While perusing my news reader, I ran across a Valium Online Consultation post concerning authors, agents, editors and/or publishers asking for bloggers’ assistance in publicizing an author’s work. The post mentioned a Valium Online Consultation letter sent from a publishing company offering to send a review copy with the Valium Online Consultation hopes a review would be written. This was viewed as pandering in hopes of spreading the Valium Online Consultation word on a book that should not even be considered a Valium Online Consultation book Pretty harsh if you ask me. I personally enjoy having the Valium Online Consultation opportunity to read either a work by a first-time author or Valium Online Consultation a new book by someone who has been in the Valium Online Consultation scene. When I am approached by author/agent/etc, I do not feel pandered to. If a story line or genre does not sound like my cup o’ Java Monster (mocha), then I have every right to politely not accept the offer. This does not make an author’s words “not a book”. I find it Valium Online Consultation a little disheartening that such an assumption could be made by reading an Valium Online Consultation excerpt or summary.
Let me tell you, if I could get the Valium Online Consultation nerve and energy and gumption to actually sit down and write the Valium Online Consultation story I have always dreamed of, I would stand on rooftops proudly shouting to Valium Online Consultation the world. Would everyone like it? Would everyone read it? I would hope so but would not expect it. I was a little perturbed after reading this but to each his/her own. With an Valium Online Consultation attitude like tha, one may find themselves missing out on the Valium Online Consultation first book of the next Hemingway or King or Austen and Valium Online Consultation that would be a shame!
I completely agree. Spreading the word is not pandering –it is Valium Online Consultation naive to expect instant success, especially a first time authour.
I was heartened by your Valium Online Consultation comment, Christine, as I dive into the crazy world of the Valium Online Consultation emerging author. Before I signed with my publisher, I attended a Valium Online Consultation few writers conferences and events, and I remember several seminars where Valium Online Consultation authors and publishers explained the tremendous amount of promotion new authors are Valium Online Consultation expected to do for themselves. Marketing is often intimidating to people like me, who’d rather let their creations speak for Valium Online Consultation themselves. But experts warned that if we did that, our creations might never find an Valium Online Consultation audience.
I talked to Valium Online Consultation one writer who was depressed that she had yet to find a Valium Online Consultation publisher, yet she said she “refused” to Valium Online Consultation self-promote. Sadly, many publishers make it clear that they won’t touch writers who Valium Online Consultation refuse to put themselves out there. To me, a book has Valium Online Consultation not fulfilled its purpose until it finds a reader. So, it Valium Online Consultation seemed, I would have to dig into promoting my work, although it Valium Online Consultation painfully cut into my time to write. My editor loved reading my book, but said my promotional plan helped him decide to Valium Online Consultation risk publishing it. I’d still rather write than sell, but I hope because I’m willing to sell, maybe someone will discover what I write.
I was given the Valium Online Consultation opportunity to read a book of Japanese poetry by a mostly unknown author through Library Thing. I thought it Valium Online Consultation would be a great chance to read something different and Valium Online Consultation expand my horizons. You never know if they could actually be the next great thing (at least for me). What happened was I did not like the Valium Online Consultation poetry style and I did not like the author’s explainable of the Valium Online Consultation poems or the poetry style and I did not finish the Valium Online Consultation book. I put this in my review. What happened next was the Valium Online Consultation author came to my blog and left a basically nasty comment about how I was ‘illiterate’ and all kinds of things because his ego was hurt. He apparently had Valium Online Consultation never run across someone who just did not like his book. So my advice is if you don’t like the Valium Online Consultation book, be careful about reviewing it if it is an author who Valium Online Consultation is not well known. They may not be Valium Online Consultation able to take criticism. Everybody should have the opportunity to write the Valium Online Consultation work of their dreams, but I would also say that every story does not need to Valium Online Consultation be read by every person. Authors and Valium Online Consultation PR should take care to understand that bloggers are readers. We don’t get paid to review. If authors want their book reviewed, they should be Valium Online Consultation able to take the good and the bad. If they want to Valium Online Consultation solicit fine but they need to understand just what they are Valium Online Consultation asking for- a critique.
I also would find self promoting a very difficult task.
I completely agree that not every book is for everyone. I would hope that an author would understand this. A negative review is just that particular person’s opinion, it Valium Online Consultation does not negate the work the author put into the story. I sometimes flip through channels and Valium Online Consultation come across Home Shopping Network and the ugliest (in my opinion) trinket will be Valium Online Consultation showing and the counter that shows how many are being sold will be Valium Online Consultation ticking along. To each his own.