Comments on: Consumer Power, Author Responsibility & Why Book Reviews MATTER

By: Consumer Power, Author Responsibility & Why Book Reviews MATTER | Disabled Life Hacks

Thu, 26 May 2016 00:16:40 +0000

[…] Source: Consumer Power, Author Responsibility & Why Book Reviews MATTER […]

By: Why the Fighting? What World are We Creating for Future Readers & Writers? | Kristen Lamb's Blog

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 23:29:23 +0000

[…] Salon pick any of my other follow up posts to highlight? The hard truth about publishing, how to support writers with reviews (for the used buyers on a limited income), or the post about Fair Trade Fiction? All of these posts meant better pay and business for […]

By: Top Picks Thursday 01-14-2016 | The Author Chronicles

Top Picks Thursday 01-14-2016 | The Author Chronicles — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:02:58 +0000

[…] Writers understand the importance of reviews, but Kristen Lamb lays out the way things work so that readers can understand the power that consumers wield and why their reviews matter. […]

By: Writing Links in the 3s and 5…1/13/16 | Traci Krites

Writing Links in the 3s and 5…1/13/16 | Traci Krites — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 06:08:02 +0000

[…] https://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/consumer-power-author-responsibility-why-book-review… […]

By: missdeeyle

missdeeyle — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 02:56:04 +0000

Book reviews help a writer all the time.

By: Wendy Raebeck

Wendy Raebeck — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:52:15 +0000

Fun post, Kristen, and good timing for me. I’ve spent this week feeling bone idle while actually embroiled in cajoling readers into submitting the reviews they’ve promised. As you said, they send glowing emails but actual reviews are either not forthcoming, too brief —”Awesome Book!”—or strange. One was so obscure a friend had to decipher it for me; turned out to be Grateful Dead lyrics. Okay…thanks! Actually, real thanks because it was, at least, a review.
I’m heartened to know I’m not the only vain ego-maniac stalking readers for feedback. I’ve just read over and over how important reviews are, plus I know from experience (2nd book) that they don’t drop from the sky like birds for your cat. You have to GET them. Somehow. And I agree that the energy around paid-for reviews isn’t kosher at all, plus you probably get on a black list at the Zon.
So my method-du-jour is 1) Mention the review right up front when someone (you know of) buys your book, 2) wait for them to a) start the book, then b) finish it, 3) ask how they liked it and casually mention the r-word again, 4) wait patiently, although nothing will happen, then 5) go for broke and ask again [directly, don’t be cagey], and then seriously discern if it’s hopeless or if they kinda want to but can’t seem to swing it, and also 6) notice if they’ve asked what exactly they should write or how to do it or if you’ll ‘help them’….they may really need help or a gentle assist. So, building on #6 (I did this TODAY, and once before with my first book), I texted the person, “I’ll help you get it done in ten minutes” — I picked the day and time I knew was the calmest part of her week. She agreed to it and phoned me, ready to go!
Then I simply asked her what she honestly thought of the book (she’d previously told me she loved it), what she might say to another prospective reader. As she elaborated an answer, I jotted down her remarks. She was taking notes, too, as she spoke. Once we had a short paragraph, I said, “You’re done, it’s perfect.” I suggested she change it around a bit if she cared to, or delete this or that, but that basically she’d done a great job. I then steered her to my Amazon page to submit it while I was still on the phone.
It does make you feel like a vain ego-maniac spending your time this way!!! But maybe these readers will grasp how tough the whole process is for us guys… The good news is that every hard-won review will sit right there beside your book for years to come.

By: Author Kristen Lamb

Author Kristen Lamb — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:36:53 +0000

In reply to Sarah Caroline. I guess that was my central point. We go on and on and wax rhapsodic---Support the BOOKSTORE!!! But if you support writers it WILL support bookstores. No writers and bookstores kind of a moot point.

By: Author Kristen Lamb

Author Kristen Lamb — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:35:37 +0000

In reply to Lisa Chaplin. LOL. We should be big girls and boys. I took it as you meant it I am sure :) .

By: Lisa Chaplin

Lisa Chaplin — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 20:48:01 +0000

PS: I apologize unreservedly to non-Big 5 writers for my last post! I did NOT mean all other writers diss Big 5 authors. I am so sorry. I meant only that a small reserve of people will allow bitterness to creep into their souls, and those ones take pleasure in nasty reviews that attack the author, not just the book.

I beg everyone’s pardon!

By: Lisa Chaplin

Lisa Chaplin — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 20:45:34 +0000

Great post, Kristen! So many of you have made excellent points. Well said, Sarah Caroline!

I admit to not writing bad reviews for the reasons Dora outlined. I never have. I tend to vote with my feet (or wallet). I usually will try an author twice, and if it’s not my thing, that’s it. But twice I’ve read books I literally HATED. Bestsellers both, but I found absolutely nil enjoyment. Did I say so? No. Because I don’t believe my personal opinion on their characters, which others loved, would help.

I’ve (oops, my books – I used to write as Melissa James for Harlequin) been shredded in reviews. Hurt, hated it, and then got over it. But some reviewers take absolute pleasure, not in just dissing the book, but the author too. I usually check out those people, and they’re almost always writers that haven’t sold to the Big 5. I guess that hurt them. Some would say I’ve been lucky that way, selling to 3 lines of Harlequin and then William Morrow/HarperCollins. I would say I worked like a dog to get it, doing courses, revising, cutting, changing the whole book more than once to reach my goal. I believe other writers have done the same. So I don’t diss other writers. I figure it’s a case of not my taste, and move on. Bad reviews won’t make me a better writer. Or make my books sell. Professional courtesy, to my mind.

But I *do* need to write more reviews. Note to self…I read 5-6 books a week and rarely write a review while on deadline. Need. To. Do. More. Thanks, Kristen!

Right. Last day of deadline. GET. BACK. TO. WORK.