I’ve been watching a very disturbing trend among indie authors that is going to, if it hasn’t already, gives indie a bad taste. Authors have been blogging and posting to social media with posts that indicate they think that readers owe it to authors to leave a review on their books. This smacks of disrespect for the readers and is looking very unprofessional. I’ve seen posts that range from “readers should appreciate all the time it took so should leave a review” to “karma will get you if you don’t review my book”. Really?
Readers don’t owe a writer anything, unless they agreed in advance to review your book. The average reader that buys your book, or downloads it from a generic free book promo you did on Kindle or Smashwords, doesn’t “owe” you a thing. Amazon Kindle apps prompt a reader at the end of a book to rate and leave a review, Smashwords sends emails out to people that have bought books to ask for a review, but really, if a reader didn’t like the book, or wasn’t overly impressed by it or even if they LOVED it, are under no obligation to leave you a review.
As a writer you love to hear feedback. After all it took you months or years to write your book. But the reader doesn’t care. The reader gets a finished product and it doesn’t matter to them if how it got to be a finished product. They just want to be entertained or educated. Some people never review books. Others don’t like posting reviews in public. Some genres are going to get fewer public reviews than others simply because the reader might not want the world to know what they have been reading.
The book sellers are partially responsible for the current begging and chiding readers for reviews because they are using them in their ranking algorithms to move books higher in searches. This doesn’t excuse the public outcry that readers *need* to review books or else you are going to die. Your book will garner attention if the writing is good, the story is good, the cover and blurb are enticing.
What I am talking about here isn’t the normal requests for reviews where writers exchange books or ask reviewers specifically for reviews, that is a totally different animal. The things that make indies look like amateurs are the posts that try to guilt the normal, everyday reader into leaving a review because (insert some reason the author feels entitled). If you gave your book away for free people probably won’t read it that day. It was your decision to make it free. Yes part of the reason is to get reviews. But I would hope it was more to build some readership and realize that people don’t always post in public, but they may talk about your book to their friends in private. Acting and posting in public that you are entitled to reviews just because you think you are is very unprofessional.
A more professional way to entice people to leave reviews is to ask at the end of your book. Maybe have a webpage where readers can go and join your mailing list and if they liked your book they will join and you can send out reminders of how great it would be if they left a review on Amazon or Goodreads or Smashwords. Offer a bonus chapter or something of interest to readers if they join your mailing list. Be creative, you are a writer after all 🙂
Reviews are important, no doubt about that, but let’s be professional about how we try to get them and not offend the very readers you are trying to get to leave those reviews.
Interesting post. With my writer’s hat on, I certainly don’t feel entitled to any reviews but I do get really fed up with sending out free review copies to reviewers who promise to leave a review and then hear nothing more. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to follow up a review request politely if someone has agreed to review it. I usually leave it at least two months so that’s hardly hassling anyone! All it takes is for the reviewer to say ‘sorry I’ve not had time yet’. Or even ‘sorry, but it’s not my cup of tea’ (though personally I wouldn’t request a book that didn’t grab me, life’s too short!) But ignoring follow up emails from writers who’ve sent review copies in good faith is just downright rude, in my opinion, and unprofessional to boot. This has happened to me on countless occasions. If I’m unable to read someone’s work I don’t make false promises and this is what I do expect: good manners and a timely reply, whatever that reply might be, and not a deafening silence.
This post wasn’t aimed at writers that send requested books to reviewers, but to writers that rant on their blogs that people that read their books are evil if they don’t review them. There were several I came across all at once and it is really unprofessional.
