An endorsement is a quote from a reader who has read your book. Having an endorsement from someone respected in your field can lead to increased credibility for you as an author and your book. In this post, i will share with you the steps needed to successfully get endorsements for your book. The endorser didnt read the book cover to cover before adding their name to this process.
How many times have you grabbed a book off the store shelf, read the front and back covers, opened the book, read the endorsements, then made your decision as to whether or not you wanted to buy the book. Ive seen writers take a line of praise from a developmental report and use it as an endorsement for the whole book, with the editors name. The process of writing the book foreword is reduced down to four easy steps. Create a simple, package with all your information and materials to send via email. At the end of this process your books will be made available through retailers like amazon, barnes and noble, books a million, powells, indiebound and many other. Also, indicate anything else that the reader needs to do to provide the endorsement, such as filling out attached forms and the like. Blurb distinct from the back book cover blurb is this 12 line endorsement of a book by a celebrity or another author that sits on the books front cover. Writers, journalists, community and religious leaders, executives, and politicians could all provide quotes that might attract readers to your book.
The key to endorsements is that they should lend credibility to your book. Mar 23, 2017 dont use a quote from an editorial report out of context, or without checking with the editor who wrote it. An authors guide to praise and endorsement best practices 08112016 05. And they will both play an essential role in a books overall marketing plan. When you hear about authors being asked to blurb a book, its this endorsement theyve been asked to provide. A guide for selfpublishers use updown arrow keys to increase or decrease volume. An endorsement can significantly enlarge the books audience but it can also enlarge the endorsers audience by providing additional exposure. If your endorsement is from an ordinary reader someone who is neither famous nor an expert in the same field as the book, then small mistakes in spelling, grammar, or punctuation can actually make the endorsement seem more genuine. Book endorsements i have received the following endorsements for my book man and woman, one in christ man and woman, one in christ subjects every pauline text that deals with women to careful scrutiny, and this means this book is a mustread for anyone doing serious study or preaching about these texts. Hey name, im writing to ask if youd provide a blurb for my upcoming book, insert title. The full endorsement is written on the inside of the book after the page. Here is how to get celebrities to endorse your book. Celebrity endorsements for your book if youve just finished writing a book, dont think the worst part of the job is finished.
What if james patterson agreed to endorse your book. Selectivity dear authors, people will live with disappointment if they dont make the cut. Nov 26, 2016 glenna offers writing workshops and is the creator of mastering the art of writing the catchy fiction book blurb for indieself published authors. The meaning of book endorsements douglas groothuis, ph. The best blurbs come from someone with a reputation in the same space. A sample letter for writers requesting a book endorsement writers relief, inc. A book s endorsements are like wordofmouth advertising, says larry james. Ive attached a pdf to this email with the manuscript, so you can read it if youd like. Games systems were appreciative of my comments, and offered me many free packs of cards or large sums of money as a charming gesture of goodwill, i should be happy to accept such tokens without compromising my. I try to do it within hours, of receiving the notice.
Having a book blurbaka a book jacket or an endorsementfrom a famous or even semifamous author is a marketing strategy that can have a positive impact on your book sales. The why and how of selecting endorsers the steve laube. How to get amazing endorsements for your book reedsy live. Booklife resources and tools for book publishers and writers. The key to having celebrities endorse your book is to put in time up front, and to make it as easy as possible for them to say yes. Consider providing a preaddressed, stamped envelope with your request letter if. Before you write a letter to an author requesting a quote, endorsement, or blurb for your book, take a look at our sample letter shown below. You dont have to know a television or movie star to write your endorsement section. The following endorsements are reproduced from ac 6165. Introduction it is essential for a selfpublisher to understand the differences between an endorsement and a testimonial sometimes lumped together as blurbs.
