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Authors who are better at getting reviews than actually writing the book
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Mike
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Jul 16, 2015 09:42AM
What was the book Ed?
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Wow, I did not know Amazon rejected reviews. I know they deleted them, but rejected?
I read one that was supposedly a national best seller that I couldn't finish. The characters were so 2D and cliché that it was almost nauseating.
It is super easy to game the review systems. So people should be smart. A thousand 5 star reviews, yeah right. Unless your name is JK Rowling or William Shakespeare I'm skeptical. And you have read of Ted Cruz gaming himself onto the NY Times best-seller list? I would look over reviews of anything I buy on line, from cat food to books. Are they clones of each other, clearly posted by sock puppets? Is the review section blank, the stars clearly clicked by bots? Do the reviewers write and sound like morons, evidently illiterate? A real review, written by a real human being specifically for this product, is unmistakeable. I am real; the books I write are real and the reviews I write are my own, written after I have actually read the work in question. No bots, no auto-tune! If we don't stand up against the faux reviews all the real ones will be lost in the chaos.
Ju wrote: "Wow, I did not know Amazon rejected reviews. I know they deleted them, but rejected?"Email from Amazon:
Thanks for submitting a customer review on Amazon. Your review could not be posted to the website in its current form. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines:
http://www.amazon.com/review-guidelines
I can only believe the problem is this:
Promotion of Illegal Conduct – Reviews may not encourage or support behavior that is illegal, including violence, illegal drug use, underage drinking, and child or animal abuse.
But that was exactly my point: child abuse!!!
WOW. You guys are SUPER honest. It's kind of scarey.But if you're into Romance, I have a short read (I think) I'd like you to review. It's called "Winding Roads" by Yvette Hough. I want to know what you think. It's available on Goodreads.
there are paid review services, which some authors mistake the intention of. There are some that are paid and actually give honest reviews. Many of the newer authors I've come across seem to just want a review. I have been approached on Fiverr and asked to post a review the author had written himself and give it a five star rating. It was an insult to me as both a reviewer and an author because I work hard on my books and want my work honestly reviewed, and as a reviewer I only post honest reviews. But there are some who just need the money and will post whatever an author wants them to post so long as they're paid
I joined a few author groups on FB and I had a guy pm me and ask for a review swap. I told him sure downloaded his book. Mine wasn't free at the time and he complained. So I said no worries, I'll still read your book and review it. His reply was "You don't have to read it, I just need a 5 start review." Um, no. I am trying to build a good reputation and be taken seriously as a new author. I also have no desire to have a bunch of fake 5 start reviews. My book, published 3 weeks ago, had 9 5-star reviews and 1 4-star and THAT makes me nervous, like people are going to think they are fake. Someone wrote a review on this site, gave me 3 stars, but was very detailed and thorough in her explanation and opinions. By far my favorite review.
Wendi wrote: "I joined a few author groups on FB and I had a guy pm me and ask for a review swap. I told him sure downloaded his book. Mine wasn't free at the time and he complained. So I said no worries, I'll s..."Wow.
A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulation requires that all solicited, purchased, or swapped reviews include a disclaimer stating so. Such reviews are so prevalent today, very few are taken seriously or dramatically impact sales.Reviews are posted by readers to share their personal opinion of a book with other readers, not the author. It is a subjective opinion; therefore, one reader's "best book ever" may very well be another reader's "worst book ever", and both reviews could be perfectly honest.
I personally pay little or no attention to reviews. My reading choices are the result of browsing. A professionally designed cover catches my attention, the blurb arouses my curiosity, and a brief one or two page cursory read is the deciding factor as to whether or not I purchase the book or borrow it from the local library.
Ed wrote: "Email from Amazon:Thanks for submitting a customer review on Amazon. Your review could not be posted to the website in its current form. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines:
http://www.amazon.com/review-guidelines
I can only believe the problem is this:
Promotion of Illegal Conduct – Reviews may not encourage or support behavior that is illegal, including violence, illegal drug use, underage drinking, and child or animal abuse.
But that was exactly my point: child abuse!!! "
Perhaps some of the problems lie in the setting.
If a book is written about what is the current cycle of civilization, then scenes depicting illegal actions that appear to promote such activity would be a violation.
If a book is written about a different world or the past of this one then scenes depicting what are currently illegal actions for us that appear to promote such activity would not necessarily be a violation. Perhaps in bad taste, perhaps having ramifications amongst those who would see it as a stamp of approval.
There actually is a fine line between promoting illegal conduct and fiction and or historical non-fiction (whether to our tastes or not).
If you think Amazon's reaction was not to your liking, try reporting suspected abuse of a minor of the intimate kind to your local authorities. Odds are even though the abuse is real, you'll be in an interrogation room for questioning for many hours.
