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How Does A Book Get Your Attention
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Maria
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Jan 15, 2012 09:19AM
I usually look at the back cover immediately, *especially* in books of contemporary poetry. I try to see if a famous, credible author has endorsed the book. The poetry world is pretty small, so chances are I know the person who has endorsed the book, and I know if their ethos and tastes match mine. Also, because Poetryland is so tiny, I rely on word-of-mouth. If I keep hearing people talking about someone, within the next year, I will most certainly buy their book. I don't pay too much attention to reviews, but they can be a tipping point, like if I'm already seriously considering the book or something, that'll compel me to buy it.
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Yes, I have a book trailer for my first collection "A Hymn That Meanders". My publishers put it together during the first reading that I ever did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2FDFf...
So, that is an idea of a book trailer. Another really sweet-ass one is Mira Bartok's "The Memory Palace" but I am pretty sure that she went through a major publisher, so they had the money to really tantalize. My editors simply taped me reading the title poem of my book, "Hymn To The Midwest That Meanders". A Hymn That MeandersMaria Nazos
Sad but true but the cover is what usually jumps out at me first. I read mostly in the SF genre so if a cover looks cheaply done or is a cheesey design then I'll keep browsing. Some books I knew nothing about, I started reading because of the cover like Hounded by Kevin Hearne - loved the cover, didn't need to read the blurb to know it involved Celtic mythology, a male protagonist and awesomeness. The cover should tell me enough about the book without having to read the blurb. Then the title. It's got to be something different, preferably something sinister or mysterious. I find that enticing. Titles like the Daughter of Smoke and Bone or In the Forest of Hands and Teeth - really enticing. One word titles don't usually work for me unless it's a really interesting/exciting/connotative/different word, like Inkheart or Neverwhere or Stardust.
Then only the blurb... and by this time I'm usually already sold or not on the book and entire story concept. There's so much to be gleaned from the cover and title - they're really so important. Hence my struggles now to name my WIP :/
First, I use word of mouth from my GoodReads friends, they usually don't steer my wrong.After that, cover and "blurb" go a long way. If it's a book I can get from my library, I'll read it regardless of reviews if I like the cover and blurb. If I have to pay for it, then I start to look at reviews to see what the overall feelings of the book- I like to read both good and bad reviews to get a good grasp of the book.
I don't think I've had buyer's remorse over a book yet, but there were several I was glad I borrowed from the library...
title helps... but if the cover and/or blurb is *meh* with only a great title, I'll pass
Mod
No prob. My trailer's pretty lo-tech compared to Mira's, so depending on what you're willing to spend, you can generate some amazing results.
Tana wrote: "What kinds of promotion/exposure (other than recommendations from friends and ratings) have actually made you buy an unfamiliar author's work. Freebies? Book contests? Blog posts? Interviews? Faceb..."Sammy2006 wrote: "I actually look at a couple of things:
1st--the to be released or new releases on Amazon--primarily there cause I have a kindle and it's easy--although more and more I find my self checking other ..."
I guess I'm really weird but I just browse and when I find a blurb that intrigues me, I buy the book. There's almost no other way an author can tempt me. :) I don't regularly surf the internet looking for authors, reading blogs, etc, mostly because I'm working two jobs and don't have the time. There are always books I can find through Amazon for my Kindle and I'm getting good at searching for tags and books that I might like.
So...a good blurb and the right tags work for me.
I look at a few different things. 1. A good title will grab me first. Since I often frequent the local bookstores and one can usually only see the spine of the cover first, the title is the first thing that grabs my attention.
2. If I am shopping online I will usually always read customer reviews and blurbs about the book. I pay a lot of attention to average ratings because it has been my experience that most of them are correct.
3. Finally, recommendations are huge for me. I find them on Goodreads, through my Facebook friend's list, and blogs. Many good recommendations have also come from book sellers at stores and such. I'm fairly open-minded when it comes to reading so it is not difficult to catch my attention anyway.
:-)
I actually go through a few steps before deciding whether or not to read a book.1st of all is the cover for me. I mean, that is the first thing you see. Of course, I dont decide whether or not I read a book simply by liking/disliking the bookcover.
Next I look at the title and (if applicable) the series name. If it sounds the slightest bit interesting to me, I then check out the blurb.
