Welcome to Book Blogging 101, a weekly feature on Parajunkee’s View that answers your questions and strives to share great book blogging tips and some helpful hints to help you on your way.
However, some titles that I have been requested to read just seems like something I will never pick up. Ever.
Any advice on how to say NO to this requests without being rude? – Ella V
Ella, in all honesty I just ignore the requests that I’m not interested in, unless of course I have an established relationship with the author. And I know this sounds horrible, but really, I got tired of explaining myself and then defending my review policy. I’m not a patient person and I hate repeating myself, even if it is to multiple people. That is how I defend it in my mind, rude or not — take a look at my recreation of what a usual “pushy” review request began to look like, before I started just ignoring:
Dear Parajunkee:
Your site is amazing and I just discovered it and have been all over it recently. I think it will be a perfect fit for my book, ‘Chick Likes Both’ – would you please review it? It’s about a girl who doesn’t have any friends and she goes to boarding school and meets a mysterious boy with great hair. The thing is she is also drawn to this other guy who is kind of sulky with a great body. Who will she choose? Sounds great, doesn’t it?? I know you would love to review it, so send me your address and I’ll send it right over.
Regards,
Author X
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Dear Author X:
Thank you so much for the compliments! I’ve put a lot of time into my blog and I’m overjoyed that you like it so much. Unfortunately ‘Chick Likes Both’ might not work for me right now, since I’m a little overrun with love triangles and I try to vary my reading to avoid burnout. I’m going to have to decline the review request, but thank you again for thinking of the blog.
Regards,
PJ
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Dear PJ:
I know I wrote in the last email about two men, but the love triangle is really only a small part of the novel, I really think you would enjoy. Really. It has a boarding school and this might be a spoiler, but one of the guys is a vampire. I know you love vampires.
Author X
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Author X:
Again I’m going to have to say no. I read the synopsis and it just doesn’t seem like something I would like. I’m sure there are other bloggers that would love to review your book. Thank you again.
PJ
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PJ:
I totally wrote that synopsis quickly, I swear you’ll like the book, it’s just like all the other books you review on your blog. I’ve attached the PDF, once you start reading you won’t be able to stop. I look forward to reading your review.
Author X
attachment: ChickLikesBoth.pdf
—
{Delete}
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PJ:
It’s been three months and I haven’t seen a review of ‘Chick Likes Both’ on your blog. I’m an indie author and I sent out like 50 review copies and I’ve only gotten 2 reviews, so reviews are very important to me, I was just wondering when I can expect a review?
Thanks,
Author X
—-
Slams head against desk. {Delete}
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I am not elaborating — I’ve had about ten of these types of email correspondences. One of which started about a year and a half ago and still continues. It is reminiscent of my mother-in-law who always tries to get me to eat whatever she orders…
“C’mon try it…”
“I don’t like Meatloaf…”
“Try it…”
“I don’t like Meatloaf…”
“You’ll like this one.”
“Gah…!!!”
It might seem rude to ignore a review request, but I really only suggest responding back to authors that you want to open up a communication with or publishers/publicists that you want to start a relationship with — and frankly if you want to start a relationship you are probably going to have review that first book they are pushing on you, no matter what you think of the synopsis. If it is out of your genre range that is a quick and easy response, just state that it is not within the lines of your reading likes and if they have a book that fits within your chosen genres you would be more than happy to review them.
This would also be a good time to set up a review policy and you can always direct authors to the policy if they are not falling within those lines. Hope it helps.
My suggestion would be to purchase a secondary domain and create a forward. It’s easy to do if you know how to do it within a domain management program, but there are also excellent companies that you can call up and get support through. One of which is GoDaddy.com whom I recommend highly. Mainly because their tech support is phenom and based in the US, so they are easy to understand and they are very knowledgable.
You would call up GoDaddy.com and talk to sales. Tell them you want to buy a domain and get it forwarded to your current domain. If you already have a domain that your purchased, especially if you purchased it through Google – it might be with GoDaddy.com already. Check who it is purchased with before you even call and they can set up everything under the same account.
Yes, March 1st, GFC will not be available for use on non-Blogger blogs. Very. Really. True. Check this out. Sorry Eileen, I had I think about 4 or 5 other questions that were asking about WP so I read this completely wrong. I blame Mardi Gras… :X
Shutting down GFC for Blogger blogs is based solely on rumor. The app makes no money for Google in any way shape or form, so one day, yes they could discontinue it. But, as of right now they are only shutting down for NON-Blogger blogs only.
