How Does Book Blurb Work?

Fill out the form, and we match you with an appropriate blurb partner.

In using Book Blurb and requesting a blurb partner, you are agreeing (as is your potential blurb partner) to both read their book and provide them with a short blurb of 30-40 words. 

In your match email, we will provide detailed instructions, guidelines and timeframes for you to follow. We will provide both you and your partner with each others details.

You must stick to any timeframes sent by us in the swap confirmation email once you have been matched with a blurb partner, or reply within 1 week detailing why this will not be possible. This is to ensure that blurbs are completed fairly and within a reasonable timeframe.

You agree that the blurb you provide can be used by your blurb partner in perpetuity and attributed to your pen name, on their book cover and related marketing material.

If you do not follow the rules stated within our website and these FAQs, you may be banned from Book Blurb forever, and are not liable for a refund.

How Long Will It Take To Find My Blurb Partner?

Please allow up to 3 months.

Do I Have To Accept The Blurb Partner Matched To Me?

Both you and your blurb partner will be emailed with your match details at the same time. Should you wish to decline your match, please let us know within 1 week. We will then find you another match, which may take up to a further 3 months.

You can decline your first match, and we'll find you another. If you then decline your second match, you'll need to resubmit your match request.

My Blurb Partner Declined To Match With Me

It can happen. For many reasons, not necessarily related to you. Keep your head up!

We will find you another match within the next 3 months, free of charge. You will not be penalised for this, and there is no limit to us finding you another match if this happens again.

How Much Effort Should I Put Into My Blurb

Blurb as you would like to be blurbed!

Blurbs should be well thought out, with correct punctuation and grammar, and contain insight to the extent it should be obvious that the writer of the blurb has read the book.

There are many (infinite, probably!) aspects of a book you can pull on, including themes, characters, arcs, emotions evoked, personal likes and what you gained from the story, and so on. Do not write something generic and unidentifiable to the book you are blurbing. For example, "It was fantastic and full of surprises" is terrible.

Can I Ask My Blurb Partner Redo Their Blurb?

If you request this politely, we don't see why not. However, this is not something we can control.

If you feel your partner has fulfilled their responsibilities (e.g. they have not actually read your book), let us know. While we don't want to, we reserve the right to ban anyone from our platform.

Please Can You Give Me A Blurb Example

Of course. Please note, while you will receive a 30-40 word blurb, you can choose to take a small portion of this for your book cover. 30-40 words is designed to give you a fair chance at extracting a sentence you are happy with.

Here are three extracted examples:

1. "A voyage into the abyss, as terrifying as they come..."

2. "Genre-defining beauty in its depiction of smattered,  broken lives..."

3. "Thriller like nothing you've read before."

NB. For '3', this is allowed since, even though it might appear generic, it would have come from a larger blurb supplied by the swap partner that made it clear the book had been read.

What Are The Timeframes?

You'll be matched with a blurb partner within 3 months from submitting your blurb request.

After being matched, you have two months to complete your blurb and send it to your partner.

These timeframes will be included in your match confirmation email.

Can I Use AI To Write My Blurb?

No, other than for processes like grammar and spellchecks. Our platform facilitates the exchange of honest and meaningful blurbs from authors who had read and engaged with each others work.

What Is Your Refund Policy?

You may request a refund within 14 days, provided you have not received your blurb. Once you have received a blurb from your matched partner, no refunds will be given.

If you have not received a match within 3 months of submitting your request, you may request a refund.

Do I Buy My Blurb Partner's Book?

No.

Blurb partners must provide each other with free copies of their book being blurbed. Whether this is through a platform such as StoryOrigin, direct email, post, or other. This must be done within a week of receiving the match, and is not Book Blurb's duty.

If you do not send your manuscript within this timeframe, without a valid reason that your partner is happy with, the match will be cancelled and you will not be refunded. In this scenario, your (former) partner will be found a new match.

My Partner Didn't Write A Blurb For Me

If your partner doesn't provide a blurb within the specified timeframe and without a valid reason, we will take action to address the situation and find you a new match.

Can I Appeal My Ban?

If you believe your ban was made in error, please contact us so we can review the situation. 

Do you accept requests from EU based authors?

Not yet, but we are working on this.