The blurb is usually what sells me a book. If I find it absolutely amazingly super interesting, I put it on my must-read list right away! If it sounds fairly interesting I put it on my to-read list. And if it captures my attention but I dont find it exactly "WOW," I put it on my maybe-to-read list. Yes, I've got 3 different to-read lists based on which books I want to read the most.
I look at whether friends have read the book and how many stars they've given the book as well.
Also, if I have read the works of an author before (and liked them), I am more likely to read that same author's other novels as well.
Things I dont do:
I dont usually read other peoples reviews before I read the book...I dont like to spoil things for myself. However, if I've read the book then I will read the reviews and see what other people thought.
I dont like to read excerpts. Again, that spoilers thing.
I dont do either of the above even if it says that it's spoiler free...better safe than sorry, right? Well, maybe sometimes I read a review or 2 for a book I really want to read (no spoilers, of course) ;)
Oh man, I'm a bit picky, arent I? LOL
Liliana ღ's Mythology wrote: "I actually go through a few steps before deciding whether or not to read a book.1st of all is the cover for me. I mean, that is the first thing you see. Of course, I dont decide whether or not ..."
What about first chapter excerpts? To me those are not spoilery, because they are exactly where you will start if you read the book.
Very true. Those I dont actually mind because they are in the beginning, but I dont like to be left hanging! Of course that just means that book is good ;)
Mod
Sheri wrote: "Do any of the authors here do book trailers? Or does anyone look for them when looking up a book? I had never even heard of a book trailer until a couple of weeks ago."My Marketing guy offered to have one made for my book...for a fee. So, I threw myself into it and made one on my own. Unfortunately my program crashed once I had finished, and I had to remake it using another program so I was not as satisfied with the finished product the second time around. (I couldn't access the first one to get picture order or the text I had on the slides). But in the end, I believe it does help people get a glimpse into my book. It has been seen over 500 times in about 6 weeks.
Debbie
Also: does the genre of the book matter? I realize that I will read most anything, aside from, well, horror, sci-fi, romance. I don't mean to knock those genres; they make far more money then my poetry ever will. I am just saying that no matter how clever the blurbs, how effective the cover design, or how good the reviews, I just won't read the book. Which leads me to my next question-- and be honest, you won't hurt my feelings: how likely are you to buy the book even if it IS exquisitely marked and packaged if it's a genre you're not interested in reading? Like, oh, let's say poetry?
Maria wrote: "Also: does the genre of the book matter? I realize that I will read most anything, aside from, well, horror, sci-fi, romance. I don't mean to knock those genres; they make far more money then my po..."And I read almost anything... except poetry. I think genre is pretty much a given criterion when I go browsing for books. The one thing that will make me read poetry or anything else outside my normal comfort zone is a really great review by someone whose tastes have been very similar to mine. If they adored it, I might try it. No amount of cover/blurb etc will do that, although after the review piques my interest, those have to not turn me off again.
ummm, that is what I was afraid of... however thank you for your honesty. I'd rather hear the truth and try to work within its confines than not. OK, so when you say that you want to see a great review from someone who's tastes are similar to yours, you mean NOT the book blurb, however from word-of-mouth from a friend or colleague who's tastes mirror yours, no? Because a poet reviewing another poet is pretty much useless to someone who doesn't read poetry, right?
BTW thank you for this info. Your opinion is VERY useful to me for my marketing tactics (both in their limitations and capabilities) because you reflect the MAJORITY of readers out there. I need to work around it, not through it.Would a review from a fiction writer you've know be more helpful?
Well, for me, first thing that can get my attention on a book it's the author's name ( usually I would like to read about authors from the past, but this is not always ), second it's the title of the book ( so many books have such common words on them that sometimes it makes me even to try to avoid it no matter how many people read it ), then comes the price of the book ( if it's cheap enough and can afford it then I don't give a damn if let's say the cover it's not so good done ), then is the cover. Usually I try to read those authors that are not popular at all.
I don't give a damn on interviews, reviews or blogs.
I may be a writer/author but believe it or not I don't like to read. I of course have started reading alot more due to the fact that I have written a book. Usually if the cover art looks good I pick it up and glance, and if it sounds interesting or something im into I will read it. Sometimes a book will be like hey you why dont you read me and ill simply say hey your boring and I don't think I'd like you and thats that. I can walk out of a library without a book but I think I always take a little inspiration away from it too.
