Aerothorn on 20/1/2008 at 21:11
Let's say you've written and self-published a novel (and let's ignore all the inherent issues with self-publishing - for whatever reason, you've gone and done it). How do you get your book reviewed on blogs and websites? Are self-published novelists basically screwed in this regard, or are there book sites that do just this?
Fingernail on 20/1/2008 at 21:32
It's an interesting point, though. You're sort of caught in a never-ending loop of people thinking "if it's self-published, it's not important or good enough for me to bother reading/reviewing", and because no one ever reads or reviews it, it never has a chance to become important, even if it is good.
The best way is probably to send it to a load of agents, publishers, whoever, basically EVERYBODY. Eventually you might hear something. But keep trying, and you increase your chances. Of course, there will be people who recieve your 15th manuscript and start to think "geez, this guy is really pissing me off with all these submissions" but they're more likely to at least pick it up and think "well, at least he's serious enough, might as well at least read the synopsis".
Maybe phone up in a polite way to ask if whoever it was received your book, if they had a chance to read it - don't be a twat about it, but again, they're more likely to at least think about it if you become a real person instead of just another envelope through the door.
Maybe you might find some websites dedicated to reviewing self-published works, but are they going to be taken seriously by anybody? I highly doubt it. I could set up my own brilliant websites and give all my friends brilliant reviews but who would care about it? At the very most it would arm you with a quote or two you can deploy from some dubious source, that just feasibly might make someone more important (such as someone in actual publishing) take you more seriously, which I suppose is better than nothing, but they are also going to think "hmm, a positive review from selfpublishedbooks.org - he clearly has nothing better going for him". You might as well get family members to review it. Fucking FAMILY MEMBERS.
If there are such websites anyway, the best thing would be to get one where all the reviews are done by specific people who can actually write and seem to know their stuff - reviews by anonymous readers on the internet are worth nothing more than what they say to you personally.
EDIT: But if you have written a book, be sure to post it here.
theBlackman on 20/1/2008 at 23:10
Send a PM to STRANGEBLUE and ask her. Her book is out and doing well. She might have a real hint or two that would help.
Scots Taffer on 20/1/2008 at 23:22
Agree with Fingernail that probably the best thing to fire a bunch at anyone relatively engaged in the literary world for feedback/review although I doubt that hitting up agents will result in much success, probably better if your work is genre fiction sending it to a bunch of magazines that are into that particular genre and feature reviews.
And re: contacting 'Blue, not to say that she isn't a fount of knowledge, but she did go via the more traditional route and therefore so did her reviews.
mxleader on 21/1/2008 at 07:33
Most normal publishers have people who write book reviews on a piece work basis. Since you are self published, you are going to have to find some people, and not your friends, to review the book. I would check some of the small press and ezines for people who write reviews and then get them published. I have read a couple of self-published books and I really have to say that I will never do that again. Not that your book is automatically bad, but self-published books often times do not have the benifit of a well trained editing staff and that can make for difficult reading of a potentially good story.
SD on 21/1/2008 at 09:44
At the end of the day, 99% of book reviews are hideously unreliable anyway, because 99% of book reviewers are either doing a favour for a mate or getting one over on an enemy. My advice would be to send a book out to your highest profile, mouthiest friends.
Selkie on 21/1/2008 at 11:40
Quote Posted by theBlackman
Send a PM to
Sypha and ask him. His book is out and
utterly unremarked. He might have a real hint or two that would
make you piss yourself laughing.
Fixed. :thumb:
Spitter on 21/1/2008 at 13:00
one thousand dollars well spent
Peanuckle on 21/1/2008 at 21:07
You could ask your forum-friends to review it on their blogs and websites.
But then, you'd have to find some forum-friends.
