tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post9073639925935393664..comments2024-03-29T03:03:52.813-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Playing the Review GameDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86073936329074598822013-09-21T17:39:01.305-06:002013-09-21T17:39:01.305-06:00Thanks, Karen. When I get home, I'll try to fi...Thanks, Karen. When I get home, I'll try to find that 'review isn't a book report' blog post and share it.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6726389370674920212013-09-20T19:22:06.358-06:002013-09-20T19:22:06.358-06:00Thank you for sharing this information. I read a ...Thank you for sharing this information. I read a lot of books but am guilty of not leaving many reviews. Writing them hits all my insecurity buttons. I've been trying to work on that issue by attempting to write more of them. I appreciate learning about what makes a review good, too.Karen Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879661976460705463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50254288841714897282013-09-20T05:53:01.175-06:002013-09-20T05:53:01.175-06:00Linda -- thanks! I'm out of town and of course...Linda -- thanks! I'm out of town and of course don't have much Internet time, much less access to all the resources I've bookmarked on my PC, but somewhere, on someone's blog, is a great article on what a "good" review should cover. It's NOT a book report. You don't have to retell the story (and probably shouldn't), but a few points about what made you like or dislike the book will help others decide if the book is for them.<br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56219094798603450872013-09-19T19:54:45.910-06:002013-09-19T19:54:45.910-06:00As a person who almost never writes a review, I sa...As a person who almost never writes a review, I sat up and took notice when I read this. When I read a book in the future, I will write a few comments at the very least. Bookwriting is hard work -- the author deserves some feedback.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80107159814866998882013-09-19T17:27:47.325-06:002013-09-19T17:27:47.325-06:00Thanks for sharing, Stuart. Amazing how much synch...Thanks for sharing, Stuart. Amazing how much synchronicity there is in cyberspace sometimes.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82441158408281703672013-09-19T17:26:07.964-06:002013-09-19T17:26:07.964-06:00But Amazon would probably say that's paying fo...But Amazon would probably say that's paying for a review and violates their TOS. I have trouble leaving reviews as an author -- not because Amazon might delete them (they haven't yet), but because everyone's opinion differs, and I hate opening a can of worms if people might carry over their own opinions (if they disagree with mine) to my own books. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61368241008978492622013-09-19T17:23:39.177-06:002013-09-19T17:23:39.177-06:00Thanks -- and of course, nothing is easy, because ...Thanks -- and of course, nothing is easy, because everyone has his/her own idea of what's right, and what works for one person might tick off another. Anyone have a crystal ball?Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13783518617078008872013-09-19T17:22:38.071-06:002013-09-19T17:22:38.071-06:00Rebecca, thanks -- and I hope you enjoy the books....Rebecca, thanks -- and I hope you enjoy the books. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62036585673684204542013-09-19T17:22:01.582-06:002013-09-19T17:22:01.582-06:00Glad I provided something worthwhile. I'm not ...Glad I provided something worthwhile. I'm not 100% sure (not even 50% sure) about the number for Amazon, but reviews definitely make a differenceTerry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65503210643201468712013-09-19T09:51:33.958-06:002013-09-19T09:51:33.958-06:00Thanks for this Terry. By pure coincidence, I'...Thanks for this Terry. By pure coincidence, I'd scheduled a post on my own blog about reviews! Yours is a more practical post than mine, which deals with how a writer might react to reviews. If you're interested, it's athttp://stuartaken.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/reviewing-reviewers.html#.Ujsc82TXhsQstuartaken.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05695584662320617659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68989669922071087282013-09-19T09:47:44.483-06:002013-09-19T09:47:44.483-06:00I guess they weren't really pre-vetted, just a...I guess they weren't really pre-vetted, just a drawing from thousands of entries, but the author did interact with the lucky winners. Smart Bitches Trashy Books has a blog post and interview about it.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87935918463438161002013-09-19T09:42:15.135-06:002013-09-19T09:42:15.135-06:00Susan Mallery has Review Crews and if you Google t...Susan Mallery has Review Crews and if you Google that, you'll get some information about how she does it. I actually signed up but haven't heard anything back. Basically, you get a free hardcover edition in exchange for the review. If you don't do a review, you're dropped from the review team which I think is limited to 100 to begin with. Whether this would work for anyone but a NY Times bestselling author, I have no clue.But in theory, a pre-vetted and special club lends a certain exclusivity to the deal while giving the author a good bit of oversight.