R.F.G. not sure I get your point.My review of a book depicting fictional child abuse was rejected because I mentioned the fact that it depicted what could be construed as child abuse? How does that make sense? You can write about children being abused but a reader can't comment on that?
Flag the book on Zon and report that it involves sex with a prepubescent minor. That' supposed to be one of their major hot buttons.
Ed wrote: "R.F.G. not sure I get your point.My review of a book depicting fictional child abuse was rejected because I mentioned the fact that it depicted child abuse? How does that make sense? You can writ..."
Ed,
First look at the context. Is the setting the same as our current setting or not. If not, what you or I might see as child abuse can be termed simple survival in a hostile environment.
Second, if it is a story about a very different world than the one we live in, claims that the story promotes child abuse could prompt legal action.
I could write a story based on actual historical accounts of young people fighting and fornicating in societies that once existed or during wars that have happened, and it wouldn't be a promotion of child abuse. Amazon allowing a review that portrayed the story as promotion of child abuse would open both Amazon and the review's author to legal action.
Try reading "Lucifer's Hammer", and pay particular attention to the part where two old neighbors have the same discussion about their situations after civilization has fallen and the rule of law is dead. One man's assertion of child abuse is the other man's assertion of one way to help humanity survive an apocalypse.
You don't have to like a story and you don't have to post a glowing review of a book you didn't like, but you do need to be careful that you don't open yourself up to a lawsuit you can't defend yourself from in court.
I simply listed Amazon's own guideline that were sent to me upon the rejection of my review. I never promoted anything, in fact I am disturbed by it. I merely pointed out that children were maimed and tortured and raped in this fictional story and I thought that was over the top.Oh, and by the way, the girls all were forcibly given hysterectomies so they couldn't breed or procreate in the story. So I don't think your 'Lucifer's Hammer' scenario works here.
I'm pretty sure this is about nepotism. They want to stop friends and family, book groups etc giving uber positive reviews to books that don't necessarily deserve them. If they think, or suspect, that you are known to the author - they have started to reject the review. :/
I want to say thank to all of you for sharing your knowledge, time and honest reviews! I appreciate this dialogue.
If I interact personally with a reader (book-signing, or whatever), I usually try to ask for an honest review; key comment, 'please be honest'.
Ed wrote: "I simply listed Amazon's own guideline that were sent to me upon the rejection of my review. I never promoted anything, in fact I am disturbed by it. I merely pointed out that children were maimed and tortured and raped in this fictional story and I thought that was over the top.Oh, and by the way, the girls all were forcibly given hysterectomies so they couldn't breed or procreate in the story. So I don't think your 'Lucifer's Hammer' scenario works here. "
Ed,
No, what you're missing is the fact that by allowing your review that is basically your opinion, you could have opened Amazon and yourself to a charge of Libel as on this thread
Libel (per dictionary dot com)
Under the Law.
1) defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
2) the act or crime of publishing it.
3) a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.
Your earliest post is where the problem lies.
Ed wrote: "If I read one more crappy book that has received hundreds or more 5 star reviews I think I'm going to give up reading. I know 'to each his own' and all that but geez - shallow characters, dumb plots, rehashed storylines we've read a thousand times already - and yet there are a hundred 5 star reviews. What's the secret? Is there some review buying service I don't know about.
And then I read a book with a thousand 5 stars reviews! One of the highest rated sci-fi books on Amazon. And these thousand people all loved a book about 5 - 12 year old kids getting kidnapped, humiliated, killed outright, abused, tortured, bones broken, and raped by each other. This is a 5 star book about 8 and 12 year olds having sex (when they're not being mutilated by aliens). Okay believe me I'm not a prude, but when this goes on for almost 600 pages it's a bit much to stomach. It's almost a manual for child abuse.
But to top it off - when I try to write a 2 star review for this book, it gets rejected by Amazon! I revised the review five times and it got rejected five times. So please, someone explain this phenomena to me."
If you included the following line in your review, you have the reason it was rejected.
It's almost a manual for child abuse.
R.F.G. okay, now I get your point. Offending sentence removed.
Ed wrote: "R.F.G. okay, now I get your point. Offending sentence removed."I'm not the person you should worry about.
Ed wrote: "If I read one more crappy book that has received hundreds or more 5 star reviews I think I'm going to give up reading. I know 'to each his own' and all that but geez - shallow characters, dumb plot..."I was wondering, only this morning, why it is that rave reviews often leave me disappointed with a feeling of being let down when I actually read the book. I've just written a novel and my publisher advised against trying for "buddy reviews", and I know what he means. If someone posts a nice review of your book it's extremely hard to then be honest about theirs if you genuinely find fault with it. The book you mention, Ed, sounds ghastly.
