on Writer Unboxed:

A note to my friends at Writer Unboxed: 

As a Type-A to-the-max sort of person, I prepared this essay weeks ago, when the world was different.  Now, an essay about how to solicit praise for one’s book seems frivolous, irrelevant, and downright offensive—and yet I do want to offer it to you. 

Rather than retracting the essay, I’ve decided to offer it in the hope that you will save it for when it may be useful.  

Is there any writer who actually likes asking for blurbs?  I suppose there is, but most of us wish we didn’t have to do it. We understand that it’s necessary—and we all like praise—but we cringe at having to ask for it. The challenge is how to do that sensitively and intelligently.

Let’s start with a few truths.

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