Just a head’s up for folks — I sometimes get blurb requests for books that are without a publisher because an agent has told the writer this is necessary to sell the book TO a publisher. I do not read or blurb these books, however, for a few reasons (short thread):

First, I don’t know that I consider it entirely an ethical ask. I think an agent should be able to sell your book based on its merits and pitch rather than names associated with it. Though YMMV, of course.

Second, considering the wide number of blurb requests for books WITH publishers, ones I already can’t or won’t necessarily get to, I feel obligated to get to those before anything else.

Third, the book that exists presently has not undergone developmental or copy/line edits and so it remains formative. Further, given how much a book can change once with a publisher, seems... off to blurb it now.

I don’t blame writers for asking to be clear; we are all trying to find our way. But I’d ask agents or editors considering this to, well, maybe not? It often puts your clients in a weird, untenable position. And it will make for awkward practice if it becomes somehow expected.