NetGalley Addicts Support Group discussion

I’ve tried to post several times and it keeps getting removed. Help?

I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. Maybe I should put my post here as a comment?

I initially joined NetGalley in 2014 and had three titles approved. Something happened and I was unable to review. A few years later I was in a bad auto accident and had a concussion which left me unable to read for years. I’m just now returning to reading and reviewing. I marked those three titles from 2014 as will not give feedback. I was approved for two titles both of which I reviewed giving one 3 stars and one 2 stars. Since then I have been declined four times. Do publishers see all your declines? Are my low ratings affecting approval? I’m concerned the more I’m declined the more I’ll be declined. Also I’m unsure how to get my ratio up if I keep getting declined. I know those “will not give feedback” are affecting my ratio.

Any tips or advice? I’m really a newbie though my account is several years old.

Katt wrote: "I initially joined NetGalley in 2014 and had three titles approved. Something happened and I was unable to review. A few years later I was in a bad auto accident and had a concussion which left me ..."

Hi.

Glad you are feeling better. I had post-concussion syndrome for about 3 months years ago & although it was fairly mild, it was bad enough, so you have my sympathies.

i) Do you definitely not want to read the books from 2014 or do you just feel too much time has passed now? I have a few books from earlier years but I do plan on reading & reviewing them to keep my percentage up.

ii) You could look at reviewing 'Read Now' titles to increase your ratio.

iii) It depends on the publishers. My ratio percentage has been hovering around 62% for ages but I tend to get most books I request. There seem to be a couple of bigger publishers though that I get negative answers from quite a lot.

One of my goals for 2024 is to increase my percentage to 80% to see if that has an effect.

Gayle wrote: "Glad you are feeling better. I had post-concussion syndrome for about 3 months years ago & although it was fairly mild, it was bad enough, so you have my sympathies.…"

Thank you Gayle. It’s been a rough road. I’ve been dealing with PCS for years. I had other factors that complicated my recovery. I’m actually still in vision therapy which was a life saver.

I think I can review one of my 2014 requests but the other two probably won’t happen. I guess I’ll just keep plugging along and see what happens.

Thanks for your suggestions and information!

Katt wrote: "I initially joined NetGalley in 2014 and had three titles approved. Something happened and I was unable to review. A few years later I was in a bad auto accident and had a concussion which left me ..."

Maybe you should close your current NetGalley account and create a new one. I don't think NetGalley has a problem with that. I closed my first account when I thought I was finished with ARC obligations. Then later, a publisher contacted me by email, though, wanting me to review a book, and I could only get a copy through NetGalley. So, I created a new account and started reading ARCs all over again.

SundayAtDusk wrote: "Maybe you should close your current NetGalley account and create a new one. I don't think NetGalley has a problem with that..."

I had considered that but wasn’t sure NetGalley would go for it. It may have been better to do that when I received notice they were going to delete my account due to inactivity. Maybe I should have let them and then rejoined.

Try closing your account and opening a new one. Or contact NetGalley first, if you think they would have a problem with it. You opened your account 10 years ago, and, due to your health problems, you aren't even the same reader you were when you joined. There is no fair reason you should be stuck with that account that shows inactivity and a bad review record.

P.S. You might even start a new thread here, asking others if they have ever closed an account and opened a new one.

SundayAtDusk wrote: "Try closing your account and opening a new one. Or contact NetGalley first, if you think they would have a problem with it. You opened your account 10 years ago, and, due to your health problems, y..."

I like the way you think Sunday! A new thread is a great idea. If I can get it posted. I had the hardest time trying to do a new post. Not sure why.

I know, it was strange . . . I got lots of emails where you had posted comments, but when I clicked on the links in the emails, it said the comment was not found. Very odd.

I kind of think that starting over with a new account might be your best move. I suspect there are two different things combining to keep you from getting the books you want. First, of course, is the period of inactivity, but also, once you came back, you gave one book 3 stars, one 2 stars, and nothing got 4 or 5 stars. Generally, publishers don't hold an unhappy review against a reviewer; I have had my share of epic ones, including at least 2 on books that went on to win awards and glory. But to have a negative review, a lukewarm review, and not like anything well enough to crow about, added to the lengthy time away...I can understand why a publicist might review your account and decide that nothing good will come of giving you access.

When you start over--if you do that--I would wait to review anything until you find one that you like pretty well. I generally try not to post two unhappy reviews in a row, though I'm sure, over the past ten years, that I have slipped and done that a time or two. I don't want to be viewed as a negative reviewer. If they figure a reviewer doesn't like anything, it's going to affect approvals.

Donna wrote: "I kind of think that starting over with a new account might be your best move. I suspect there are two different things combining to keep you from getting the books you want. First, of course, is t..."

That was exactly my concern. I can see what it would look like. I know they say negative reviews don’t hurt your chances, but let’s be honest, publishers want to sell books. I couldn’t mark them higher though just to have positive ratings. It just happened that I was approved for titles that weren’t so great but I had no way to know that until I read them. *sigh

I’m thinking I’ll delete my account and revisit this in January by starting fresh. Then I guess I could try to get titles from authors I know, at least initially. Thanks for your input!

BiblioPeeks wrote: "Donna wrote: "I kind of think that starting over with a new account might be your best move. I suspect there are two different things combining to keep you from getting the books you want. First, o..."
Best of luck. Fingers crossed!

BiblioPeeks wrote: "I’m thinking I’ll delete my account and revisit this in January by starting fresh. Then I guess I could try to get titles from authors I know, at least initially."

When you rejoin, you might want to start with some Read Now books—they'll help you build a feedback ratio in the new account, plus a more general track record for publishers to look at, and there's no chance of denied requests there.

“When you rejoin, you might want to start with some Read Now books—they'll help you build a feedback ratio in the new account, plus a more general track record for publishers to look at, and there's no chance of denied requests there"

I took this advice and I have been approved for titles!

BiblioPeeks wrote: "“When you rejoin, you might want to start with some Read Now books—they'll help you build a feedback ratio in the new account, plus a more general track record for publishers to look at, and there'..."

Bib, I am so glad to hear it. Good news to send me off to sleep. Thanks for letting us know!