The same is true if youre writing a gardening book and you get a blurb from an editor at better homes and gardens. They are great to showcase on the books website, in printed flyers advertising the book, and in email announcements of the book for the official launch or release. A guide to writing a book endorsement howgate publishing. Oct 21, 2008 yes, you can write an endorsement with one click, followed by ctrlc, ctrlv. Endorsements are provided based on a draft copy of the manuscript so it is possible that the text may change between the writing of an endorsement and the publication of the book. Ask the author how many words of blurbage she needs and what her deadline is. Here is a disclaimer from a motivational book written in the chicken soup style, containing different chapters from different authors. Keep it short, succinct, and simple, unless the author encouraged you to write something longer. Jul, 2009 endorsements are provided based on a draft copy of the manuscript so it is possible that the text may change between the writing of an endorsement and the publication of the book. Your 4step plan to secure impressive book endorsements. Each plays a vital role in the financial success of your book.
Imagine having an influencer give your book a thumbs up, and the marketing opportunities it will provide. For general instructions on how to apply for financial aid, please visit the office of undergraduate financial aid website. New book authors will help you publish your book from formatting to print. While requesting a testimonial, it is important that the tone of the letter should be polite. An endorsement can significantly enlarge the book s audience but it can also enlarge the endorsers audience by providing additional exposure. Even though i understand how this process works, i still buy books because of a particular endorsement on a book. How to write a legal disclaimer for your book alicia dunams. How to get incredible blurbs for your book scribe writing. I realize the impulse to include every single person. My encouragement is for you to put the effort into this process during the book production and it will pay off for you. Thats why its important to ensure that your letter sounds professional and articulate while effectively expressing valid reasons you believe the candidate deserves the job or award. With my book just a few months away from publication, i tweet the blurbs as part of my marketing plan.
It wouldnt do much good for me to write an endorsement for a book on auto mechanics or nuclear fusion. An authors guide to praise and endorsement best practices. Russells book is also for testmakers, measurement experts, and psychometricians concerned with how to apply ubiquitous, networked technologies toward improving the design, administration and implementation of large scale testing and assessment in. Oftentimes, they are coaches, consultants, trainers, thought leaders, industry experts, executives and entrepreneurs. Sometimes its from a professional working in the field of study thats centered in your book. It is essential for a selfpublisher to understand the differences between an endorsement and a testimonial sometimes lumped together as blurbs. Reviewing our example will help you write your own book cover quote requestbut dont copy this sample letter word for word. Writing an endorsement is a winwin opportunity that will give you exposure and will increase their book sales. Smart writers and agents know the value of including outside endorsements with the query letters and proposals they send to book publishers a persuasive quote from a big name or a wellconnected expert can have a major impact on the level of attention we give a new submission, whether its fiction or nonfiction. How to get celebrity endorsements for your book alicia. How to get endorsements that increase the credibility of. But, whether youre a new writer or a veteran, asking someone for a cover quote may seem intimidating. Readers should be aware that the websites listed in this book may change. Also see the section applicable to the type of practical test for.
Mar 08, 2017 we got their endorsement the next week. Usually only one can go on the cover, and that would generally be from someone very high status to your audience. If you really want the book to hit the bestseller list, generating endorsements from famous celebrities is a mustnot at easy task. Thats why its important to ensure that your letter sounds professional and articulate while effectively expressing valid reasons you. The endorsements found in fiction generally come from fellow authors who write the same genre or magazine writers who were privy to galley copies prior to a book s official release. Here are a few examples of great blurbs for a few of greenleafs recent titles. Request letter request for an endorsement or testimonial. A vivid, chilling tale of jealousy, secrets, and betrayal barbara fradkin, awardwinning author of the inspector green series. Monitor your book sales in realtime using your author dashboard and up to date sales reporting tools. How to get incredible endorsements and blurbs for your book.
As you gather endorsements sometimes referred to as blurbs for you book, youll want to keep a few things in mind. Oct, 2018 the full endorsement is written on the inside of the book after the page. Dont use a quote from an editorial report out of context, or without checking with the editor who wrote it. Please login or join to access the complete cfi book and lesson plans. Pay the favor forward and graciously agree to write a book blurb. Book cover quotes and author endorsements dudette reads. They think its improbable that someone who is well known or. I also like to include some endorsement pages on the inside of the book where you can list all of them. How to write a book blurb that sells not just another boring. Greenleaf has a few key practices for your endorsements. Agree with you book endorsements should come from the heart of the person giving it maybe already connected with the author maybe unknown but loves the book.