Zillah wrote: "Ed wrote: "If I read one more crappy book that has received hundreds or more 5 star reviews I think I'm going to give up reading. I know 'to each his own' and all that but geez - shallow characters..."My publisher has not shared his thoughts, but the only reviews I have ever instigated or requested have been from magazines and book review sites where I know I will get an independent and honest review (which is scary!). All my reviews from individuals have been nice surprises.
In fact, though I love receiving reviews, I would hate it if a reader, who has taken the trouble to buy my book, feels any other obligation.
Ed wrote: "...What's the secret? Is there some review buying service I don't know about."Reviews are a function of sales. Lots of sales = lots of reviews. The book you linked has sold a considerable number of copies. There's no "buying reviews" or gaming of the system. The book is not to your taste, but obviously a large number of people enjoyed it and left a review to that effect.
Go look at the reviews on 50SOG, thousands of 5-stars and yet many people "don't get" or didn't like, that book either. Best selling books generate a reader response, whether positive or negative. When a book is selling hundreds of thousands of copies then yes, you do end up with thousands of genuine reviews.
Authors should concentrate on their own work instead of casting dispersions on other authors with allegations of review buying. Frankly it comes across as sour grapes.
I'm surprised how some people try to get reviews. Im currently having a hard time but despite that I'm not considering manipulating or buying reviews either. It's all a process and sometimes I think people loose patience or don't try another approach they just assume they can get away with asking friends for reviews.
I agree with you on this, Justin. It's not easy to get reviews, especially from readers that do not know you. I would not buy or solicit reviews solely to get more added to my Amazon Page, or other author pages. It's also not clear how much reviews really help, but the more I attempt to expand my visibility, the more I am beginning to think that reviews DO really help sell books.
I think that's right, Doug. An unexpected flurry of sales recently tied in with three or four rapid-fire reviews here and on Amazon. Mind you, every time I get a good review, I promote the hell out of it!
So much has been written on the usefulness (or not) of reviews. I take the view that it doesn't really matter how many reviews you have on Amazon if no one knows your book is there. I have 16 or so 5 star reviews on my first short story collection, and it's sold just under 200 copies in 3 years. My Casanova translation has very nearly caught it up in 18 months, with only 4 reviews.What I do find sells my books is people talking about them more widely online. A Goodreads review from a member with a bunch of friends tends to spark a little flurry of sales, for example. Or a blog review of the book. Or even one of those author interviews that blogs like to run.
But Amazon reviews themselves? I'm still really not convinced they help that much. The world knows they're too easy to fake, and the real challenge is getting people on to the product page in the first place.
As a reader, I do look at reviews. But I take a balanced appraoch (as I do on TripAdvisor). All brilliant = suspicious. All bad = must be abismal, don't bother. But if it sways 3-4* majority I'll take a closer look.As an author I like getting reviews, being honest, it strokes my ego and helps me to write more books. But I always demand honest reviews; if I can make improvements I want to know. Call it CPD.
I too struggle to get people to notice I exist. The market is saturated with fellow romance authors.
I've done several author interviews and got no increased sales as a result. I've run adds on here and fb, Tweeted my little heart out, and created my own blog...
And I struggle with blurbs; at the moment I'm fussing over whether that's the bit letting me down.
All this is why my main advice to authors is to write because you love it. Don't expect to get into a best seller list or anything.
T.L. wrote: "As a reader, I do look at reviews. But I take a balanced appraoch (as I do on TripAdvisor). All brilliant = suspicious. All bad = must be abismal, don't bother. But if it sways 3-4* majority I'll t..."Exactly.
Getting reviews is frustrating.They boost my ego too. I use them when deciding what to read and always try to write an honest, but encouraging review (if the book wasn't so good).
I read once that Amazon uses reviews when weighing their search engine and rankings, etc. but I can't find that article again (anyone know of it?), but it made me want them more than ever, lots of them.
Getting them feels next to impossible sometimes. I've friended people I don't know on FB, based on their comments about similar books to mine, and approached them about reading my book. They did, said they loved it, wrote reviews, and again--I don't know them, but because we're friends on FB, Amazon removed the reviews--UGH!
When you're an unknown, unproven, where do you start to get people talking about your books? Friends, family--I guess I could try standing on a corner with a sign, asking strangers to buy my book, read it, and leave a review. I may be on to something... :)
Wendi wrote: "...His reply was "You don't have to read it, I just need a 5 start review..."My immediate reaction would have been--and, of course I would never do this, nor would I advocate anyone else actually doing it--My reaction would have been to post a 5-star review that read:
"I have not read this book, but the author told me he just needed a 5-star review. This book has a 5-star review from me. It's a 5-star book. Even if the author has to say it himself. If I ever read the book (which is highly doubtful), I might change my mind. But so far...FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!"
];P
P.S. Seriously: do not do this.
