog not to be unkind (not at all), but because I wanted to be truthful about not getting every blurb that I asked for. <br /><br />It *is* painful to me -no matter what the reason- and it would have inauthentic of me to pretend that I live in a perfect world where the blurbs just arrived with bows tied around them and everything fell into place. I want others to learn from my mistakes--not following-up, being passive, etc. I was accountable here (I know this), not Albert. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm hoping you get this comment. If you leave your email or email me - kelli (a) agodon.com I'll follow-up with you personally and would know that you received this comment.<br /><br />I do appreciate you responding. <br /><br />All best, <br />KelliKelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-1076660947208304032010-08-17T08:33:00.871-07:002010-08-17T08:33:00.871-07:00Yes, Albert lives in about 1987, with his wife (me...Yes, Albert lives in about 1987, with his wife (me), who does not. Being savvy about all things internet and very interested in all things Goldbarth, I have Yahoo alerts when his name is mentioned.<br /><br />You feel vulnerable, needy, and bothersome about asking for blurbs because blurbs ARE about an uncreative, crappy part of publishing. <br /><br />He gets blurb requests, recommendation letter requests *daily*. And you're right, he is nothing but kind about these requests. If yours was overlooked, it likely was because my husband didn't get it, lost it in the heaps of stuff that comes his way, or he responded and you didn't get it or lost in heaps of stuff at your end. <br /><br />The kinder thing for you to have done, instead of alerting cyberspace, would have been to gently repeat your request. You know how he operates, phone or snail mail. Good luck ~ SkylerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-63702815751638587092010-08-17T07:17:38.639-07:002010-08-17T07:17:38.639-07:00Yes, I feel the same. It's hard especially wh...Yes, I feel the same. It's hard especially when you don't really know the people. My book comes out in just a little under a month and I have so far reached out to 4 people, all of whom have been gracious enough to spend their time to read my book and provide blurb (that's a subtle shout-out to you, by the way...)<br /><br />There are still a few that I need to contact but like you said, it's just a very weird feeling...Barry Napierhttp://www.barrynapierwriting.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com