I can’t get to all the questions, but please ask your BB101 Questions here…bring it on.
Great questions this week, Rachel. I too get those relentless emails that make me pull out my hair. I think the most annoying are the ones that a) don’t fit my genre tastes AT ALL, b) include a copy of the book – this makes me feel like I am just expected to bend to their will, and c) show obvious signs that they didn’t bother to read my review policy. I absolutely agree with the fact that bloggers should only respond to the ones they are interested in reading/working with. Reading should be fun and once your blog gains traffic, it becomes literally impossible to respond to all of the requests.
I really think that if they don’t follow your review request you have no obligation to respond.
GREAT post, and oh, so true.
Unfortunately, I found sending out my standard boilerplate, “Thanks for your interest, but unfortunately my schedule is full at this time/this book does not fit the scope of what I review on my blog.” usually only ENCOURAGED writers to continue a dialogue.
And, like you say, a lot of them are “indie” authors – and I have to wonder if the main reason they haven’t been published by a big, established publisher, is because they lack the ability to communicate, or accept critique, or understand how to market their book. The writing’s fine – maybe the book is a bit of a diamond in the rough, still needs polish – but overall, it’s a pretty good book. It’s the author themselves that sometimes needs a bit of editing.
I tried replying with a no to authors too, and it just never seems to work out well 9/10 times. I ignore too. If they keep emailing requests (I’ve had a few) I mark it spam. I don’t know if my review policy has helped too much. I have outlined what I will review and what I absolutely will not review and I still get people who email and asked “I know you said you don’t review this genre, but I think this book will make you a believer.” Nope, not likely. Ignoring is the way to go.
It just amazed me that some of these writers are even willing to contact newbie bloggers (like me) to review their books. At first, I’m flattered but now I know to avoid the ones that are so not my genre. They never read the review policy. (Sigh).
I think you misunderstood Eileen! “There are a few rumors going around that Google Friend Connect is going off Blogger, too” She was asking if GFC will still be available for Blogger blogs or if it would be removed from those as well.
As for indie authors, I’ve had one pushy author. Ever. And I pretty much pushed back and asked them to please stop bothering me and they did. I like to just reply with a, “Sorry but it’s not for me/I’m not interested right now/I won’t have time to read it” and if it could be something my readers are interested in then I offer a guest post spot, otherwise I leave it at that. They tend to appreciate the politeness. I do tend to ignore a few who have ignored my review policy entirely though, because hey, my policy is there for a reason.
Oops — sorry Eileen – I had about five of those questions, you try to write pink on a purple paper — etc. Oh well. It is not going away from Blogger as of March 1 — only Non-Blogger blogs. I’ll change my answer.
It must be me, but I’m constantly trying to be “talked into” reviewing a book. I really only respond to the ones that you can tell took time to check everything out and personalized the email.
My review policy states that if I don’t respond to the review request within one week that the author can assume I will not be reviewing the book. I also state that by filling out my review request form that they agree to the terms of my review policy. Makes it simple that way.
That is a good idea to include that in the review policy. Thanks for the tip! I’ve also been thinking about doing a review request form — but I’m not accepting review copies, LOL so it seemed redundant. But, I still get requests.
Thankfully, I’ve never gotten into a situation where the author is continuously sending me emails. I did have an author send me a PDF copy, and then tell me that she would be getting hard copies and she’d like to send one because she READ MY REVIEW POLICY (I died! This was fantastic!) and she knew I would rather have that instead! That made me so happy, I immediately pushed my review for her book up my TBR!
Since I’ve been blogging for about a year now, and I broke the 1,000 follower mark, I’ve been getting a lot more review requests. I actually have guidelines of what I require in a review request and if the author/pub doesn’t include all of those things I ignore it. It says so in my review policy! I also got sick of writing so many denial emails that I just ignore requests I don’t want. It’s harsh, but I don’t have time.
It also says on my review policy that I can’t guarantee a review for all the books I receive, unless I request them myself and authors are usually understanding about that. I think it’s important to set up a review policy so you at least have an excuse to ignore emails!
Great post, I definitely agree with you!!
