General Goodreads Site Questions

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Thank you, Ken.

Dear Moderators, I apologize if I posted this question in the wrong place.

[Grey]

Goodreads question! This has been on my mind for a while, but is there a way to add genres to your books without adding the books to your "read" list & shelves?

I know that the "Genres" list that appears on a book page lists the "Shelves" that readers placed the book on, but so far none of my readers have listed the books they've read on anything other than the generic "Read" shelf - so there's no genre listing for any of my books.

Adding my own books to my "Read" shelves doesn't sound appealing to me, but I can't seem to think of any other way to get "Genres" listed on my book pages. And honestly, asking readers to do it seems intrusive, so I don't want to do that either.

So it makes me wonder if there's some "Author" way I don't know about (or haven't found) that lets me add at least some sort of base genres to the book page so new readers have an idea what sort of book it is outside of the summary.

Thanks!

[Connie]

Wondering if other GR authors are having problems importing their blogs from their websites. (Forgive me if this has been addressed and I missed it.) Mine was importing, but then abruptly STOPPED importing when I added my blog to my Amazon page. I contacted GR Help but they were no help, saying they were having an issue with it and GR and AMZ are different platforms. I REALLY would like my blog to import to GR. Any advice? Any experience with this? Thanks so much.

[Teresa]

Hi! I'm new here and would like to start a new thread 'cause I couldn't find a thread that resonate with my topic among the existing ones, but don't know how to. Thanks

[E.A.]

Tessa wrote: "Hi! I'm new here and would like to start a new thread 'cause I couldn't find a thread that resonate with my topic among the existing ones, but don't know how to. Thanks"

Click on the group name and then select the particular sub group for your question to appear in and just click on "new topic" at the top right of the list. :)

[Teresa]

Thanks E.A.!

[Annie]

Hey, guys! Skill-testing question for ya...

How the heck do we turn off the "online" status thingymabob? I always leave stuff open on my computer even when I'm halfway across the city *shrugs*

Help, anyone? *bats eyelashes* Pretty please?

Hugs,
Ann

[Rose]

Hi! I have a question about

I forgot what my question is!

Never mind. I'll come back later.

If I remember.

[Rose]

I remember my question!

I think I've seen some messages in forums that have a signature, I think they call it.

How do you do that on goodreads?

I've been using this screen name for stuff and now I'd like to keep it but have my real name added automatically at the bottom of messages.

Thanks!

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

You mean responses from the board like I'm responding to you right now? They must type it in everytime, because I don't think Goodreads has a signature feature. I could be wrong.
If you mean in mail messages, that's something the groups can do when they send out a mass message.

[Rose]

Thanks! It's the answer I was afraid of, but that's okay!

How's this for a signature?
-------------------------
RosaBeatrice is the screen name of Rose Romano. Her first three books have been published by malafemmina press and she is expecting her next two books this summer. See her blog at malafemminapress.blogspot.com
-------------------------
Is that too long? Is there anything inappropriate in it?

Thanks!

[G.G.]

If you put that on every post you do on Goodreads, people will get tired and won't even read you. In other words, yes...much too long. :(

[Rose]

Thanks. How's this?

----------
Rose Romano
malafemminapress.blogspot.com
----------
I've seen longer. But I should also admit that I never read the long ones. Thanks for reminding me.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Keep in mind, some groups, including this one, frown on blatant self-promotion in inappropriate places. In places like this, we're more about connecting with one another and discussing techniques for marketing, etc. rather than continually reminding each other, "oh, by the way, I write books. Would you go check them out?"

[Bethany]

Signatures are usually allowed in UBB forums (a.k.a. internet message boards), but they are atypical on the Goodreads website. I'm guessing it's because of the self-promotion issue, but further than that, it's just a different forum than internet message boards, and so the expectations and etiquette is not the same.

Just posting in an author's group is enough advertisement, in my opinion - if people feel like clicking on your name to get to your author page, they will. Remember, book sales aren't everything. You really want to avoid developing a reputation as a spammer. Try to be humble about your accomplishments. The book sales will come on their own time.

[Lyndon]

I am a newbie and just in the process of syndicating my blog to goodreads. Roughly how long after I post until it shows up here.? So far I have waited an hour.

