Do you
make a habit of reviewing the books you read? Accumulating reader reviews of
books is a huge hurdle for authors and the truth of it is that without them, a
book doesn’t stand a chance of getting much notice. If you want to be
instrumental in the fate of a book and/or an author, writing reviews and
posting them on Amazon.com is the best way to do it. Posting your reviews on
Goodreads, Shelfari, Library Thing, Barnes & Noble, Google+, LinkedIn, and
other sites that promote books is also important, but reviews on Amazon have
the greatest clout with readers, as well as with other booksellers and
advertisers. As a matter of fact, some book advertisers won’t touch a book
unless it has a certain number of reviews to its credit on Amazon.
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| "The Bookworm" watercolor by Linda Lee Greene |
Have you ever been so touched, or
informed, or entertained by a book that you wish you could communicate your
appreciation of it directly to the author? Your review posted on Amazon.com is the best way to do it.
Writing is a solitary, and oftentimes, a lonely undertaking, and feedback from
readers is a writer’s lifeblood. It keeps them motivated; it boosts their
self-esteem; it may well save their lives! You might be surprised to know that some
of the most prominent authors among us don’t leave their computers for weeks at
a time, or you have to use a crowbar to pry their pencils and tablets from
their hands—they don’t eat, or brush their teeth, or bathe, or sleep. They
almost never see other human beings. But the good news is that most authors I
know respond to the reviews their books receive, if to little else. It could be
your pathway to a new author cyber-friend. And you can bet your bottom dollar
that many authors need your cyber-friendship desperately—as long as they don’t
have to meet you personally because that would entail bathing, and ….well, you
get the drift! Ha! Ha! Just kidding!
Are you a writer who wants to support your fellow writers?
Only you understand the blood, sweat, and tears that go into writing a book,
and one of the most effective ways of validating other authors is to post
reviews of their books on Amazon.com. Receiving endorsement from ones peers is
akin to being awarded an Oscar of Literature. And it’s a good way of paying it forward.
A lot of readers would like to post reviews, but feel
intimidated by the
process. “I don’t know what to say, or how to say it. I’m not a writer,” is a
response I hear sometimes. You’re in luck. Amazon has lifted its ban on reviews
that are too short! You can write something as simple as “I loved it!” or “This
is one of the best books I’ve ever read!” or “It will keep you entertained!” or
“I couldn’t put it down!” If you didn’t like the book, explain the reasons in
the review because that’s information the author needs to improve her/his
writing skills. On the other hand, a wordy synopsis is valuable because many
readers who are considering the purchase of a book will read its reviews
beforehand, and summary-reviews of the story are helpful to them.
Please
support authors by posting reviews of their books, especially at Amazon.com. Go
to the site and type in the name of the book. When the correct page comes up,
click onto the icon on the right identifying the reviews section. The reviews
will come up and will show a dialog box asking if you would like to post a
review. Click onto it, and follow the prompts. It’s easy; it’s fun; and it’s
satisfying. And you will make a lonely writer very happy, and maybe even save
her/him from premature dentures!
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