Denise wrote: "Horror of horrors! I'm pretty sure that my book blurb sucks. I did a test by putting my novel up for free against about 20 other books and it's not getting anyone's attention. If I didn't get unani..."You are one gutsey person, I dont know that id do what your doing but I do respect it! lol. Good Luck to you!
Maria wrote: "BTW thank you for this info. Your opinion is VERY useful to me for my marketing tactics (both in their limitations and capabilities) because you reflect the MAJORITY of readers out there. I need to work around it, not through it.Would a review from a fiction writer you've know be more helpful? ..."
Yes, because unless another poet also writes or reads genre fiction I probably won't see or trust their reviews. The thing that might trigger me to go outside my comfort zone is a rave review from one of the group of my GR friends (including other authors) whose reviews pop up on my updates page. If someone says, "This is not my usual thing but it blew me away - you all should check it out" then I might even pick up poetry.
But usually not if another poet or someone whom I know regularly loves poetry says the same thing. (My husband reads a lot of it, and has given up recommending it to me because our tastes just don't match. Him saying it's wonderful doesn't tempt me to try something anymore.) However another poet would be best to reach your core audience, of course.
I think poetry is a hard sell. Not that I hate it; I've enjoyed everything from Shakespeare's sonnets to Ogden Nash, but in my limited time to read, new poetry has a hard time competing with other TBR's. A short book would be more likely to be sampled.
The other issue is content. I'm not sure it's worth it for you to pursue readers outside the usual poetry channels except maybe in an area that corresponds to your poetry content (eg. romance genre if you write a lot of romantic poetry.) The one prose/poetry book I read recently and recommend widely to my friends is The Realm of Possibility because it has YA and GLBT content (and is freaking amazing) and that intersection meets specific interests of mine.
1. The Cover: I think I wouldn't look at a book with a bad cover. It is the most important thing!2. The Title: With the cover comes the title. It really plays an important role too.
3. The description: I only look at the description when the book as both a good title and an awesome cover.
4. Rating: I really care about the rating.
5. Reviews: they are really important.
Ethereal K.K. wrote: "1. The Cover: I think I wouldn't look at a book with a bad cover. It is the most important thing!2. The Title: With the cover comes the title. It really plays an important role too.
3. The descr..."
This is what I do and I think #3 doesnt happen unless you like 1 and 2, if your still into it by 3 then you read a decription and then see if there are reviews or even like a sticker that says #1 best seller, thats what really draws me.
Hi All--How I get to read indie authors was #tagittuesday on Twitter that was blowing up last week...my goal is to get on there. I wrote a book just recently I'm getting the proof this week and I hope someone reads my blurb and wants to read/review it.If you would like please take a look--
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Thank you for doing this group and giving the opportunity for people to talk about what they love.
I have to admit: I'm a judger of covers. If the cover sucks, or has half naked girls, it gets skipped. Also, if an author I like did a good review on it.
Nicola wrote: "I have to admit: I'm a judger of covers. If the cover sucks, or has half naked girls, it gets skipped. Also, if an author I like did a good review on it."If theres half naked woman on it are you sure its a book and not a magazine? lol!
Justin wrote: If there's half naked woman on it are you sure its a book and not a magazine? lol!"
Of course I'm sure. Some fantasy authors have a perverted sense of cover art. You wouldn't be one of them would you?
Of course I'm sure. Some fantasy authors have a perverted sense of cover art. You wouldn't be one of them would you?
Nicola wrote: "Justin wrote: If there's half naked woman on it are you sure its a book and not a magazine? lol!"Of course I'm sure. Some fantasy authors have a perverted sense of cover art. You wouldn't be on..."
Putting perverted art on a cover? Heavens no. Ive only wrote one book and if i were to do stuff like that it wouldnt be through art but writing and even then id write it in such a way that it wud not be considered vulgar or tasteless..I have class lol
Glad to hear you have class Justin... :)
Sheri wrote: "Not an exception Sammy, I don't like excerpts either. I want to know what the book is about, not read a few paragraphs of it!I also have discovered many great books off of blogs and FB posts o..."
Sheri I read this comment along with Sammy and must say I smiled to myself bc I had just left another forum only to read other readers saying exactly what you all are saying...
What I find so amusing is, that when I was doing what you all say the things you do not like "excerpts and particularly long ones," preferably a summary explaining the book; my sales were toilet paper...
