Bisky's Twitterling's Scribbles! discussion

Is anyone else frustrated with getting reviews? How does a nobody get a somebody (especially those huge reviewers on goodreads) to read your work? With everyone and their brother asking for a review, how do you stand out from the crowd?

Sigh... I wished I knew... I'm waiting anxiously for what others will say about that.

Have you set up any Read to Reviews with groups? I know it can be a hit or a miss...

I sent out about 30 emails requesting reviews from blogs in my genre. 8 asked me to send my book. I just sent the request with the synopsis and a teaser. Still waiting to get the reviews on 4. I also offered ARcs to current fans who would agree to leave reviews. Only about half have actually left reviews. I can post my email I used to beg for reviews if that would help. I know it wasn't a huge success but I got more interest this time so I must have done something right.

Hey Cassandra, I'm reading your book. Only 9 chapters read so far , but I'm loving it. :).
Yep. Finally!!! I always had something in the way. :(

I posted about my first book in a certain group, and a certain top 500 reviewer just took a punt on my book and wrote a lovely review.

The good news is the reviewer in question has done the same for a lot of fledgling Indie writers.

The bad news is the review has made bog all difference to my sales. It's nice seeing it there though :)

GG, which one are you reading?

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

@Cassandra Vampires and Vixens.

GG, that is my fluffy vamp series. When is the next Legacy book coming out?

I like the bad boy feel of your vampires. :) Noah's my favorite. I like Nathaniel too; he's a little more mysterious. Well, they all are. It's still so early in the story.

Why do you call it 'fluffy'?

Legacy: I'm formatting Destiny at this very moment, but won't publish it until betas and editor come back with their opinion/corrections.
The editor is doing it on his own free time and only for a few free signed copies. I can't ask too much. ;) (Fate cost me 6 printed copies. I think it was a good deal.)

GG, I'm excited about seeing what happens next. Good deal on the editor.

I call these my fluffy books because they are lighter on the paranormal. My latest book is a new series and it's darker and much heavier on paranormal aspects.

Oh! I'll have to check that out! :)

My mum just said 'I'm used to more fluffy paranormal books' when she read my query letter this morning :P

I feel like a lot of friends and family don't feel like they can leave a 5 star review so they just aren't leaving anything. :\

Seriously, it would be hard for my family and real life friends to leave a review. None aside from my sister in law has even read my book. I can't say I'm fine with the fact they are not interested at all, but I'm more than fine with my sister in law not leaving a review. She reads a lot but never ever leaves any. So why make an exception? When she told me she should write one, I told her she didn't need to. She liked it, and that was plenty enough for me. :)

@G.G. I know what you mean.. My brother loves thrillers and is always recommending books to me. He still hasn't read either of my short stories that would be right in line with what he reads. One is 6 pages and the other is 4 or 5. He could read them both in less than an hour, but he hasn't.

I think family are scared to read it incase they really dislike it or see that you might actually suck. Then they might possibly feel like they are lying when they try to support you. I finally got some to read my short Closed Doors, because it's only 14 pages and the rest of my stuff is novel length. It's sparked an interest in my work by them now atleast xD

@ Brian Maybe Bisky is right. It's easier to avoid reading then to have to tell us in the face they don't like it (that is if they actually don't). It makes a lot of sense. I'm also weary to read works from people I know in case I happen not to like it.

@Bisky That isn't a bad idea, a short story, but it seems it doesn't even work for Brian. I should send my sister to my blog, maybe she'd risk it since I wouldn't be around to see her face when she does. :P

Brian, maybe you should just leave it somewhere where he can see it and maybe read it when you're not around. Who knows.

Yeah that's kinda what happened with Closed doors. I left the link on my personal facebook, it's not the only short I've written, but it seemed to be more accessible for them that way.

My husband supports my writing endeavors. Computer software, printers, paper, contests, writing books, more paper/supplies...read my work?
NEVAH!
Now, if I wrote AT&T manuals, or Linux How To, pfff, he'd be up all night, treating it like it was NY Best Seller. Bastid.
:D
He reads my reviews.
He cheers/jeers, depending upon what's written. I now think it would be weird for him to read my work. My brother-in-law read my book. Not sure how I feel about that :/

I have to brag. My husband helps me edit. My 85 year old aunt reads my books. My sister inlaws 72 year old aunt reads my books. She says I write "sexy books." Even if I don't have a bunch of friends and family reading my work, those 3 make me smile.

I'm at the beginning of the "asking for reviews" journey. Since I'm self-publishing, I decided to be brave and send out requests for reviews after my book was just ready for copy edits. It's been through dozens of CP's and two developmental edits, so I think it's good to go.

I started a list from book bloggers I found on Twitter. So every day or so, I send out a few requests with my cover and synopsis and general information about the book. I'd always heard that it takes 9 no's to get to 1 yes, so that's what I'm focused on. Ten at a time ... No response means no ... And so far, I'm doing better than that! None posted yet, but I just started a week and a half ago.