Getting reviews is very frustrating. I used to ask for reviews whenever I had a new release, but not anymore. Readers would say, "Oh, I would love to review your book in exchange for a free copy." Out of the 10 that promised, only one would bother. I've learned that asking for reviews in exchange for a free copy doesn't really work. But those that pay for your work are very eager to give their honest opinion. So, that's enough for me.I find that being a part of GoodReads forums and interacting is a good way of getting noticed. I'm about to do a neighborhood brochure announcement for my next Romantic/Suspense coming out in August. I don't know how much of that really works. But I know what doesn't: advertising on websites and blogs. I honestly hate FB, it's just not for me; and Amazon's meet the authors forum is a joke.
I'm seriously considering a magnet sign for my car advertising my website. Who's with me?:)
Groovy wrote: "Getting reviews is very frustrating. I used to ask for reviews whenever I had a new release, but not anymore. Readers would say, "Oh, I would love to review your book in exchange for a free copy." ..."I've actually considered the car magnet. I've also considered painting the cover onto my car. That would look so cool, but I think my target audience is outside my home state.
If you don't live in Utah, would you be willing to have your car painted with my book's cover? ha ha
Oh my goodness:) Then where would my covers go? (I have a very small car)But believe it or not, there are people who will ride around with your product advertised on their cars for a fee.
Groovy,that's been my problem! I had seven people ask to read my book for review and only one read and reviewed it. I haven't heard back from the other and its been at least a month.
Also I love the whole car idea, that'd be awesome! :D
Hmmm, Wife has sixteen siblings most of whom live in UT or AZ. Just about all of them have vehicles.Then again most of them consider me to be a grey-eyed devil so...
R.F.G. wrote: "Hmmm, Wife has sixteen siblings most of whom live in UT or AZ. Just about all of them have vehicles.Then again most of them consider me to be a grey-eyed devil so..."
Ha ha ha. I think AZ might be just a hard a sell as Utah for my new romance series. I'd guess there'd be a few closet readers, but no one would admit to reading it, and that doesn't help me too much.
I think we should go for it. What have we got to lose?And it made me think how people are always on their phones on the internet. When they see the sign, and if they're interested, they can look it right up. Before smart phones, they would probably just forget your website address by the time they got home.
O.k., I talked myself into it:)
Groovy wrote: "I think we should go for it. What have we got to lose?And it made me think how people are always on their phones on the internet. When they see the sign, and if they're interested, they can look ..."
Let me know how it goes.
You've talked me into it too! haha. I'm not sure who or how I'd contact someone for such a thing though. Just imagining my book covers and info on the side of people's cars has me feeling all professional and important haha.
S. Jackson, I wouldn't be surprised at all how many closet romance readers there are in Utah, unless of course, you write erotica. Even then...I bet you would get some attention.To all of you, by the end of the year, I will let you know how my car sign idea went. If it didn't do anything to help sales, well, at least I tried and saved all of you the headache:) Right?
Justin wrote: "You've talked me into it too! haha. I'm not sure who or how I'd contact someone for such a thing though. Just imagining my book covers and info on the side of people's cars has me feeling all profe..."The hub just told me that you don't even have to paint it on. They do it in vinyl and apply it, so you can take it off when you need to do the next one. The idea just gets
better and better.
S. Jackson wrote: "http://www.insightsigncompany.com/wha..."This is awesome! They have a bit of every kind too.
I'd like to hear if anyone has tried it or if you try it soon, let us know the results.
Back to reviews on Amazon. Amazon could easily use their super intrusive spying technology to just add a disclaimer on reviews *they deem* to be known to the author.
Let the reviews go public, but at the bottom, say, "this reviewer may know or be related to the author"
Let the buyer decided whether it is an issue or not.
Wendi wrote: "I joined a few author groups on FB and I had a guy pm me and ask for a review swap. I told him sure downloaded his book. Mine wasn't free at the time and he complained. So I said no worries, I'll s..."Wow... as an author (relatively new), I'd be insulted if someone asked me that (swap reviews and then ask you to just give them a 5 star without actually reading it). That's actually one of the reasons I won't do "review swaps." Not only do I feel it's unethical for an author to do, but what if I read yours and don't like it? Are you going to be insulted because I gave you 1-2 stars? Are you going to retaliate and give mine 1-2 stars? Did you even read my novel?
Troy wrote: "Wendi wrote: "I joined a few author groups on FB and I had a guy pm me and ask for a review swap. I told him sure downloaded his book. Mine wasn't free at the time and he complained. So I said no w..."Exactly. I haven't responded to anyone else requesting one, now that I know what it really means. I thought they were asking for a legitimate review. Live and learn.
Micah wrote: "Wendi wrote: "...His reply was "You don't have to read it, I just need a 5 start review..."My immediate reaction would have been--and, of course I would never do this, nor would I advocate anyone..."
Ha!!!
