Starting January 2021, I will regularly review what I'm reading, watching, and listening to. Sometimes these will be new things, sometimes, I'll devote space to works I think deserve another look or listen. Last year, I took some tentative steps toward regular reviewing and then ended up walking away from the endeavor, muttering to myself. What was a happy thing where I got to point some people to things they might like turned into a source of frustration.
So I am going to offer some guidelines that might make it easier for everyone involved. If you already do these things, great! If this is not on your to-do list, at least think about adding these items. If you think I'm too demanding, I am sure there are plenty of websites with writers who will be happy to accommodate you.
1.) Reviews will be posted here, at Goodreads, and on Librarything.
I have posted on platforms that offer easy ways to post at Amazon, B&N, and other sites. Even when those devices were in place, some authors used a multi-step approval process where I would be asked to post on more sites. Sometimes the links in the emails did not work and I couldn't get back to the right page to post and...
Okay, you're going to see this phrase more than once: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
2.) Please, please, please in the name of everything that is good, have an e-tear sheet.
A couple of years ago, someone put out a call for reviewers on Twitter for a comic book they were publicizing. I have experience in this area, so I volunteered. This person was very pleasant to work with and fairly prompt when I requested an e-copy for review. Here is why I never reviewed the book. They sent an email expressing excitement about working with the movie director whose name was being used to brand the series. They mentioned the revival of the genre the book represented. Aaand that was it. Here are the pieces of information their email did not contain:
When I sent this list to the PR person, they sent me one, sometimes two of the pieces of information I asked for. After the third request for details about the book, I gave up. A week later the, "WAAAAAIT! Where did you GOOOOOOOOOOO?" emails started. ::sigh::
One other thing, if I have to search the internet for cover art or scan the letter enclosed with the book if it's a paper copy, it might not get done in time or to your satisfaction. I have had to pull reviews because "Our deal with the artist fell through," "We changed our mind about images," "We don't own the rights to the cover." Yes, someone actually asked me to remove the images for those reasons.
So I'll say it again: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
3.) Keep It Simple
I get it. You've poured you heart and soul into your work. You feel protective of it. Vet me by searching for previous reviews if you feel the need. It won't hurt my feelings. I am happy to answer queries within reason. If you come at me with a series of byzantine measures where you email me part of the thing and then I give you my impressions and then you might email me the rest and then I send you my review and then... No. Send me the information I need so my readers can find what you're selling and I'll put up a review and send you a note with the URLs if you want to see what I think.
Once again, with feeling: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
With all that written, I wish everyone a happy, productive, creative, and prosperous year to come.
So I am going to offer some guidelines that might make it easier for everyone involved. If you already do these things, great! If this is not on your to-do list, at least think about adding these items. If you think I'm too demanding, I am sure there are plenty of websites with writers who will be happy to accommodate you.
1.) Reviews will be posted here, at Goodreads, and on Librarything.
I have posted on platforms that offer easy ways to post at Amazon, B&N, and other sites. Even when those devices were in place, some authors used a multi-step approval process where I would be asked to post on more sites. Sometimes the links in the emails did not work and I couldn't get back to the right page to post and...
Okay, you're going to see this phrase more than once: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
2.) Please, please, please in the name of everything that is good, have an e-tear sheet.
A couple of years ago, someone put out a call for reviewers on Twitter for a comic book they were publicizing. I have experience in this area, so I volunteered. This person was very pleasant to work with and fairly prompt when I requested an e-copy for review. Here is why I never reviewed the book. They sent an email expressing excitement about working with the movie director whose name was being used to brand the series. They mentioned the revival of the genre the book represented. Aaand that was it. Here are the pieces of information their email did not contain:
- The Writer
- The Artists (Pencilers? Colorists? Backgrounds? Lettering? Cover Art? No, no, no, no, and no. I guess it was put together by elves.)
- The Actual Title Upon Release (It changed.)
- When It Was Going To Be Released
- The MSRP (The US MSRP would be great, and please know I have readers in Canada, AUS, NZ, and the UK. Prices for consumers in those countries might be nice as well.)
- Available Formats (Those darned elves, they're so low-tech!)
- Where it's available. (Strange elves on street-corners distributing media is no basis for a system of publication.)
- ISBN
- Number of Pages
- Cover Art -or-
- Preapproved Image of Author(s) or Illustration(s) From The Book
When I sent this list to the PR person, they sent me one, sometimes two of the pieces of information I asked for. After the third request for details about the book, I gave up. A week later the, "WAAAAAIT! Where did you GOOOOOOOOOOO?" emails started. ::sigh::
One other thing, if I have to search the internet for cover art or scan the letter enclosed with the book if it's a paper copy, it might not get done in time or to your satisfaction. I have had to pull reviews because "Our deal with the artist fell through," "We changed our mind about images," "We don't own the rights to the cover." Yes, someone actually asked me to remove the images for those reasons.
So I'll say it again: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
3.) Keep It Simple
I get it. You've poured you heart and soul into your work. You feel protective of it. Vet me by searching for previous reviews if you feel the need. It won't hurt my feelings. I am happy to answer queries within reason. If you come at me with a series of byzantine measures where you email me part of the thing and then I give you my impressions and then you might email me the rest and then I send you my review and then... No. Send me the information I need so my readers can find what you're selling and I'll put up a review and send you a note with the URLs if you want to see what I think.
Once again, with feeling: If you create unnecessary steps for me, I'm gonna walk away from your book/movie/music/whatever it is.
With all that written, I wish everyone a happy, productive, creative, and prosperous year to come.
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