By BlueInk Review Staff
Last year, more than a million books were published. Imagine a reader standing in front of a bookshelf with that many titles. Now imagine the impossible: how will they choose one title over another?
That’s where reviews come in.
Without a review, your book is more risky to buyers than your average blind date—because, let’s face it, a date for coffee may take an hour, but reading a 400-page book could take days or even weeks! Buyers might know the topic of your book – but how can they be certain it’s worth the investment of both their time and money? They crave guidance.
In a world where consumers have come to expect reviews on everything from the newest TV or the restaurant around the corner, authors ignore the importance of book reviews at their own risk.
Here are 4 important reasons you why you should seek reviews of your book:
1. Book reviews let readers know the book’s contents. While readers can learn the plot or focus of a book on the back jacket, a book review is more specific and detailed. It describes the plot, texture and tone of the book. It will often explain who the book is most likely to appeal to. And it will tell readers what works best in the book and what might be lacking. All of this helps readers learn if it’s their cup of tea.
2. By giving third-party validation to a book, reviews bestow credibility. We’ve heard many an author insist that everyone who read their book loved it. But when asked “who is everyone?” the answer is most often “family and friends.” And family and friends are notorious for not wanting to hurt their loved one’s feelings. Meanwhile, what author doesn’t rave about his or her own work? Readers need recommendations from unbiased sources. Reviews written by someone outside of your daily sphere are the most trustworthy way readers can discover new work. The more positive reviews, the more credibility a title gains.
3. Reviews provide excellent fodder for an author’s marketing materials and book jacket copy. Laudatory excerpts are absolutely necessary for an author’s promotional materials. They are invaluable for use on press releases, ads, author websites, social media and other marketing opportunities and will catch readers’ attention far more than a simple plot description or summary.
4. Even when a review is negative, it can entice readers. We all know one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The same is true of books. When a reviewer describes the reasons they didn’t appreciate a specific book, those are often the exact qualities some readers look for in their reading material. Those who don’t place priority on the flaws mentioned may find themselves interested in the title.
All that said, we’ve seen far too many authors who sought reviews before their books were ready for prime time. Before looking for a critical appraisal, ask yourself:
Has my book been professionally copyedited? Books filled with grammar, spelling and punctuation errors are difficult, if not impossible, to read. No wonder bad mechanics is the number one reason self-published titles receive negative reviews.
Have I received positive feedback from anyone other than family and friends? As noted above, family and friends are reluctant to be honest about a book written by a loved one. More than one relationship has been sacrificed when a friend dared tell the truth. Manuscripts without issues of any kind are rare. If you are receiving ONLY positive feedback, it’s usually because people aren’t being honest with you.
Am I open to using the review to improve my work? While a book review is not a detailed critique of the sort a professional editor might offer, it often pinpoints problem areas and can be helpful for revisions down the road or to improve future work. The more open you are to such input, the more likely the review is to benefit you, whether it’s positive or negative.
If you have answered yes to these questions, it may be time to start thinking of getting your book reviewed. You can query local publications (aim small, as most mainstream publications don’t accept self-published books for review, whereas local markets are eager to promote those in their community), bloggers who especially enjoy your genre, or publications directed at the specific niche your book serves.
You can also contract with fee-based review services, such as our company. Unlike the other options, these aren’t free, but they can save authors endless time and frustration, as with the options mentioned above, self-published titles compete for review space with the flood of titles released by traditional publishers. They nearly always come out on the losing end of that battle.
Whatever route you choose, remember that writing is a craft; the more you work at it, the more you’ll improve. If you use the criticism offered in a review to take your work to the next level, you will be miles ahead of the pack.
BlueInk Review was founded by Patti Thorn, former books editor of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, and Patricia Moosbrugger, literary agent and subsidiary rights specialist. We offer honest, unbiased reviews of indie and traditionally published books. Our reviews are penned by writers drawn largely from major mainstream publications, such as The New York Times and Washington Post, and editors of respected traditional publishing houses. Select reviews appear in Booklist magazine, a highly respected review publication that reaches 60,000 librarians.
If you are interested in receiving similar blogs with tips on writing and book marketing, please sign up for our mailing list.
The post 4 reasons you need a professional book review…and how to know if your book is ready for one appeared first on BlueInk Review.