Thanks for the insight

[[deleted user]]

It usually takes a day or more, but even that isn't a certainty. Sometimes hours, sometimes days, in my experience.

[Lyndon]

Ken wrote: "It usually takes a day or more, but even that isn't a certainty. Sometimes hours, sometimes days, in my experience."

Thanks, Ken. I will not worry about it for a while.

Lyndon

[Gippy]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me how the friend list works. People are becoming my friends. I hit like, but would really like to see a list so I can recognize them and communicate. Fairly new in the author area, having only been a reader for a few years off and on. So any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[E.A.]

Your friend's list should be on the bottom left-hand side of your profile page and you can click on the icon underneath other member's profile pictures on their pages to bring up options for sending messages, friend requests etc.
Click on the "head & shoulders" symbol at the top right of the taskbar and it brings up all your friends in one list too. :)

[Gippy]

Thank you so much, E.A. I really appreciate your help! I suppose I should have noticed it at some point, but it sounds relatively easy. I will check it out now. Have a great day!

[Lyndon]

Lyndon wrote: "Ken wrote: "It usually takes a day or more, but even that isn't a certainty. Sometimes hours, sometimes days, in my experience."

Thanks, Ken. I will not worry about it for a while.

Lyndon"

Ken, my blog post came through -- and in less than 24 hours to boot. Thanks again.

BTW, if someone else is using wordpress as their blog platform and is wondering if the wiring to goodreads is working, one thing to do is the following:

In a browser, input the url: http://yourblogaddressgoeshere/feed

If your posts show up in the browser, then you can conclude that there is not a problem on your side of things. If they do not, then there is something wrong with your website.

A classic example of the process of "isolating" the problem.

Lyndon

[Justin]

When did Goodreads change the photos you can use for your profiles? I remember being able to have two different photos, one for my author profile and one for my user profile. Now they have to be the same? Cause I can't change mine. I wanted to use a regular photo of my as my author profile and use a cover of my book for my user profile for people to see here...I know I'm not crazy and it allowed you to use two different photos.

[Ian]

May I request some help please?

I have recently updated my book cover. I added this as an a new edition and selected "switch to this addition." It then appears on my dashboard. When I come back, it has reverted to the original cover. My daughter and brother see the new book cover - but I don't. When I log out of Goodreads and google my book on Goodreads - it's the original cover.

Has anyone have any experience of this please? Is there anyone that can help ... please!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Randall]

Ian wrote: "May I request some help please?

I have recently updated my book cover. I added this as an a new edition and selected "switch to this addition." It then appears on my dashboard. When I come back, i..."
I also wanted to do the same thing. Contact someone in the Librarians group. I managed to get my new cover as an additional cover, but that was all I was allowed to do. Maybe you will have better luck. Hope that helps.

[[deleted user]]

If you haven't done so, pull up the edition with the new cover, click "edit," and scroll down a little until you see the options on the right side of the page. Click to set the book as the primary edition. That should fix it, but with Goodreads you can't be sure.

[Ian]

Ken,
It has resolved the issue ... well, mostly. Still, in the top right hand corner of the author dashboard (in the "Home page") the book image is still the old one. However, that's a minor thing and I can live with it. Perhaps it'll change later...

Many thanks for the help.
Ian

[[deleted user]]

Ian wrote: "Ken,
It has resolved the issue ... well, mostly. Still, in the top right hand corner of the author dashboard (in the "Home page") the book image is still the old one. However, that's a minor thing..."

Yeah, I don't think you can change that.

[E.A.]

I heard something about how you can put up new covers if you change them and it will show them on the dashboard but doesn't change them as the main picture because they will only show the cover it was originally published with?
I don't know if someone can confirm/deny that at all? :)

[[deleted user]]

Different covers are classified by Goodreads as different editions, but the main cover can be changed by making the cover of choice the primary edition.

[Carol]

Hello everyone I am wondering how do I get my book on Goodreads. I just checked I'm not here. It's an Ebook only is that why?

[E.A.]

Carol wrote: "Hello everyone I am wondering how do I get my book on Goodreads. I just checked I'm not here. It's an Ebook only is that why?"