I will bend over backwards for someone that has taken the time just to look around and read my review policy etc. But most the time I get requests that are like: Dear —, or Dear Blogger, look I’m not thinking I’m special or anything, but don’t you want to know who will review your book? Don’t you want to take the time to look at the blog and get a feel for the blogger? It takes two seconds to personalize an email.
My review policy says the same thing…I can’t guarantee anything. Especially if I don’t get through half of the book I’m not inclined to write a review — which happens a lot more now.
Yes!!! If the email isn’t addressed to me I ignore it immediately!
I have been ignoring them as well. The one time I tried to be nice and say no thank you worked out a bit like your example. They are still sending me snippets from other reviews that just loved their book. But there are times I wish I could read the book but I am just swamped.
Wow great post. I’ve yet to meet an author that persistent, but man that’s kind of scary!
I also don’t respond to requests I’m not interested in. It just takes up too much time. I’ve gotten requests that include a copy of the book already attached. Just because they attach the book without my agreeing to review it, doesn’t mean I’m going to feel obligated. I’ve also noticed that people ignore the review policy.
As an author, I only send review requests to sites that I know review my genre, and whose review policy I’ve read. I would never just send a copy of my book-only if they agree to review it.
I don’t even have a review request on my site anymore. No email, no form to fill out…and I keep getting a request for reviews in my comments section now.:( I just don’t think there’s a way to win. I’ve loosened up my comments since captcha was such a pain, but now I have this pain too which feels way more annoying.
LOL I love your back-and-forth convo with the author.
My review policy is pretty blunt: no review requests unless I’ve reviewed for you before and everything else will be ignored. I still get the requests…but I feel less bad about ignoring them now
The Cait Files
Thank you thank you thank you for your answers this week! I’ve started getting review requests for books I’m just not interested in, recently. The authors are SO nice and sweet, but I only have X number of hours for reading, and I don’t even have enough time to read the books I really WANT to. I mean, I appreciate the offers–I’d never know if I did or DIDN’T want to read something if they didn’t ask, but I feel vindicated in my general policy not to respond now! Thanks Rachel! xx
Haha! I love your response to the first question. I do that too, and it’s just if you can’t take the time to read my review policy, then I can’t take the time to respond to an email that shouldn’t of been sent in the first place, b/c I don’t review in your genre which you would’ve known if you read my review policy. LOL
But I love your “Dear Author X,” I was cracking up here!
Oh my gosh, sadly your email dialogue with that author sounds just so familiar. I’ve heard so many stories from bloggers who have had the same thing happen that they, too just stopped responding. Fortunately I’ve never had that much back and forth.
I’ve either had really positive and understanding authors or really upset ones. So I was forced down the not responding road. It makes me feel guilty not to respond, but I feel even more guilty when authors tell me that I’m their last chance for a review.
I’m not sure if my review policy makes no sense, but I think most requests come from those who haven’t even been to my site to take a look.
I’ve just been the recipient of a rather “interesting” approach to book marketing and review requests just this past week. I get a generic email as if from a friend (but no name, just a “hi”) talking about this person discovering this author’s book and asking my advice if I’ve seen anything else by the author. (As if I’d look up that author and their books for someone I don’t know and who doesn’t have my name in the email.) A week later I get an email from the author, with their book attached asking for a review. Sorry, not fooled. I get marketing tactics but that’s just way too blatant, besides the whole ignoring my review policy…
I’ll never accept a review book if the author thinks I’m a fool before I even get their book!
Rachel, I received something similar last week. What a crappy marketing technique, the author lost potential reviewers by trying to push their way to a review in such a manner. It’s a big ‘Ignore’ and to cheesy for words, I wouldn’t read the book just based on the morals and principle of the author.
It clearly states in my review policy that I do not review SCI-FI- and I get at least 2 review requests per week for Sci-Fi .
They just don’t get it! There are tons of bloggers that love Sci-Fi, take a minute to read my review or even ‘about me’ and you’ll know I detest Sci-fi!
I
I really appreciate your willingness to share your experience with new bloggers! Thank you for the helpful tips.
I used to always reply to every email request, but after a few not so moments I’ve decided to just delete ones I’m not interested in OR reply to those authors/publicists that I’ve worked with or would like to work with in future to keep the lines of communication open and honest. It seems to have helped with me keeping my TBR pile from growing too rapidly as I still have a pile to get through. *sigh*
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