Some advice, please

[Chad]

**Please at least read the questions.**

I'm new to NetGalley, and didn't join until early this year. When I did I made the mistake of taking too much on, and am still trying to dig out from that. Apparently that happens to lots of new members, but I feel bad about it.

I just got my ratio to 50%, and have 8/16 books reviewed. Only two have already been released, and the last one I reviewed was released two or three months ago. The others are out in September, November, and December. I don't know if any are being released in other months, but plan to try to get them all up before or around release.

I have some questions and could use some help:

1) Do publishers generally seem to understand that this happens with new members? I've only been denied once, and got the last few books I requested. 3-4 since the declined copy, which stung but wasn't a big deal. I understand they're limited, but it made me worry.

2) How bad is providing a late review? Thankfully the two already released/late books I have (well one now) are from small publishers.

3) If I say that I won't provide feedback, this doesn't take it away from my feedback ratio. Correct? This isn't something I plan to do, I'm just curious.

4) I have been reviewing another form of entertainment for years, and work for a blog. I've been allowed to review books there, but our readership isn't huge (150K per month at most). I request physical books for it, and review them there, but have gotten into the habit of reviewing NetGalley books on GoodReads because it's easier. It also seems like they'll get more of an audience there. I could do both, but don't want to write two reviews each time.

My profile says I'm a blogger, but I'm thinking about switching it to say I'm a GoodReads reviewer. Do you think I'd hurt my chances of getting books by doing this?

*My plan now is to work through the books I have and get my ratio to over 80%. Hopefully 100% by October or November.

[[deleted user]]

1) I have the idea that publishers do understand this. You will get more declined books (I know I did, even with a feedback ratio in the 90's). This never is personal. Often they reached their limit, or you live outside the preferred area and they get enough reviews etc. Sometimes it's unclear why, but oh well, it happens.

2) A late review is always better than no review. I have a couple of books on my shelve now that I only recently (in the last 2 weeks or so) requested and that were approved about a week ago, and one of those was released a year and a half ago. It can even be good to have new content about a book later, because it makes for more chance it is seen by potential buyers that missed the flow of reviews around the release date.

3) I thought so, but I upped my feedback ratio from 71% to 79% by reviewing the two books I had marked as 'not giving feedback' because before I couldn't give it. So apparently it does take your feedback ratio down.

4) You might hurt your chances, you might not. For the last couple of months I stated I was a goodreads reviewer on NG, and since I started to review on my blog again I changed that. Somehow every book since has been approved, even when that dropped my feedback ratio quite a bit, while I was declined for quite a number of books previously. That is circumstantial evidence though.

[Chad]

Thank you for your reply.

I finished an older, released book this morning, and published a review. It came out in May. I'm now back up to 50% (8/16).

To be honest though, I was given the new Claire North, the new Dea Poirier, the new Ruth Ware and the new Seth C. Adams all last/this week. I didn't know they would all show up and like all authors. So that set me back. I read Ruth Ware's in 2 days though, and reviewed it.

There is one book I would prefer to not provide feedback for and regret requesting, but not if it's going to hurt my ratio.

[Dee]

always provide feedback even if you don't enjoy the book - not providing feedback will hurt your ratio more than providing negative feedback

[Fictionophile]

C wrote: "**Please at least read the questions.**

I'm new to NetGalley, and didn't join until early this year. When I did I made the mistake of taking too much on, and am still trying to dig out from that. ..."

Hello C,

As a new NetGalley member you might like to take a peek at a blog post I wrote for those new to NetGalley. (I updated it today)
https://fictionophile.com/2016/04/05/...

Try to submit reviews as near to the publication date as you can. That being said, late reviews are welcomed. I've submitted reviews up to a whole year late. (not recommended but I got way behind)

I'm a blogger and publish my reviews on my blog, on Goodreads, on Amazon etc. (Just write the review once - then cut and paste it to the other sites) I also put links to my reviews on Twitter and Instagram.

Lynne / aka Fictionophile

[Chad]

Thanks

Does it really matter if I post my review to GoodReads at release, or a month or two before? Don’t earlier reviews help more if possible?

My problem is I don’t want to use the same review and have my name linked to GoodReads by way of the text being searchable

[Fictionophile]

C wrote: "Thanks

Does it really matter if I post my review to GoodReads at release, or a month or two before? Don’t earlier reviews help more if possible?

My problem is I don’t want to use the same review ..."

Sorry, I can't answer your question with any certainty but I think that early reviews on Goodreads are fine.
Just curious... why wouldn't you want to claim the Goodreads review as your own?

[Chad]

I don’t want my name linked to GoodReads