Hover over your profile icon at top right of the page and select "author dashboard" on the drop-down list. Then click on "add a book" It doesn't matter whether they are ebooks or printed. :)

[[deleted user]]

Here's one way to add your book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/new

If it's on Amazon, you should have the ASIN before you start. You should also set up an author page. To find out how to do all of this, click on "help" and scroll down the author program section.

[Carol]

Thank you I'll look into that. I went to my profile twiddled around. Then I went and looked for my book it's not there. I will look up the link.

[L.V.]

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to change your existing book to be part of a series? I've gone to "edit details" on the book but then clicking "add new series" just takes me to the goodreads home page for some reason. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

thanks!

[[deleted user]]

I get the same result. I think I'd contact a Goodreads Librarian for help.

[L.V.]

Thanks Ken, I was about to send a query but then noticed this article.
https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/3...

Right at the end, it says you have to request it here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

If I understood right, if you're the author you can't add it yourself?

[[deleted user]]

I did see that topic, but didn't scroll down to the end. You're right. You'll have to ask a Goodreads Librarian to do it. It must be so complicated that they don't want us mere authors to mess it up.

[E.A.]

I just had this myself.
First you have to have three books in the same series. Then you have to request a librarian to list them as a series group. Any books you add to the series after that also have to be requested to be added to the listing too. :)

[L.V.]

Haha! That's right. Otherwise it would only be too easy and tempting to add it as "Harry Potter and the Magic Camera" (Book #8)! ;)

[L.V.]

E.A. wrote: "I just had this myself.
First you have to have three books in the same series. Then you have to request a librarian to list them as a series group. Any books you add to the series after that also ..."

Oh, so if you only have one - you can't have a series yet?

[E.A.]

Not a series Listing, no.You can put it under "My books" as book one of the series, obviously. but librarians will only put it in a listing with three or more books in it. :)

[L.V.]

Thanks, that's a good idea.

[[deleted user]]

L.V. wrote: "Haha! That's right. Otherwise it would only be too easy and tempting to add it as "Harry Potter and the Magic Camera" (Book #8)! ;)"

Well, I guess that quashes the idea I had of changing the author part of my covers to read: (in very small letters) by Ken Doggett, not (and in very large letters) ISAAC ASIMOV.

[Denise]

Hello. I'm new to this forum today and have a read a number of great threads so far. So thank you to everyone who shares their experience and wisdom in this group. But truth is, I don't even know if I am an Indie author or not?

I went down the self publishing route but have paid Troubador for much of my editing etc., and am using an ISBN number supplied by them. My book is due for release in about 8 days time.

They have organised the book to be available on Amazon and Waterstones etc., though I have it for sale on pre order currently, my own company website.

Everyone here seems to be talking about doing things direct with Amazon etc., so am I in the wrong place? Am I an Indie Author or not? Sorry to be so clueless, its all new to me, this is my first book. Many Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give.

[Randall]

Yes, you are an independent author. Getting help on advertising is part of the process. You are the author. You have full rights to change the book or the cover or setting the price. There are several companies that do that here in the US like Draft to Digital or Smashwords. Troubador seems to be the same type.
Good luck with your book. Let us know how it turns out.

[Nathaniel]

I had a problem the other day. I was missing two books on my profile
and when I tried to add one Goodreads told me it was all ready published by me. I still haven't figured that out.

[G.G.]

Nathaniel wrote: "I had a problem the other day. I was missing two books on my profile
and when I tried to add one Goodreads told me it was all ready published by me. I still haven't figured that out."

If they were already entered, did you try to claim them? A reader might have entered them. If they are claimed by someone else, contact the Librarian group. (Just post your problem in their group, they usually fix them within a day)
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[D.M.]

Is there a way to add an unpublished book to my author profile? I have a free ebook I offer on my website and thought it would be cool to be able to list it here. Sorry if this question has already been asked...it's a very long thread to read...

[Aislinn]

D.M. wrote: "Is there a way to add an unpublished book to my author profile? I have a free ebook I offer on my website and thought it would be cool to be able to list it here. Sorry if this question has already..."

Hi D.M.

If you go to your author dashboard, there will be a link on the right-hand side that will say 'Add a Book'. You should be able to do it that way. Hope that helps!