I’m curious about this . . .
I read a lot–but I rarely have time to write a review of a book. I know many voracious readers who don’t feel their opinion would matter that much and they are busy-mostly working. Readers’ opinions are what the author wants-correct?
The publishing industry has changed and with mixed feelings–I know it will never go back. “Professional” reviewers-what does that mean? Generally, “professional” indicates you have some credibility and get PAID.
Would you agree that the opinion of the common reader of a story is the best review-period.
Can't an Author pay a reviewer enough for a cup of coffee-at least?
How many credentials the reader has by their name and review is something to consider-but not the end-all of anything. If someone reads an author’s story/book–a simple one or two sentence review is gold. It’s honest and appreciated.
I met a woman on My Space years ago who is a voracious reader. I totally take her advice about a fiction genre, the author, and the books she reads and occasionally reviews. What are her qualifications? She reads and reads! She is a grandmother, the wife of a military husband, and has a degree of some sort. But more than that, she is honest. Honest to herself. But she doesn’t like to share her opinion publically.
It takes time to write anything and time is in short supply for most people. Plus, just writing in of itself intimidates some people. So while professional reviews are desirable and appreciated; a common reader should be encouraged to write a few words without a comment on his/her review correcting grammar or the like. Are we becoming a nation that can only push the “like” button?
Indie authors need honest reviews – the more the better. Being discovered doesn’t mean that the author is just so good he/she was found in the zillions of e-books that are available. Someone who is not a dedicated writer, might throw out an e-book or two and that’ll be it. We all know the expression, “don’t quit your day job”.
But a writer will keep writing and it just seems fair that the indie writer be able to get feed back through paying a nominal fee for reviews from “real” readers as part of their publicity plan. I think the days of a reviewer’s motivation being a free book are quickly coming to an end. With “free books” and $.99 cent books; the excitement of a new book can be satisfied on demand-and cheap. A new author must build an loyal audience-reviews are just a fraction of the work of getting an author’s book seen by the public-and the opportunity to read it. I think a new work-at-home income opportunity is a reality that cannot be ignored or stopped. And why should it?
I mean, I’d read James Patterson for free-lol. But what about the lone-indie author buried out in cyber-book-galaxy-not unless it was reviewed.
Hire a publish-ist’? Impossible for most indie-authors and the results would not be as honest as reviews from readers! I think it is unethical for an author or publisher to pay for a garunteed positive review –but to pay a nominal fee to compensate the reader/reviewer for the effort and time the reader takes to write a review is just good business and a balance of power. I don’t believe is unethical-unless it the author is paying for a pre-determined, positive reveiw. If the author is paying the reader to give an honest review and perhaps does not see it until the review is published-How can that be wrong or unethical?
Since the publishing industry has changed and is experiencing major growth and changing pains: I think it’s time that a review that is paid for by the publisher or author should not be considered unethical. I think it may be a thing of the past that a publisher will invest large campaigns into their budgets for new authors-or at least a rare occurence. There must be another option.
Don’t recoil.
We pay for opinions all the time from all types of industries: from dog trainers, hair dressers, physicians and computer-geeks and techs. I think the fear of paying for non-professional book reviews scares some people, because of the propensity for dishonest, positive reviews that slant towards the author–or worse, some entity hiring reviewers to write AWFUL reviews to hurt the sales of another author’s book.
I think that in the proper venue of today and the past: a book reader/reviewer could get a book at no charge for taking the time to write a review. I think will change in the publishing industry and due to supply and demand. What is the reviewers’ value? Indie authors will never survive without Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. America’s support.
The Professional Book reviewers at the large magazines and newspapers get a salary and are trusted. Do we think so little of our readers that we believe they are unable to be honest? Of course not.
Where are the readers who are willing to read new, indie authors and give an honest review?
The author could gift card or gift or lend the book if the distributor has those functions. Anyway, without the budgets of the big name authors, pretty soon every authors’ hard-earned income will be cut and it’s coming fast. Book prices are dropping–but, the writer isn’t working less.
Consider: If I’m a big name reviewer– for a big, big distributor– and I can ignore– or drop an “A” bomb, crushing review on a new/unknown, indie author without accountability–isn’t the balance of power in the big-name reviewer? Top reviewers are sometimes the driving force behind sales–and no one sees the propensity for corruption here?
I think it is ignorant to think that a reader cannot be compensated for an honest review of the book–an independent contractor–who also reviews other authors books! There is accountability and the reviewer is small enough that indie-or new authors can call upon that reviewer for accountability. I’m not talking about firing a reviewer because the author got a bad review. I just mean it would be easier to see if the reviewer seem to slant reviews toward the positive or negative in a predictable or repeated manner. A new author on Amazon would be crazy to challenge a top-ranking reviewer before having some success–readers challenging a top reviewer on Amazon has nothing to lose.
Authors have to face that no amount of “false” good reviews will keep their book selling if it is not a good, well-written story. What is accomplished by an author paying a nominal fee for reviewers is ”discovery”-publicity- for an author. (Think, publicity agents get paid!)
I know that some are suspicious of a new author who suddenly has a huge number of reviews. I see the point. I also know that many in the public are getting reading devices for the first time and buying more books–so it may be just timing. I think juming to conclusions and publishing that as a fact is irresponsible without proof. If Author John Doe can afford to pay ten reviewers for their unbiased review and another Author Jane Doe can pay for a hundred, honest, credible reviews–isn’t that just a cold, hard fact? It stinks; because I am not rich-lol.Just to be clear: I am not a reviewer-other than to review books that I feel are special. I am an aspiring, published author-who has yet to make money. Ever heard the term starving artist-lol? Authors’ paying their dues by writing and honing their craft will never change; how they are discoverd-I think that will.
What do you think?
Peace, Gwen
Violence: A Writer’s Guide by Rory Miller