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86035302284627246512013-09-19T09:22:22.185-06:002013-09-19T09:22:22.185-06:00I find that my dual roles as a developmental edito...I find that my dual roles as a developmental editor and author cause conflict along the lines of reviews. Because my reputation hinges on the critical success of my authors' work, my policy is to not review or blurb books I've edited (even though almost everyone asks me to). <br /><br />Fellow authors ask me to review, but I'm not sure I'd be doing some of them a favor. Try as I might, I can't seem to drop my critical standards just to promote a friend. Because of the author conflict Diana mentioned on Amazon, the only reviews I've done so far are unsolicited ones of books I've truly loved, on Goodreads.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22644914532732838692013-09-19T07:28:10.794-06:002013-09-19T07:28:10.794-06:00Anger and spite drive people to write bad reviews....Anger and spite drive people to write bad reviews. Some people hire reviewers to review their books (money incentive). The question is how to get people to review your book out of love or at least like. If you come up with that magic wand, please share! I suppose you could hold a contest and the first ten people to review your book on Amazon or Goodreads could receive a "prize" of some sort. Then you could repeat the contest. But what kind of bling would inspire readers to take the time without breaking your bank account?Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12846276692031495802013-09-19T07:25:32.246-06:002013-09-19T07:25:32.246-06:00I'm bad about reviews. I tend to only post rev...I'm bad about reviews. I tend to only post reviews on books that blew my socks off. Even then, I sometimes put it off and forget. Most people get that "review your purchase" email from Amazon and delete it. There is no incentive for people to review products which is why most of the reviews posted on Amazon for things other than books are either paid for (the 5-stars) or people that know them they've begged or bribed. People have no problem trashing a product they hated. Anger motivates them. What we need to figure out is how to motivate the people who love our work to review it. And if someone comes up with that tactic, I want to learn about it! I've tried asking nicely, bribing (free books), and threatening to disinherit. :)<br />None have worked. I've read Amazon is also removing reviews from authors. Crazy, as authors usually read a ton of books. Authors would have to create a second account on Amazon to review and that is too much work. Goodreads has its own share of problems. You could possibly hold a contest and say the first ten people that reviewed your book (3 to 5 stars) would get a prize - something truly attractive. Then run the contest four times and get your numbers up to 40.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69153130483681888702013-09-19T07:25:03.826-06:002013-09-19T07:25:03.826-06:00I'm bad about reviews. I tend to only post rev...I'm bad about reviews. I tend to only post reviews on books that blew my socks off. Even then, I sometimes put it off and forget. Most people get that "review your purchase" email from Amazon and delete it. There is no incentive for people to review products which is why most of the reviews posted on Amazon for things other than books are either paid for (the 5-stars) or people that know them they've begged or bribed. People have no problem trashing a product they hated. Anger motivates them. What we need to figure out is how to motivate the people who love our work to review it. And if someone comes up with that tactic, I want to learn about it! I've tried asking nicely, bribing (free books), and threatening to disinherit. :)<br />None have worked. I've read Amazon is also removing reviews from authors. Crazy, as authors usually read a ton of books. Authors would have to create a second account on Amazon to review and that is too much work. Goodreads has its own share of problems. You could possibly hold a contest and say the first ten people that reviewed your book (3 to 5 stars) would get a prize - something truly attractive. Then run the contest four times and get your numbers up to 40.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41962133851183787132013-09-19T03:29:12.103-06:002013-09-19T03:29:12.103-06:00Getting reviews and developing relationships with ...Getting reviews and developing relationships with readers without annoying them is the one area I think writers would love some help with. There are some fledgling sites trying to make things easier but nothing really solid yet. If someone could come up with a way to do this that works for both sides I think it would be an instant hit. Here's hoping.<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-6613978226797191502013-09-19T01:19:10.280-06:002013-09-19T01:19:10.280-06:00Hi Terry. I just wanted to let you know that I hav...Hi Terry. I just wanted to let you know that I have downloaded both of your books and I do intend to leave a review, once I get the chance to read them! I have a review blog for debut authors that eats up a lot of my time and I am also working on my own debut novel. I love to download books, and sometimes I wish I didn't like it quite so much! :) I will leave a review when I am finished though, I promise. I review every book I read. Sorry it's taking me so long! Best of luck with both books, they look great! I can't wait to get to them!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04498341145835417627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51290293084567204802013-09-19T00:09:40.923-06:002013-09-19T00:09:40.923-06:00Thanks for this info. Very useful detail about Ama...Thanks for this info. Very useful detail about Amazon. I was also wondering about Story Cartel.Fiona Ingramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858421058191075567noreply@blogger.com