Fringe Fiction Unlimited discussion
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Is it International ARC Request Month or something?
Well, I've long since learned to say no to all ARC requests in private message. No offense to anyone, but the second word gets out, oh look that! She'll read for free! Pick her! I'm flooded with requests, so I just say no to all from complete strangers. Since I've done that, no problems.
You know what I don't get? Since we're being random. Why does everyone think Fringe is MY group? I get tons of PM's every month asking for my approval, asking to use my group to promote a book. And I'm all like, what group? I don't own no group.
I meant to thank you for letting me join your group Lily. It's a nice group you have here.What? What'd I say?
*Throws bucket full of rotten vegatables*
Mod
Seriously, though, it probably doesn't help that I generally refer to myself as a mod rather than founder of our ragtag band because I don't want to come off as braggy or pull rank or diminish the presence and contribution of others - I JUST FEEL AWKWARD SAYING I OWN YOU AND YOU ALL OWE ME!!!
But, no, I'm burnt out on ARCs for a while. I want to be gracious but I don't always feel like doing authors such a huge favor - which it is if I didn't pick their book out for myself. At best I'm only vaguely interested in whatever story I'm being offered and any I dare to read haven't blown my hair back.
Well...now I know who the group leader is! How's your house story coming?
Courtney wrote: "It's because you're like Glenda the Goodwitch while I play with myself and profundity behind a curtain somewhere :PSeriously, though, it probably doesn't help that I generally refer to myself as ..."
Courtney, what did you say you are doing behind that curtain? O.o
Courtney wrote: "It's because you're like Glenda the Goodwitch while I play with myself and profundity behind a curtain somewhere :PSeriously, though, it probably doesn't help that I generally refer to myself as ..."
It's all your fault!!!
*lights up neon sign over Courtney's head* She's over here!
Maybe I'll finally get a break...
Mod
Courtney wrote: "No point to this post other than I swear I'm getting solicitations from random indie authors (i.e. those barely know or are totally out of the blue) every odd day to read/review a book. Anybody ..."
Aw, I'd imagine it's a lot of authors just desperately trying to get some reviews. Do you have a review policy/offer reviews on your blog? If not, it is pretty forward of them to be soliciting you.
You know, there's a Goodreads group for that(ARC's); several in fact. Maybe pass that along to your hopefuls :0)
Soclicit you... hehehe... omg I'm so childish...
LOL. Well I'm coming into this conversation a little late but like you, Courtney, I have started getting emails asking for a read and review of indie authors' books. The funny thing is, I'm not a book blogger/reviewer. I'm an author. I have reviewed a good amount of books, but those are primarily books I've read of my own accord. If it's a book that interests me, I normally tell them that I'm swamped but if they would like me to add it to my pile of TBR books, I will. It may take a year or three, but if it interested me initially, I'll get to it. So far none have taken me up on that. If I'm not interested, I just say I'm too busy at the moment or it isn't something I'm interested in. PS: Look out for those curtains. They can just reach out and grab you.
Even I have gotten those requests, and I'm not really a reviewer/blogger either, other than the fact I do review what I read and post it here on Goodreads. I guess some authors just hit up a ton of people at random for reviews. I have noticed in some cases people really react badly to that. You'll see some book reviews that are one star and only have "No thank you." or "No way" or even "Recommended for people who like spam." (Unless it's a cookbook that's bad I think lol)
I am an blogger/reviewer, and the ones I love are the people who DEMAND I read their book. Seriously? You do realize I have a life, other things I like to do besides read, right? At least be polite about it, and not some overbearing pushy ass.(Must remember that for myself when requesting reviews...)
Riley wrote: "I am an blogger/reviewer, and the ones I love are the people who DEMAND I read their book. Seriously? You do realize I have a life, other things I like to do besides read, right? At least be polite..."You're a blogger/reviewer? WOW! HEY EVERYONE LOOK! WE CAN SEND OUR BOOKS TO RILEY! Thanks Riley! :D lol
*watches as thousands of ARC's descend upon Riley*
LOL, Riley. Haven't encountered the DEMAND yet. As an author, I couldn't imagine doing that. I guess people are trying new approaches or just like being douches. Either way, I doubt that's a winning approach.
Quentin wrote: "Even I have gotten those requests, and I'm not really a reviewer/blogger either, other than the fact I do review what I read and post it here on Goodreads. I guess some authors just hit up a ton of..."I haven't actually seen any of those reviews, Quentin. I'm sure they are out there. However, I have seen some bloggers ranting about authors not at least looking at the reviewer's preferences before submitting a horror, erotic thriller, or some such.
I have received demands. YOU'LL LOVE MY BOOK!Er, for all I know your book is a children's story written in crayon on toilet paper. Could you, you know, give a wee bit of info...
Or, and here's a totally wacky idea, how about, ASK me first?
Lily wrote: "I have received demands. YOU'LL LOVE MY BOOK!Er, for all I know your book is a children's story written in crayon on toilet paper. Could you, you know, give a wee bit of info...
Or, and here's a..."
I read that really fast and thought it said "I have received diamonds." I was thinking, now that author REALLY wanted a good review lol.
