The article discusses the ongoing debate in the publishing community regarding blurbs—brief endorsements on book jackets. While authors often feel pressured to collect these endorsements to enhance a book's visibility, Simon & Schuster's publisher Sean Manning recently announced a policy change, stating that authors under contract would not be required to solicit blurbs from peers. Manning argues that the practice often prioritizes connections over genuine talent, suggesting a significant shift in how the literary market could function without the current quid pro quo.
Trying to get blurbs is not a good use of anyone's time. The favor trading creates an incestuous and unmeritocratic literary ecosystem that rewards connections over talent.
Blurbs... are a ubiquitous part of the literary scene, declaring that the book you're about to delve into is life-changing or captivating.
Collection
[
|
...
]