If they read the book at all, it is a partially completed draft, and then they usually skim it. Endorsements appear on the books back cover jacket or on the first couple pages of the book, and they are a great tool to attract buyers at book. I tell writers to list their author friends writing in the same category or similar books. Jan 28, 2019 an endorsement is a recommendation by someone in the same field or someone with some clout in the arena. Thats why its our writing prompt contests hope to inspire you to explore new ways of creating a good story by offering challenging writing prompts, skillsbased contests, and educational resources for writers of all interests and abilities.
Top ten tips i learned about getting book endorsements. I like to include 34 of the best ones on the back cover of the book, and if you have a really great one, you can add it to the front cover. Endorsement is a support, authorization, approval of something, while writing a letter of endorsement you have to show advocating to a person, an idea, a movement, or an organization. Keep in mind that writers who are now famous were not always. As you would expect, endorsements are volunteer efforts except, im sure, in exceptional and unethical circumstances.
Indicate by when you need the letter of endorsement. The endorsement is meant to help the book along its literary way. My rule of etiquette for linkedin endorsements is to return the favor in under 24 hours. Together they give thirdparty validation to your book which is the most. They think its improbable that someone who is well known or famous would go. The endorser briefly sums up the book and wishes it well. You can also put the endorsement underneath your book blurb on the channels where you sell ebooks. Yet they do everything to lower my opinion of a book when a book cover quote is full of praise and i wasnt feeling it. Endorsements in this section apply to multiple types of practical tests. Your endorsement should open with a compelling incentive that will resonate with the target readers needs.
Online readers can browse a free sample of your book and the endorsements will be there to read. Reading certification examreading endorsement teachers. Factor in the time it will take for them to read your book, and write the blurb. Writing a professional endorsement letter is a waste of time if it doesnt actually help the candidate in any way. How to create and write a powerful book foreword that will help build your credibility and status, and help the books author sell more books. And if, even in this technological and social mediadriven world, word of mouth is still the most effective form of marketing, then getting endorsements from the right people is well worth your time. How to write a compelling book endorsement elayna fernandez. Sep 19, 2018 an endorsement can significantly enlarge the books audience but it can also enlarge the endorsers audience by providing additional exposure. Apr 28, 2016 therefore, i have laid out some basic definitions of each to help give you a starting point before you begin writing and marketing your book. I sent each of the endorsers a copy of the book along with a thank you note. Yes, you can write an endorsement with one click, followed by ctrlc, ctrlv. The endorser s should be in a position to give a competent judgment q concerning the book p.
If youre a fan of stephen king and he endorses a new horror novel, you might be inclined to read it. Having an endorsement from your mom is nice, but it wont help sell your book. Each endorsement must be legible and include the following information. We specialize in working with authors who see their book as part of their business model. Consider providing a preaddressed, stamped envelope with your request letter if the endorsement letter is to be mailed. For my novel descent, the front jacket endorsement is. Celebrity endorsements for your book the publicity hound.
Endorsements, cover quotes, and forewords carry a lot of. As the publishing industry has long known, books dont sell themselves. How to write a compelling book endorsement the top 5 rules. But if you want to know all the insandouts of selfpublishing a book, including how to write, market, and publish your book within 90 dayswe. The proper way to request a celebrity endorsement is to write a letter, which includes the following information. How to get a famous author to endorse your book writers relief. Games systems, and this is an unbiased endorsement. Dan poynter, known as the godfather of selfpublishing and author of the selfpublishing manual, the selfpublishing encyclopedia, is there a book inside you. An endorsement is a recommendation by someone in the same field or someone with some clout in the arena. Oh and what makes it worse for book sales, i will also avoid whichever author praised a book i didnt like because i start to doubt their credibility as well in writing a good book. Jul 03, 2018 request letter for an endorsement or testimonial writing tips first and foremost it is vital to express your sincerest gratitude towards your client for appreciating your services. People who give endorsements almost always write the endorsement before the writing of the book is even finished.
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