Then I read another author's post who suggested we take a long good look at some of the authors who had good, solid sales and mimic them... I noticed that they were posting excerpts and in most cases page long excerpts... As person wanting to increase sales and willing to experiment, I tried it their way and I must say my sales have actually doubled.
I actually blogged about this on good read about how it is impossible to please everyone and no matter what we are darned if we do and darned if we don't... However I've very much enjoyed the debate and will always take what readers have to say under consideration...
Alm wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Not an exception Sammy, I don't like excerpts either. I want to know what the book is about, not read a few paragraphs of it!I also have discovered many great books off of blogs an..."
Maybe if you post excerpts, those who don't like them can skip them and those who do are satisfied, so you are kind of pleasing both. Whereas if you don't, then you only please one group.
Mod
I've heard some authors say blurbs are hard to write...What do you all think?
Sheri wrote: "@Alm, congrats on the increased sales! Like you said, you can't please everyone :)I've heard some authors say blurbs are hard to write...What do you all think?"
Blurbs are #$$%$@ if you'll excuse the language. I have a harder time with one 50 word blurb than a 100K novel. So important (as witnessed here) for selling your book and so damned hard to do well.
The first thing to attract me to a book is the cover. It's a biggie for me. I look at that, before even glancing at the author. The blurb/excerpt comes second and if I'm still a little hesitant on the book I'll look at a few reviews. Sometimes dispite all this, I'll still give a book a try and then write a review of my own to give my opinion.I have been disappointed before, but more often than not, I enjoy my reads.
To be honest, as a reader, the blurb just needs to assure me that it will be the 'type' of book I feel like reading. It doesn't have to 'grab' me so much.
The cover makes a huge difference with me. It has to be attractive, professional looking and give some sense of what the book is about or at least reflect the genre.
Jennifer wrote: "The cover makes a huge difference with me. It has to be attractive, professional looking and give some sense of what the book is about or at least reflect the genre."Yes and many ebooks do not have good covers. Something to keep in mind if you are self publishing.
Mod
Good point. I always look at covers, even on my Kindle, and I also look for a blurb before I start reading, which a lot of ebooks (at least Kindle) don't have.
Sheri wrote: "Aderyn wrote: "Yes and many ebooks do not have good covers. Something to keep in mind if you are self publishing"Good point. I always look at covers, even on my Kindle, and I also look for a b..."
most of the ones I have purchased on kindle have the blurb, you just have to scroll down the page a bit to see it.(on amazon) but once you have the book, you can look at the cover if you right click on the title, but you can't read the blurb on the kindle, or on sony either
Tana wrote: "What kinds of promotion/exposure (other than recommendations from friends and ratings) have actually made you buy an unfamiliar author's work. Freebies? Book contests? Blog posts? Interviews? Faceb..."For me the covers catches my eye first. Then the back of the book sucks me in or drives me away. I don't really listen to other people's reviews. If I want to read something I will read it no matter what others say. I do a lot of browsing on goodreads and look at the generated recommendations based on my reading to get new ideas.
I agree the cover. But then I open to the first page. If it doesn't get my attention in that first sentence I usually stop right there.
The title and the blurbs. I try not to judge a book by its cover. And the best one... word of mouth and book bloggers.
The cover, if the back synopsis is good and if what it's about interests me.
Personal rec's for me. A decent cover and blurb if not. I do pay attention to reviews and I am unlikely to pick up a book if it has been slated by thirty or forty readers. The first four or five chapters have to grip me, excite me, or rouse my curiosity. If not, I'm prone to starting another and may never finish it.
The title and the cover are the first for me usually. Then I read the synopsis and the blurbs on the back of the book and see if it interests me. If, I have the option I will open the book to any page and read a page or two and see if it something that keeps my attention. Sometimes I like to see what others write about the book, usually what they like and didn't like. Sometimes the people who didn't like the book didn't read it in content, or trash the whole book which I find it hard to believe they read the whole thing and couldn't find one thing good about it (why waste your time!).
For me personally, the cover and the blurb has to catch my attention. Even in that case, sometimes the book itself is not what I expected it to be. But that's my taste. The blurb is what hooked me.
Making Connections
Books mentioned in this topic
Trompe-l'oeil (other topics)The Realm of Possibility (other topics)
A Hymn That Meanders (other topics)
Rose's Will (other topics)
Dark Matter (other topics)
