Authors WANT Reviews
Simple! How many times have you read pleas on social media for readers to write reviews? – Probably Loads.
Does the thought of writing a book review send you racing to the hills? – I can see plenty of you nodding in agreement.
WHAT holds you back?
6 common replies:
I can’t write.
I can’t write paragraphs about a book.
I don’t know what to write.
I’m afraid of what people will think of my review.
I’m an author and don’t want a backlash on my own books.
I don’t have the time.
Let’s turn this around
I can’t write – I bet if you can read, you can write.
I can’t write paragraphs about a book – Good News, Amazon accepts one sentence reviews now as do many other sites.
I don’t know what to write – Ah! Quick Question – Why did you like or Dislike the book? Got an answer? Then you have a starting place.
I’m afraid of what people will think of my review – Facing fears is part of life, it is hard, but I bet you’ve faced much harder challenges. Authors LOVE reviews, other readers also like to read them to see if they agree or disagree. Every reader will get something different from their experience. An honest review from someone who genuinely read the book IS REALLY APPRECIATED.
I’m an author and don’t want a backlash on my own books – This one STOPS TOO MANY AUTHORS from writing book reviews and it shouldn’t. In fact if you are an author, one way to hone your writing skills is to READ, READ, READ and from this you will be noting what works, what doesn’t and you will have all the skill sets to write a review. IF YOU WRITE WITH HONESTY AND COMPASSION I can’t see an author would want revenge or to be labelled a TROLL, these are far and few amongst the millions of authors who GENUINELY WANT A REVIEW.
I don’t have the time – time is what you make of it and those who have this as their reply probably won’t have time to read this post, so we’ll say no more.
So BE BRAVE – make a promise that the next book you read you will write a review.
Not sure which star rating to use? Read more here
Goodreads Ratings
Amazon Ratings
4 Quick Ways to Write a Review
- Go to Goodreads or your Amazon account. Start with a one liner. Can you include the genre? The lead characters? The setting? Say “I really enjoyed this book” or “The book didn’t work for me”.
- As above, this time write 4 sentences. Keep them honest and make them about your own thoughts from the book.
- If you wrote your review for Goodreads, copy and paste it to your Amazon account. Or vice-versa.
- Really, really stuck for something to say? Read some of the other reviews for the book, they might jog your memory about a point, but still make your own review honest and genuine.
Finding yourself in a loop of reviewing friend’s books, just so they review yours? Review swaps are never a good idea, they become shallow and very obvious to other readers and you will only end up feeling guilty if you can’t be honest. Draw a line, perhaps explain that you don’t wish to review books for friends and you won’t ask them to review yours in turn unless either party truly wishes to read the book. But that no one should feel obliged to review as a swap. You can still support them by buying a copy of their work, this way their reviews will be from REAL readers who have found and bought their books and in the long term will be the reading audience of tomorrow.
Check out my simple book review templates, written to encourage those NEW to reviewing who need to boost their confidence.
There is NO SELL BY Date on writing a review – read a book a while a go that you ALWAYS MEANT TO WRITE A REVIEW FOR? Feeling guilty that you didn’t write a review at the time? No Problemo! Write this in the opening line “I read this book a while ago.” An author will be SO pleased to get an honest review that they won’t mind if there was a time delay on your side.
Go. Go forth and review.
Pingback: August 2016 is Write An Amazon Review Month! By @TerryTyler4 #AugustReviews | BetweenTheLines
Reblogged this on 1WriteWay and commented:
To all you book lovers and readers out there: Heed Rosie Amber! Book reviews are the best way to promote your favorite indie author and they are NOT difficult to write! Consider Rosie’s tips for writing a book review and then go forth and write them 🙂
LikeLike
As an author, I thank you for this! And as a book reader, yes, I review any book that’s worthy of a 4 or 5 star. I know how important those reviews are!
LikeLike
Thanks, even 3* reviews are useful to authors too, well anything constructive really, thanks for stopping by today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Claudette Melanson, Author of Dark Fantasy and commented:
Reblogging
LikeLike
Pingback: August 2016 is Write An Amazon Review Month #AugustReviews - Georgia Rose BooksGeorgia Rose Books
I do write them, but not as often as I should. I hate, hate, hate, the star ratings!
LikeLike
I’m giving over my Monday Ramble today to re-blog this great post by Rosie Amber. I can’t improve on her case for giving authors reviews. Authors love readers, they’re the people we write our books for after all, (and that includes other writers of course) but nothing quite compares to the lifting of spirits one gets when a reader takes the trouble to review our book – it’s such a good feeling to know someone enjoyed what we wrote, even a few lines is enough to make us feel all that hard work was worthwhile!
LikeLike
Many thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Romance That's 'Out Of This World'.
LikeLike
Pingback: It’s August – It’s Write An Amazon Review Month! #AugustReviews | Alison Williams Writing
Pingback: #AugustReviews ~ because every little helps :) » VA for Authors
Pingback: August 2016 is Write An Amazon Review Month! « disappearinginplainsight
Reblogged this on Same Face Different Place and commented:
A simply great article from Rosie Amber, to kick start “August 2016 is Write An Amazon Review Month!”
LikeLike
Re-blogged this on https://samefacedifferentplace.wordpress.com/ What a great initiative and a very helpful article!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Fantasy Raconteur and commented:
This is an amazing initiative!
LikeLike
Pingback: August Reviews | Kathleen Jowitt
Pingback: 4 Quick Ways To Write A #BookReview And Overcome Your Fears #MondayBlogs | Rosie Amber | writerchristophfischer
Pingback: #AugustReviews: Write a #Book #Review! | Rereading Jane Eyre
Pingback: Why I should not be allowed to get awards—and you should! #AugustReviews #SundayBlogShare | Barb Taub
Rosie, as an author and a reader, I send you kudos for this excellent post. I know many readers who feel intimidated about posting a review and don’t realize how simple (and helpful) it is to do so. I’m reposting this on my website today. Merci mille fois !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Patricia.
LikeLike
Excellent post. Those all important reviews aren’t that difficult to do but do make such a difference.
LikeLike
They are indeed, thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shared! Next step, review …
LikeLike
Excellent post and great reminder giving us incentive to write those important reviews. Interesting about the rating system for Amazon and good reads – I never knew exactly what they indicated although guessed.
LikeLike
Thanks Annika, I do think the rating can be up to the individual, I rate a book the same across the board, that’s just me though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Susan Grossey and commented:
While I wait to hear news of Flora’s hard drive (currently in intensive care, with some hopes of resuscitation), I though I would share this excellent blog post about reviewing of books. Apparently August 2016 is Write an Amazon Review Month, and I wanted to add my own plea to that. Reviews are important in Amazon as they assist with book ranking – i.e. the order in which books are displayed in response to searches – which of course helps the authors of reviewed books. But from my own point of view, with (relatively) few reviews to my name, I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see that a new review has been posted, and to know that someone else has “met” Sam and Martha. Sometimes (often!) writing can feel like a lonely activity, and getting proof that the ultimate goal has been reached – someone has read what you have written – is so very encouraging and energising.
LikeLike
Pingback: August is Review a Book Month | Novels Now