VCFA Fiction Student, Sophfronia Scott, Talks Book Blurbs in NYT
Posted on Thu, Mar 08, 2012 @ 08:53 AM
Book blurbs: we love 'em, we hate 'em. The New York Times' forum on the subject -- 'Riveting!': The Quandary of The Book Blurb -- features not only Stephen King weighing in, but also Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing student Sophfronia Scott.
In her piece titled "The Blurb That Changed My Life," Sophfronia speaks to the validation a writer feels when they realize they're not just a "writer" anymore, but an "author." Sophfronia writes:
"As my first novel neared publication and my editor said it was time to solicit blurbs for the book cover, I admit I was going through the motions in hopes of just getting a few good, recognizable names. I humbly assumed no one would have time to read my 350-page tome, so I sent respectful letters of request with convenient sample wording that the recipient could use to fashion a suitable endorsement.
However the responses I received, especially from Henry Louis Gates Jr., shocked me to the point of making me rethink who I was as a writer."
Read more about Sophronia's experience with "the blurb" here.