I also think it's EXTREMELY important to have a good book blurb and cover, so that's what I've focused on. I had one reviewer already tell me that she'd already decided to read my book, but that the cover made her so excited, she would have bought it in the store if she'd seen it! So, my money spent on a professional writing my blurb and another professional doing the cover was money well spent.

I've also asked CP's to do reviews (I have four that agreed), but I am not asking friends/family. They have no clue how to write a review or even how to evaluate a novel. First, I wouldn't feel right imposing on them, and second, I'm not sure I'd like the results. "THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK AND IT SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN HARRY POTTER!!!!" <-- I could see one of my aunties posting that, bless her heart.

'"THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK AND IT SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN HARRY POTTER!!!!" <-- I could see one of my aunties posting that, bless her heart.'

That is a really good point lol, I've seen that kinda thing before. I've actually been put of from reading a book after the author kept putting an excerpt on her twitter from a review that was something like 'Move over Harry Potter, this book is so much better!'

I wouldn't want someone to say something like that, but if they did, I wouldn't retweet it. I'll always remember an up and coming band when I was maybe 14 came on the TV and said 'We'll do better than Metallica because we are better than them.' in england. Well, where are you now? Lol.

I kinda feel like its the same kiss of death to say something like that about books. But maybe it's just my Harry Potter bias :3

Nah, I am not a fan of comparing a book to another unless I find great similarities. A story has to be original. To compare it to something else kind of remove that feeling. Besides, for example, I love Dresden, but that doesn't make a similar book as attractive. (Although I did read a series I loved just as much.) There's more to a genre than the story. There's the way it's written, and more importantly, the protagonist.

However, I am fine if someone on a forum compares a book to another let's say for recommendation. I find that less intrusive. After all, there could be some likeness without being an exact copy.

Oh that I don't mind. A Dance With Fury has been compared by 'Kill Bill vs Okami' I use it alot in tweets to say what its about when people ask. Since when the person mention it I was kinda like 'o_o yes. Yes it is.'

(Not that they are book but you know what I mean xD)

@G.G. My brother isn't afraid to tell me what he thinks. He has just convinced himself that he doesn't have time. I think he would read it if I printed out a copy for him. He's kinda anti-computers except for when he's working. He lives a few states away, so I would have to mail it to him.

LOL Bisky. I told my family they can't review my books. I welcome their comments and suggestions. I think readers need more unbiased reviews than my family would give.

My mum hardly ever likes my writing though :[

Does she say she doesn't? I'm sure my mom is perplexed/offended by my writing, but the most she ever said was, "honey, are you going to put one of those beginning parts in your book where you explain why you write it?" She's a staunch Christian, and my books contain religious themes that are decidedly not.

No I was just kidding :] She liked Closed Doors. She was reluctant to read anything after my first (gawd-awful) book. Now she's interested in reading Fury :] But what I mean is, she didn't tell me she liked it just to please me.

"Maybe I'll like it after it's seen an editor, dear."

LOL. Oh, mothers.

I got a few reviews through the MAKING CONNECTIONS groups on GR. You just supply 5 free copies and should get 5 reviews out of it.

During the year or so before I published I followed several review blogs and commented and tweeted the reviewers - as a fellow reader, not a writer - and eventually started dropping in the writing comments... Unfortunately, my review contacts turned out not to be the right audience for my book after all...

Otherwise, I trawled review blogs that reviewed Fantasy and asked them nicely via email, following their submission rules. The feedback rate was maybe 1 reply per 4 emails sent?? Until my book got too old to be of interest (lost its new release shine), then I could send 10 emails and hit a wall of silence.

I am very lucky to be with a small publisher with an incredibly supportive bunch of authors, so I got a few reviews via them, which gave me the number of reviews and average I needed to successfully snag a BookBub promo... We made my book free for the month and I went from 22 reviews on Amazon (accrued over a year) to now having 134 (since the February promo!).

So, that's my two cents on getting reviews...

Bisky wrote: "I think family are scared to read it incase they really dislike it or see that you might actually suck. Then they might possibly feel like they are lying when they try to support you. I finally got..."

My brother won't read my book because "it won't be as good as Iain Banks."

I agree. Iain Banks is right up there for me... I couldn't possibly dream of matching him with my debut effort.

Oh well.

My parents both read it and liked it. My Nan who I haven't seen in years (she doesn't talk to my mother), read it and liked it. Several of my cousins read it and liked it. My son's kindy teacher read it and liked it.

My siblings won't read it. So be it.
My husband only "read" it because I read it to him...

Bisky wrote: "'"THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK AND IT SHOULD BE BIGGER THAN HARRY POTTER!!!!" <-- I could see one of my aunties posting that, bless her heart.'

That is a really good point lol, I've seen that kinda thi..."

One author on Twitter insists on comparing his fantasy books to Lord of the Rings. Now I have no problem with "If you like [famous work], please give my book a try" approaches, I do that myself, but I can not abide "My book is way better than [one of the best and most famous books ever written]!"

And like you say @Bisky, I don't like it when they post someone's review saying that either (mainly bcs I suspect it of being a sock puppet review, but even honest I would not repost it).

