On blurbs for writers

Wednesday 6/24/26

A letter in response to someone who wrote me asking for a blurb which I include here as I think it says what needs to be said about blurbs and writers and which no one else would say.

Dear (),

This is from early last month, and I apologize for the delay in just getting back to you on this late June Saturday morning. I'm afraid I don't check this inbox that often and have been dealing with various matters and writing and really not much else. 

First of all, let me congratulate you. That's awesome. Truly good news. Way to go. 

I'm unsure, even if I'm not too late with my reply, what good a blurb from me would do for you. Beyond that, these things don't matter. Blurbs and such. People act like they do, they say they do, and they often insist that they do, but normally it's just cronyism and pat-a-cake and hidebound types who act like they know but don't know and just say what they say because they're wired to believe they need to say it and ultimately stock descriptors that could just as readily be applied to a bottle of Windex or a box of cookies. 

Personally, if I saw someone who in essence was like, "Here's the work" and there was nothing else, I'd have respect for that person, which in turn would make me think they might have something worth it for me, the reader. Because writing, and great writing especially, isn't about accoutrements. I feel like it rejects them when it knows better. Which is to say, the writer does as well. 

I used to do this same thing. The further I've gone on, the more I realize the less it matters, and that so much of this stuff is just tantamount to games, and not the good kind that stoke our imaginations and develop our sense of play. (This isn't me suggesting anything negative about you; I'm speaking generally.) Which perhaps sounds defeatist, too, on the face of it, as in, no one reads anyway, so why bother? But I don't think so. I think what is needed right now are people who are just about the writing, who can write, who have reason to be that way. 

But I'll look at anything you might wish to send me and try to be helpful. And if not, please don't hesitate to get in touch for anything else. 

Apologies again for the lag, and my heartiest of congratulations--I'm happy for you.

Best,

Colin