I ran across this article via Twitter and thought I'd share.

And, if anyone is wondering, you can follow me on Twitter.

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Comment by I. J. Parker on September 21, 2010 at 1:24am
No, you're quite right. And by the way, the book-writing craze goes on everywhere and involves print books from every TV personality (including weather announcers). They have the perfect medium for self-promotion, and that matters to publishers.
Comment by EDWARD C MORGAN on September 21, 2010 at 1:18am
I saw that and thought it was shady. Giving a bit of guidance to someone who doesn't know how to write a blurb (an industry expert asked to comment on a non-fiction book for example) is one thing. Makes you wonder though.

A trend I hope stays away from fiction is happening in the world of "internet marketing." And I'm not talking about legitimate internet marketing. I'm talking about people who will tell you that you can get rich doing business online, then offer you a course (only cost several hundred dollars - small investment for riches!), teaching you how to get rich online.

Now part of this course - again taught by people who, instead of making millions doing what they teach are making millions teaching you to do what they don't do - is internet marketing, and one of the cornerstones is you must write an e-book. Why? Because if you write a book, you must be an expert. Then, of course, blurbs lends further to credibility so the instructor and your fellow students write each other blurbs, and they sound oh so impressive.

And the sad thing is these e-books are almost always poorly written, superficial and of no real value as a marketing or informational tool.

Let me climb off my soapbox.

In no way do I advocate writing your own blurbs for others, or even in "exchanging" blurbs. Just wanted to make certain that is known.

I don't think writing is a dishonest profession, but as with any profession that must rely on...well...people, there will be those who are dishonest, unethical, or even do something thinking it is OK without understanding why it is unethical.
Comment by I. J. Parker on September 21, 2010 at 12:57am
Dear me! This actually proposes writing your own blurbs and offering the famous author a choice to put his/her name to. Are we really in such a dishonest profession?

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