Here's a convo I had with an author that covers my feeling on it:

Me: Your book is not better than Lord of the Rings, and it really doesn't behoove you to post that because no one believes it and we're not going to buy it on that basis.

Author: I'm not saying it is. This is one reader's opinion, I'm just quoting them.

Me: They're wrong. If I were you, I'd stop quoting them because it makes you look foolish.

Now many people jumped me and said it's not my place to tell someone else how to promote their book, and I acknowledge that, so I stopped trying to help him or anyone else.

I wouldn't stop trying to help anyone, just the people who don't want to be helped. I generally keep my opinions 1) general (e.g. on Twitter or my blog) or 2) doled out to my CP's, who I have built up a trusting relationship with.

With guys like the one you describe, he doesn't want to be helped. No need to waste time on him!

@j.David You're brave I dunno if I would message them about it. Since those reviews don't count since they were obviously written by their mother. But then I wouldn't tell you its not your place to say either, who else is gonna say it? There are a lot of authors being scammed and doing thigns wrong because no one wants to tell them otherwise incase their feelings get hurt.

I empathise with the "my family hasn't read my work" portion of this thread. I've two sisters (out of seven siblings) read my first book, one read my second, and none read my (pending) third, which has been available to them. Oh, and neither of my older children have read any. :(

Cassandra wrote: "I have to brag. My husband helps me edit. My 85 year old aunt reads my books. My sister inlaws 72 year old aunt reads my books. She says I write "sexy books." Even if I don't have a bunch of friend..."

Karey wrote: "My husband supports my writing endeavors. Computer software, printers, paper, contests, writing books, more paper/supplies...read my work?
NEVAH!
Now, if I wrote AT&T manuals, or Linux How To, pfff..."

@Cassandra and @Karey. My 72 year old mum and my 85 year old dad read my story in the early stages. They were a great help. I reckon I need a younger person's opinion so my eldest daughter will be reading it and passing a critical eye over it in June after her A levels are finished. My husband has helped out a bit with the synopsis but that's about it.

Rachel ~ SnapDragoness wrote: "Have you set up any Read to Reviews with groups? I know it can be a hit or a miss..."

I've started doing peer reviews rather than chasing elusive reviewers- I got a list of the top 30 reviewers on Amazon- e mailed them all and didn't get even one reply. I also emailed people who had reviewed my shorter works in magazines and anthologies etc ...- one reply saying good luck but too busy.

James
@Jimbomcc69
http://jimbomcc.wix.com/jimbostories#

I do reviews for fellow authors all the time, some good, some not so great, I try and be honest. If the books is really bad I tell them and won't post the review. Sometimes they review my books, sometimes they say good things, sometimes bad, it jus depends on the person. So networking is always good to get a few reviews.

I do want to throw a warning out to everyone though. There will be a point when someone come in and posts a review that says your book is the worst piece of garbage ever written. It doesn't matter how good your books is, or how many people love it, there will always be that one who comes in and slams it and there is nothing you can do to get the review off your Amazon page. My advice is just prepare for it and know when it gets there that you've become popular enough to make someone jealous. You can't help but get mad, but then you just have to blow it off and continue on knowing that you've just survived your first right of passage.

@Rick. I try to be honest and fair when I review books as I know how much work goes into writing them! I tend to do reviews of books I like and do a few for NetGalley. Can't say I'm looking forward to my first right of passage!

Quite often when you get a bad reviews it is because your work is very different to the norm, I'm always getting bad reviews so I'm either very original or just plain bad!!!

James A wrote: "Rachel ~ SnapDragoness wrote: "Have you set up any Read to Reviews with groups? I know it can be a hit or a miss..."

I've started doing peer reviews rather than chasing elusive reviewers- I got a ..."

Hi Rachel, no I haven't. I don't even know what this is to be honest. I think I'm pretty clueless compaared to most of the other people in this group. Got a lot f catching up to do.

James

James A wrote: "Hi Rachel, no I haven't. I don't even know what this is to be honest. I think I'm pretty clueless compaared to most of the other people in this group. Got a lot f catching up to do...."

Some groups have sections set up in which an author can offer free copies of their work up in exchange for honest reviews. Some authors just post read to review offers in the designated author promo sections of the groups.

thanks Rachel

@James The only reason that isn't allowed in this group is because it can cause problems. There are people who sometimes post reviews for spite and also some authors who bully other authors. Sad that it happens really but I think some of the authors in this group have already experienced it unfortunatly :x

Thanks Bisky,

I'm new to all this but I've seen this happen already on other online threads. I'm always surprised how mean some individual can be- not here though, everyone's nice :-)

James

This is hilarious- I read the original post and thought WOW, that is EXACTLY the way *I* feel!!! then saw who posted it. I got 3 hours of sleep last night. :x lol

Nicole wrote: "This is hilarious- I read the original post and thought WOW, that is EXACTLY the way *I* feel!!! then saw who posted it. I got 3 hours of sleep last night. :x lol"

ROFL!!!! Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read your post! Hilarious!