Whoa! I love this thread and topic. I am new to the ebook universe and even newer to indie publishing (6/2013). I am astonished at the frenzy of not just indie authors but those published by online publishers as well. I’m both. What utter hubris to suggest a reader owes an author a review. A reader buys my book, I get a royalty. That’s my review–comes in the form of $$$. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on books in my lifetime. Never wrote a review. Where would I? Until the advent and innovation of Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and other SOEs–no ordinary reader wrote reviews–that was the province of the NYT and Publisher’s Weekly. Yep. Ebook authors need a certain number of reviews in order to place our books on sites that move books (paid promo or not). What I notice indie authors doing is swapping reviews to get that magic number. One book that is number one in its Amazon slot right this minute has gross spelling errors, a pacing slower than a snail, and formatting issues. Several reviews suggested the book needed an editor. Well, the book listed an editor. Shame on me: I looked her up. The woman listed as editor is not an editor but an attorney with a huge yellow BBB alert on her page–making it inaccessible. A few weeks ago some guy was trying to get me to add a ten page tutorial at the back of each of my books directing my readers on how to write a review and why it was important to do so. The tutorial also contained a link to the guy’s site where he was selling some other kinds of services. I told the guy he was dumber than rock if he thought I was going to add ten badly written pages to the back of my book. Hey! That’s where I put my Find Me Links and excerpts to other of my books. I got booted out of the FB page. Early on I refused to review an ebook. That author marked every one of my books as one star reads. I didn’t say a word–but Goodreads and Amazon removed them. I do submit my books to sites that accept books in my genre for review. The best and most trusted review site is Big Al’s Books and Pals. If Big Al says you have a book–you do. If the book has issues–you don’t. As an author, I am not going to beleaguer my readers with review requests. As reader, I don’t want to be besieged by review requests. Enough said, I guess.
Even if I agree to read your book, I owe you NOTHING other than trying to read it and giving you a review if, again, it is worth reviewing. Honestly I am tired of this mentality. HENCE why I won’t take review requests anymore because if I do they seem to think I better review it and soon, even when I say I cannot read it till 2014 they sometimes harass me every 3-4 weeks saying things like “I know you are busy, but just wanted to know where you were at in getting my book reviewed… if you can’t just yet, I understand” IF I said I COULD NOT right now, you obviously do NOT understand. HERE is the story that one author did to me, and this s NOT my first rodeo at harassment just one that reached a bodily harm threat and a suggestion to go step into traffic (Amazon removed it) http://www.stopthegrbullies.com/2013/09/10/the-attack-on-kriss-morton/
I go through sort of spells. For awhile I was reviewing every book, but then I went through a spell where I wanted to move on to the next book and thought, “OH, I’ll review it later,” but then later I didn’t remember enough to actually, y’know, review it… O.O
Now I write the review as I’m reading the book, whenever I pop on-line, so that I can be sure to review it. But honestly, I have more books than I could ever read in a normal lifespan, and the books for which I’ve promised a review will take me two or three years to go through, so … yeah. If I pick up a free book, you’ll be lucky to see a review this DECADE…
Like Corrine, I recently did a post about people attacking reviewers for leaving honest opinions. It’s not just authors who do this, but also rabid fans, or sometimes just people looking to create drama.
http://katysozaeva.blogspot.com/2013/09/are-you-kidding-me-why-critical-reviews.html
On the other side of this is authors being attacked for doing something human, like putting their foot in their mouth somewhere. It seems the Internet gives people inflated ideas of how cruel they can be, since it’s “Just an avatar, not a real person…” *sigh*
As it has been said, nothing wrong with requesting or prompting a reader for a review. Many readers think their reviews won’t matter. Telling them their feed back is important encourages them to take the five minutes to leave a review. This is also helped by many eReaders/retailors like Kindle and Smashwords addig prompts at the end of books and to emails.
The issue is when the author becomes expectant of the review (review request agreements not included), and also when the author doesn’t like the review they are given. I recently wrote a post on this issue, which has gotten rather bad lately – authors trashing reviewers for giving honest feedback. http://cekilgore.com/self-publishing/bad-book-reviews-what-not-to-do/
It is hard enough for books to get reviewed – especially indi books. By attacking reviewers for giving feedback does nothing but make people less likely to leave reviews. I have heard many people say they refuse to leave reviews on Amazon and GoodReads because they have been attacked or know someone who has been attacked for leaving a lower than three star rating. Too many authors have become obsessed with the 5 star mentality and, quite honestly, think to highly of themselves. It has created a very caustic environment on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere where the review feels like they are stepping into a minefield everytime they publish an honest critical review.
As a voracious reader, I’m more than happy to review a book that I have read and enjoyed thoroughly. Consider it sort of like a tip for excellent service at a restaurant.
