Today, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on book
reviews. Book reviews are a useful tool in helping readers navigate through the
myriad of books on sale, making their next choice an easier one. A good review is
a good marketing tool for authors, as well.
Authors need a healthy amount of reviews in order to
advertise their stories on the very websites which cater to giving readers reviews
on the books being offered in the particular genres they seek. So in order for
the author to gain recognition on a site, they must already have the necessary
reviews to gain entrance onto said site.
It’s virtually a catch-22, wouldn’t you say?
As a writer, I know the importance of having readers review
your story. A review can be a good thing—a bellwether of sorts—letting me know
if I’ve pleased my readers. Did my story make them laugh or cry? Or did I miss
the boat entirely? I use this feedback when writing my next book.
However, reviews are subjective. A story might engage one
reader, but not the next. Everybody has different tastes. That’s fine and
understandable. A good reviewer will explain his or her reasons in a critique
of the book. And for the most part, most reviewers are fair and give excellent
feedback on the story. They will touch on the things they liked or disliked,
giving their reasons why. However, every so often, someone will leave a review
that isn’t constructive, but destructive in nature, sounding vindictive at
best. When this happens, and though it’s quite hurtful, it’s best for the
author to bite the bullet and ignore it. The author can only hope that when
other readers see that horrendous review they will dismiss it for what it is
and not allow it to influence whether or not they read the story.
Getting people to review your story can sometimes be a
Herculean feat to an author. Authors can submit their book to particular sites,
that might or might not, review it. This process can be subjective, too. Reviewers
often go by name recognition. And some authors are left out in the cold.
Writing in the 21st century has become quite complex
for an author. No longer does the author just write the book. They have to
market it now, as well. Reviews help authors get their name out there. So, whenever
you read a book, please be so kind to leave a review.
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