Mod
And I'm not sure anybody has demanded but there's a tone like they're doing me a massive favor (no, sir or madam, I would be doing you a favor by reading a book I'm maybe half interested by and may not be worth my time ultimately) or like I'm missing out on something if I pass (you contacted me and your book is one amongst millions. if I passed, I had my reasons)
If only, for diamonds I'd read a million crappy books.Courtney, you're the owner of the most popular group on all of GR. Didn't you know?
Courtney wrote: "The fuck I am lol!"Oh you are, you are! It's why you make us wear these collars and sprinkle the rose petals at your feet.
..she does make the rest of you do this too, right?
Courtney wrote: "The fuck I am lol!"Actually, you're the only MOD I remember facilitating things when I joined, before Lily, Justin, and Shari were made MODS.
Hail Madame President :P
Mod
Courtney is spescul.Seriously, though, as far as I know, no group on GR has as many members as we do.
Yeah, you guys are beating the Support Indie Author board by almost 400 members /cry
Courtney wrote: "...a malignant megalomaniacal narcissist could get used to this kinda talk..."Uh-oh . . . are you my mother?
It's your fault Courtney, you kept begging for more members. I tried to warn you...
"Begging For More Members" is the title of my upcoming erotic novel!
Mod
We're a popular indie group but I know ones with ten times our numbers. We're very active - like almost hourly
By the second. People have short attention spans. Such as, replying to group messages when I put in bold, this is a group message, do not reply.
Lily, you expect people to read?! What's wrong with you?!
Yeah Lily, what do you think we are... literate?Come on!
i ask for a reading fee. those ARCs stopped cold. sometimes i ask for an exchange and crickets... not that desperate then heh
K.P. wrote: "i ask for a reading fee. those ARCs stopped cold. sometimes i ask for an exchange and crickets... not that desperate then heh"K.P.
I can understand your decision to ask for a reading fee considering how difficult it can be with so many requests for reviews. However, something to think about is that in general reviewers who require a fee are sometimes looked at by the industry as being biased and their reviews less than credible. I'm sure you don't want to do yourself a disservice, so you may want to think about an alternative method of deterring unwanted review requests. Just my recommendation. Feel free to take it or leave it.
Or maybe she just requires that ARCs have a fee? I know one of those demanding authors was someone wanting an ARC read in a week, with a detailed review at least two pages long.
Mod
I try to be objective, of course, even when it's not my cup of tea but well done but it feels like a miserable chore when it's a premise I barely like and written poorly.
i usually request a fee to stop the requests. (i really dont take money for reviews. bad for business). for those persistent ones, i propose an exchange. if they really want me to read their stuff they accept. for those that don't they move on. give them hurdles. because obviously these cats dont understand no.
@riley, right and if someone wants to demand my time and patience i start billing folks. you want speedy work done a certain way? then realise that service does not come free. i got tired of getting burdened with requests for non paying jobs and the stress of it generating hospital bills. so it might "look bad" on me to do that sort of thing (charging folks for my time and skill), but im thinking of my health and work effectiveness. i don't see how authors think all that work comes free. nothing ever does.
K.P. wrote: "@riley, right and if someone wants to demand my time and patience i start billing folks. you want speedy work done a certain way? then realise that service does not come free. i got tired of gett..."
Which is why I'm happy I have a book monster that lives on my blog. She reads like 8 books a week xD I don't know where she finds the time...as my pile continues to built to astronomical proportions...
Mod
Courtney wrote: "Everything you just said about a book monster living on your blog made me laugh"It's the truth though, I Love Alysia ! She fills up my inbox almost every morning with her reviews she prepares for goodreads. My review section would still be tiny without her adding her reviews to my site, I mean, I'm still struggling to slip reading in between my writing since I started! (If that feels like a spam, I don't mean for it too...)
I didn't notice all these new comments 'til now lol
K.P.Trust me, I understand the value of time. I was just pointing out the general view, for better or worse. Congrats Riley on have having such a voracious reader and reviewer. :) Courtney, I'm so sorry to hear that so many books you receive aren't enticing. I don't think it would hurt you to be more selective in what you take on, and as an author I think it would probably be better to turn down books that aren't your cup of tea. If you aren't the intended audience, more than likely you will not enjoy it as much as someone who is interested in those things. Again, just my opinion, but it might relieve you of some stress.
I know in Courtney's case, she favors a lot of YA and escapism. She's already very selective. It just so happens that specic genre group tends to have a lot spammers. Unfortunate. Gives everyone else a bad name.
Mod
I'm not eclectic enough for people to randomly hit up - hence I'm bemused authors do.
My favorite is on my blog I state I don't do romance or erotica.... and yet I still get tons of submissions for them Hello? did you even read my review policy x D
How about me? I even review splatterpunk! It shows on my GR profile. And you really want me to read your coming of age plotless YA book all about a girl getting her first period without actually writing the word period.Really?
Anybody experiencing this or are you such an author celebrating International ARC Request Month by picking GR members' names out of hats and hitting them up for reviews?
Genuinely, I don't understand that approach. A blogger and/or top tier reviewer with a decent following makes absolute sense but I'm not sure why any author unacquainted with me would assume a review from me would help sell a single book lol