As a marketer, I’m also mindful of the fact that my review is going to carry weight…and for a book with few or no reviews, it’s going to be serious weight. Because of this, I have a hard and fast rule: if I find that for me, a book is mediocre at best or at worst, full of grammatical errors, typos, or plot holes you can drive a 747 through, I will not leave a review. Cajoling, begging, or downright harassing me (yes, this has happened) is not going to change this. Going back to the tip analogy, my one star review is akin to skipping right over the horrible service and complaining straight to the manager. No one really wants that.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in asking for a review from readers, but be mindful of how you do it and how often.
Great, thought-provoking piece.
I am always thrilled to get reviews, like any writer. I must be very lucky as I’ve had lots for my book. I never coerce or cajole, just if people mention they’ve read it I ask if they would consider leaving a review on Amazon. And I always thank each and every reader who does, whether the review is 5-star or 1-story. If they haven’t enjoyed it, I always say I’m sorry they haven’t.
When I was a young journalist I once wrote a rather tongue in cheek review for my paper of the latest offering from Dame Barbara Cartland. I had no way of knowing the great lady always sent a personally hand written letter of thanks to each and every reviewer, including unknown uppity young journalists like me. I thought it so charming and gracious I have always tried to emulate her way.
I would never dream of saying anyone owed me a review. I don’t personally do free giveaways so readers have bought the product and therefore owe me nothing further.
Great post. Thanks for chiming in on the conversation started on Facebook. I know how important reviews are to writers. I get it and at times I feel bad for the almost 40 books I have read this year that I have yet to review because the world needs to know about these amazing authors. We all need some sort of validation but I think some Indie authors are going about it the wrong way. Today I had a guy reach out to me to review his book and feature him on my site. I was excited when I checked out the book on Amazon and told him to send it over. Guess what? There was no book coming he just wanted the a 5 star review on Amazon and as for the review on the book…. I could find a synopsis online. Why contact me to insult me like that? What vibe did I give off to make you feel that was kosher? As I said on my blog post today, a book review whether positive or not so positive should be seen as a means of helping the author. It’s not a virtual hug fest where everyone who reads your book dishes out 5 stars all willy nilly. How will you grow as an author like that?
I agree with both Kate and Laura in that it is becoming more and more important for self published authors to garner reviews in order to stand out from the crowd.
I am also of the slightly controversial opinion that if you have sat and read a book and liked it then why not spend a couple of minutes writing about your reading experience. I have to say that I only post reviews for books that don’t have many reviews to start with. I wouldn’t for example bother to post a review for The Game of Thrones as there are hundreds already, but I would be more inclined to write something if the author only had one or two reviews.
I know that readers who look at first time authors on places like Amazon probably won’t download the book unless it has four or five favourable reviews so what is an author to do? Also, if I were to do a free promotion of my books then I would expect reviews from readers that have downloaded them – it just seems like a fair exchange to me.
Finally any review is helpful, whether it is good or bad.
Self publishing contains, by its very nature, an element of self promotion
Heath is it ok to want people to review your books, but some authors are being rather rude and crass in their blog posts berating readers that don’t leave reviews.
I think as indie authors we are already fighting an uphill battle and to piss off readers isn’t a good idea 🙂 I do think there are a ton of ways to encourage readers to write a review without being insulting to them or demanding of them.
There is self promotion and then there is being pushy and rude. Big difference 🙂
I am always extremely grateful when a reader leaves a review for one of my books, for it is the highest compliment a reader can pay an author. Even if it isn’t a 4 or 5 star review, for as writers we can never hope that a story will appeal to everyone, we can always learn from comments, strive to do better next time. But it is the reader’s right to review or not. I believe any other idea is unprofessional and demeaning to the author who suggests it
I placed a request for reviews at the end of all of my books. Not that I’d tell my readers, but I’d hoped and prayed that they’d leave a review so I could do more promotion. Another trend that’s developed due to the glut of self published books is the need for book promotion sites to require books have ten reviews or an average of 4 stars to even be listed on their sites. So in that case, many new writers are faced with the “how to get a job without experience and how to get an experience without getting a job problem.”
It makes it difficult for a new writer to even be heard in the crowd, and I think the panic causes too many writers to freak out . Some writers like me aren’t used to asking people for anything, and we don’t have the skills to do so without coming off as whiny and desperate.
There’s a book subject, etiquette for indie writers!