Several months ago, I spotted a Twitter conversation from Mandy (Smexy Books) about book reviews on blog tours. Romanceland has explode with tales of woe about book reviews. Readers are being nagged to write reviews for books they buy. Reviewers are pressured to publish only glowing reviews for books they receive. Bloggers are being choked with review requests. Authors are overwhelmed with promotions. The total effect casts a dark cloud over a genre known for offering hope.
Let’s get down to basics ala Ben Stein from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Reviews are for ___________.
Anyone? Anyone?
Reviews are for readers.
I believe reviews should be separate from promotions, especially blog tours. Let readers have their private space as they discuss books in reviews. Authors should wait to interact with readers on a blog tour when the blogger invites authors into the reader space.
Yet authors are focused on reaching 50 reviews on Amazon – a golden number that apparently feeds the algorithm. If that is the goal, then authors should focus on how to reach out to 50 readers who are best suited to review their genre. Whether authors are published by NY, small press, or themselves, their initiative to find their tribe will pay off. From Thomas Edison,
Yet authors are focused on reaching 50 reviews on Amazon – a golden number that apparently feeds the algorithm. If that is the goal, then authors should focus on how to reach out to 50 readers who are best suited to review their genre. Whether authors are published by NY, small press, or themselves, their initiative to find their tribe will pay off. From Thomas Edison,
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Authors need to research Romanceland to find where readers of their genre congregate. Then the work begins with review requests. The good – authors can easily access readers through social media. The bad – authors often do not follow guidelines posted by reviewers. The ugly – authors blindly send review copies to bloggers, in my case, as a message to my Facebook account. For the bad and ugly, I simply delete.
Let’s return to the good – many readers, reviewers, and bloggers enjoy being part of Romanceland. It’s a unique community where all parties actively engage in lively discussions about the craft. The key to keeping that community spirit in recognizing boundaries.
Reviews are for readers. Common sense suggests that authors should stay off readers’ forums. Publicly criticizing readers is as effective as a lead balloon.
Accept that readers, reviewers, and bloggers also have lives outside Romaneland.
Good will goes a long way in building partnerships with readers, reviewers, and bloggers.
Then the fun begins with blog tours. But that is an another discussion for another day.
Do you write a review for books you buy, borrow, or win? What are your thoughts on authors asking readers to write reviews? Would you be interested in tips for writing reviews? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, July 11, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 12.
Let’s return to the good – many readers, reviewers, and bloggers enjoy being part of Romanceland. It’s a unique community where all parties actively engage in lively discussions about the craft. The key to keeping that community spirit in recognizing boundaries.
Reviews are for readers. Common sense suggests that authors should stay off readers’ forums. Publicly criticizing readers is as effective as a lead balloon.
Accept that readers, reviewers, and bloggers also have lives outside Romaneland.
Good will goes a long way in building partnerships with readers, reviewers, and bloggers.
Then the fun begins with blog tours. But that is an another discussion for another day.
Do you write a review for books you buy, borrow, or win? What are your thoughts on authors asking readers to write reviews? Would you be interested in tips for writing reviews? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, July 11, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 12.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
