Paying for Book Reviews

The Grump · Jul 19, 2011

Maybe I missed any discussion, but Writer Beware posted a link to Blueink Review, a book review for a fee service. The link: http://publishingperspectives.com/2011/07/case-for-fee-based-reviews-self-published-books/

Seems the principal is the former editor of the Denver based, Rocky Moutain News.

Seem Pyrrhic to me. What are your thoughts on fee-based book reviews.

[Since more than self-publishers might pay for reviews, I started the thread here. If it needs moving, please do.]

veinglory · Jul 19, 2011

My thoughts are: don't do it unless all you are after is self-gratification.

A loyal "free" girlfriend is a reflection of your finer qualities as a human being, a "paid for" girlfriend is indicative only of your needs and desire to have them gratified on demand.

Reviews reflect on one's book pretty much the same way, IMHO. A free review says the book is desirable and worth talking about. A paid review indicates that the author has money and needed to use it to get a review.

DeadlyAccurate · Jul 19, 2011

Reviews are there to help customers make a decision on whether to buy the book. They aren't written for the writers. A writer paying for a review is like Ford paying for someone to write a review of a Focus. That's not a review; that's ad copy.

Alessandra Kelley · Jul 19, 2011

DeadlyAccurate said:
Reviews are there to help customers make a decision on whether to buy the book. They aren't written for the writers. A writer paying for a review is like Ford paying for someone to write a review of a Focus. That's not a review; that's ad copy.

That's the same problem I have with the idea. Once money comes into it the whole dynamic changes. If you pay for a review you are a customer with a customer's right to complain and request better quality. You have some implicit control over what is said in the review. And the review isn't a review, it's advertising.

I have no idea if Amazon or Goodreads or whoever have policies about paid-for reviews. I do know that as a reader I do not trust them, even if they're upfront about being paid for. I regard them as on a level with the author publishing a review under an assumed name.

Cyia · Jul 19, 2011

Paid reviews are against the TOS for Amazon, but this article isn't talking about Amazon style reviews. This is more like you'd find in a review column -- most of which refuse to consider self-published material.

The reviewer makes a point to say that the author who pays has no input in the review, only the option to request the review not post should it be negative. It's that "opt-out" option that makes this a problem, IMO. Commercial books don't get to opt-out of reviews from newspapers, blogs, etc, and if a self-publisher wants to compete with a commercial book, then they should abide the "rules" of the field. If you want the review, then be willing to take the final result, whatever that may be.

James D. Macdonald · Jul 19, 2011

If you pay to be reviewed, the fact that you did so will eventually come out, and it will make you look pathetic.

johnnysannie · Jul 19, 2011

I've never paid for a book review, never will.

It's a ridiculous notion.

pbook · Jul 29, 2011

If the fee for the book review is worth the result then I think it's great. Plain and simple.

veinglory · Jul 29, 2011

The result of paying for a review is to look at best foolish and at worst dishonest. Who would pay for that?

brainstorm77 · Jul 29, 2011

A paid review is worthless in my eyes.

Button · Jul 29, 2011

As a blogger who writes reviews, and I have done reviews of books before, I do not accept money for reviews. I do wish to have the actual book in hand if someone wants to send it to me for review, and I will keep the book (if no return postage is also sent for a return).

I think it's silly to get paid to do it. Some writers are paid, but from the newspaper or magazine they write for, not from the author to write the review. If that makes sense.

For some people, they get paid for their opinions but they aren't paid directly from the author, so they're still free to make a clean review.

To ask otherwise is completely silly.

Smish · Jul 29, 2011

veinglory said:
The result of paying for a review is to look at best foolish and at worst dishonest. Who would pay for that?

Or foolish and dishonest.

Old Hack · Jul 30, 2011

Perhaps I should start charging for reviews on my blog. I can't imagine anyone paying me, though.

James D. Macdonald · Jul 30, 2011

veinglory said:
The result of paying for a review is to look at best foolish and at worst dishonest. Who would pay for that?

Dishonest fools?

Button · Jul 30, 2011

The FCC, I believe, requires you to admit if you were paid for a review. Anyone who requests nondisclosure of being paid is risking it a little. Not that the FCC is paying attention, but I do.

I think the best book reviews come from readers who love to read, anyway, and had an interest to read your book. Otherwise it's so formal and staged sounding that it's nothing but fodder. You'll skip it to read the guy "thaat tipes lik thes" just to read something from someone honest about their review.

Save your money. If you want bloggers to read your book, look for an email address, write a nice little letter and ask them if they are interested. They're used to it. Trust me.

And if they are interested, you'll get a nice email asking for a copy.

chevbrock · Jul 30, 2011

Sorry to OT, but is that "Just Upstairs" guy a friend of yours, Brainstorm? I'd like to meet him!

Oh, and about the topic at hand - I also think you could spend your marketing money better elsewhere than paying for a review.

Nexus · Aug 3, 2011

Feels just as silly as paying for an agent to read my query.

Unimportant · Aug 3, 2011

I reckon paying for a review of your work is like paying for sex. The person you've hired is being paid to make you feel good, even if only for a few minutes. The person you hired will not be feeling pleasure themselves, and no one is going to believe you if you claim that they did.

brainstorm77 · Aug 4, 2011

chevbrock said:
Sorry to OT, but is that "Just Upstairs" guy a friend of yours, Brainstorm? I'd like to meet him!

Oh, and about the topic at hand - I also think you could spend your marketing money better elsewhere than paying for a review.

I wish!

Paying for Book Reviews

The Grump

Hates Marketing. Loves Writing.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

johnnysannie

pbook

veinglory

volitare nequeo

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW

Button

Resident in Question

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Button

Resident in Question

chevbrock

Nexus

Evolute

Unimportant

doggone

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW