Comments on: How to Get Into Book Reviewing as a Blogger

By: Robert S. Nahas

Robert S. Nahas — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:42:58 +0000

Thank you for the blog post. It is very insightful and it will surely help many!

By: Nadine

Nadine — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:29:42 +0000

dearauthor.com to GoogleReader!
Nadine

By: Interesting links for September 3, 2009

Interesting links for September 3, 2009 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:33:03 +0000

[...] How to Get Into Book Reviewing as a Blogger by Jane over at Dear Author. The question of how to get into book reviewing, or more specifically [...]

By: Morning Glow

Morning Glow — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:31:09 +0000

These are some great points! I’m actually new to book blogging myself, I just started my blog in July. I wouldn’t say my blog is popular, but I know I feel like I’m doing well for myself. I participate in contests offered by other bloggers, and sometimes authors themselves. Yes, it doesn’t guarentee you’ll get it, and they’re usually not advance copies (though I have gotten a few that are) but that’ll allow you to build up a list to review without breaking your bank. The more reviews you have, the more you look dedicated to it, the more of a valuable reviewing resource you will look to the people that count.

That said, I’m by no means an expert.. as I said, I’m still new to it. But I feel that this is working the best for me.

By: Stumbling Over Chaos :: Peeking out from under the work to bury you in (mostly, but not all) book contests and links

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:03:37 +0000

[...] Dear Author has some great tips on how bloggers can get into book reviewing. [...]

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:11:43 +0000

I’m probably alone in this, but I don’t really want ARC’s.

No, there at least are two of us. I do not accept them.

And the navigating blog comments post is one I will be awaiting!

By: KristieJ

KristieJ — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:04:01 +0000

I’m probably alone in this, but I don’t really want ARC’s. I’ve never asked for them and never will. I do get them from one publisher and I appreciate them like you wouldn’t believe but that’s because their books are hard to find in Canada.
To be on a list to receive ARC’s implies that I will always read the books they send and I might not want to read some of them I might get.
I read books for enjoyment and when I read one I’ve enjoyed, I want to let others know. So I don’t want any kind of obligation to read attached to it.
Plus – when it comes right down to it – I gave myself a huge budget when it comes to book buying *g* and it makes me feel good when I buy a book, knowing that in some small way, it’s contributing to the author.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:48:39 +0000

@Maili These are great tips. We should do a follow up post about navigating the hostile blog comment waters!

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:46:48 +0000

@Janet W It’s what Janine said, but I can expand on our policy a bit more. We post reviews near the release date for two reasons:

1) When I was a reader and reviews were posted of a book I wanted two to three weeks before their release, I found it very frustrating, particularly with a good review. I wanted that book right now and having to wait made me irked. When we started getting ARCs, I never wanted to place a reader in those shoes so unless we are having a giveaway, we won’t post a book review more than a few days before the street date release of a book. This may reduce the ability of an author to get enough pre pub buzz, but I think it’s more fair for our readers.

2) Authors and publicists don’t want reviews too late because books will only stay on the shelves for 1-2 months and pre -orders are important in getting on the bestseller lists. Reviews near the release date is our best compromise for coverage. (particularly when we don’t promise a positive review).

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

@Jenn What a good question. When I started DA, I hadn't realized that bloggers could ever get ARCs or books from a publisher. It was revelatory to me. I think that you could ask right away if there is one particular book that you were looking at reviewing, but be prepared to a) provide justification as to why you should get a copy (i.e., I am an active member at x site or y forum and just started by review blog at the prompting of all my friends who will visit me everyday and are interested in hearing what I have to say) and b) to get turned down. Also, if you get turned down, don't be afraid to make another request. It will show that you are serious, particularly if you keep reviewing the books you buy and read yourself. An author interview is a lot easier. Go to the author's website and find their contact information. If they have just a contact form, use it (I do all the time). Tell them who you are and what kind of interview that you want to do. Good luck! We were all newbies at one time.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:37:44 +0000

@Danielle What do you mean? This is just a set of guidelines that I follow and has worked for me. I don't think that it's a hard and fast rule in the industry but I do believe in the professionalism concept.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:36:43 +0000

@Connie Welcome Connie. DA is a labor of love for us here. We just love to talk about the books we’ve read. As Jayne said, we self select the books we review which is why we have such a high proportion of favorable grades. Over 50% of the books we review will get a B- grade or better because we don’t finish books we don’t like and we don’t choose (generally) to read books we think we won’t like.

You can definitely comment on old posts and I always see those comments plus your comment will appear on the sidebar under “recent comments” so others will see that an old post is active again.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:24:52 +0000

I’m sort of interested in starting a reading blog for romance novels in a different language

I think that would be a marvelous idea – to review books in a different language.

I just wonder how many books you still have to review even though the storyline doesn’t seem interesting, or do most of you still stick to what you want to read?

We don’t assign books to be reviewed or make ourselves finish books which aren’t working for us.

I’ve wanted to comment on some old posts for some of the excellent books that I picked up just reading Dear Author but I felt like the author of the posting probably won’t look at it since it’s so old. So I just wanted to say how I think this blog is totally excellent. Thanks!

The replies for any reviews/articles which we’ve done should still show up in the review author’s email. Some reviews have been closed to new replies due to excess spamming. However if you’d still like to contact the reviewer, you can look at the end of the review and see a link (email this author) to contact the author of the review.

By: Saturday Blog Hopping & Some Questions | Monkey Bear Reviews

Saturday Blog Hopping & Some Questions | Monkey Bear Reviews — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:04:41 +0000

[...] at Dear Author has a great piece on How to Get Into Book Reviewing as a Blogger. It’s got tons of tips on how to go about soliciting Advanced Reading Copies, etc. If you are [...]

By: Connie

Connie — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:27:07 +0000

I stumbled onto Dear Author a week ago and I’ve been spending a lot of time just perusing the postings. I’m amazed at how much time I spend just reading the posts instead reading the actual books.

I’m sort of interested in starting a reading blog for romance novels in a different language and I really like the format of Dear Author since your reviews seem to be directed toward someone, which in turn allow for each reviewer’s personality to come through. I just wonder how many books you still have to review even though the storyline doesn’t seem interesting, or do most of you still stick to what you want to read?

I’ve wanted to comment on some old posts for some of the excellent books that I picked up just reading Dear Author but I felt like the author of the posting probably won’t look at it since it’s so old. So I just wanted to say how I think this blog is totally excellent. Thanks!

By: ag

ag — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:37:54 +0000

Very useful advice, Jane, Maili, and Leah.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:03:45 +0000

Wow…I don’t think I meet a lot of this criteria…dang.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:58:32 +0000

I found this really interesting. I’ve just started a book blog, just for fun, only thing is I’m only looking at authors I like so I’ld never get anywhere going professional with it. Although I do try new authors from time to time I have a hard time finding any that really appeal to me.

So my blog is going to be biased, and riddled with 5 star reviews. At first anyway. I have to get the books I really enjoyed off my chest. /grin

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:32:59 +0000

Thank you very much! I’ve just decided to start my own book blog, and this cleared up a lot of questions I had. (:

Just wondering, if one blogged regularly, how long do you think that person should wait to request their first ARC (or just from your personal experience)? And I don’t know if this is really related, but how do you go about with an author interview?

Sorry for all the questions; I’m a total newbie at this. Any help is greatly appreciated! :D

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:11:20 +0000

Nice post, Jane, although I think if people can’t figure a few of these out on their own, no amount of advice will help. I especially like the last line.

Maili wrote,

“- if or when you receive an email from an irate author (or publicist, reader, fellow blogger etc.), it’d be a good idea not to repost the email in your blog. “

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I’ve been blogging now for a year, and reading many other blogs for at least 2 years prior to that, and I have never seen this. I wonder if this advice is more widely known and accepted now? Or maybe I just blinked at the wrong times…