Last year, more than a million books were published. Imagine a reader standing in front of a bookshelf with that many titles. Now imagine the impossible: how will they choose one title over another?
That’s where reviews come in.
Without a review, your book is more risky to buyers than your average blind date—because, let’s face it, a date for coffee may take an hour, but reading a 400-page book could take days or even weeks! Buyers might know the topic of your book – but how can they be certain it’s worth the investment of both their time and money? They crave guidance.
In a world where consumers have come to expect reviews on everything from the newest TV or the restaurant around the corner, authors ignore the importance of book reviews at their own risk.
Here are 4 important reasons you why you should seek reviews of your book:
1. Book reviews let readers know the book’s contents. While readers can learn the plot or focus of a book on the back jacket, a book review is more specific and detailed. It describes the plot, texture and tone of the book. It will often explain who the book is most likely to appeal to. And it will tell readers what works best in the book and what might be lacking. All of this helps readers learn if it’s their cup of tea.
2. By giving third-party validation to a book, reviews bestow credibility. We’ve heard many an author insist that everyone who read their book loved it. But when asked “who is everyone?” the answer is most often “family and friends.” And family and friends are notorious for not wanting to hurt their loved one’s feelings. Meanwhile, what author doesn’t rave about his or her own work? Readers need recommendations from unbiased sources. Reviews written by someone outside of your daily sphere are the most trustworthy way readers can discover new work. The more positive reviews, the more credibility a title gains.
3. Reviews provide excellent fodder for an author’s marketing materials and book jacket copy. Laudatory excerpts are absolutely necessary for an author’s promotional materials. They are invaluable for use on press releases, ads, author websites, social media and other marketing opportunities and will catch readers’ attention far more than a simple plot description or summary.
4. Even when a review is negative, it can entice readers. We all know one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The same is true of books. When a reviewer describes the reasons they didn’t appreciate a specific book, those are often the exact qualities some readers look for in their reading material. Those who don’t place priority on the flaws mentioned may find themselves interested in the title.
All that said, we’ve seen far too many authors who sought reviews before their books were ready for prime time. Before looking for a critical appraisal, ask yourself:
Has my book been professionally copyedited? Books filled with grammar, spelling and punctuation errors are difficult, if not impossible, to read. No wonder bad mechanics is the number one reason self-published titles receive negative reviews.
Have I received positive feedback from anyone other than family and friends? As noted above, family and friends are reluctant to be honest about a book written by a loved one. More than one relationship has been sacrificed when a friend dared tell the truth. Manuscripts without issues of any kind are rare. If you are receiving ONLY positive feedback, it’s usually because people aren’t being honest with you.
Am I open to using the review to improve my work? While a book review is not a detailed critique of the sort a professional editor might offer, it often pinpoints problem areas and can be helpful for revisions down the road or to improve future work. The more open you are to such input, the more likely the review is to benefit you, whether it’s positive or negative.
If you have answered yes to these questions, it may be time to start thinking of getting your book reviewed. You can query local publications (aim small, as most mainstream publications don’t accept self-published books for review, whereas local markets are eager to promote those in their community), bloggers who especially enjoy your genre, or publications directed at the specific niche your book serves.
You can also contract with fee-based review services, such as our company. Unlike the other options, these aren’t free, but they can save authors endless time and frustration, as with the options mentioned above, self-published titles compete for review space with the flood of titles released by traditional publishers. They nearly always come out on the losing end of that battle.
Whatever route you choose, remember that writing is a craft; the more you work at it, the more you’ll improve. If you use the criticism offered in a review to take your work to the next level, you will be miles ahead of the pack.
BlueInk Review was founded by Patti Thorn, former books editor of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, and Patricia Moosbrugger, literary agent and subsidiary rights specialist. We offer honest, unbiased reviews of indie and traditionally published books. Our reviews are penned by writers drawn largely from major mainstream publications, such as The New York Times and Washington Post, and editors of respected traditional publishing houses. Select reviews appear in Booklist magazine, a highly respected review publication that reaches 60,000 librarians.
If you are interested in receiving similar blogs with tips on writing and book marketing, please sign up for our mailing list.
The post 4 reasons you need a professional book review…and how to know if your book is ready for one appeared first on BlueInk Review.