Thoughts on early reviewing
I have been thinking a lot about early reviews since last week I was sent some books with the request not to review them until six weeks before launch date. It was a very reasonable request and I began to think more about the reasoning behind it.
I mentioned it on Twitter and Jennifer an agent for Andrea Brown (who is having an awesome contest for Ilsa J. Bick’s Ashes) said that she believes even six weeks is too early.
I have to say I think I agree. After a lot of thought on the subject the defining question was “Who are we as bloggers reviewing for?” I have never heard an answer other than the one I would use myself: for readers, to help readers to find new books to read.
So if we are reviewing books four or five months before we come out are we doing that? Do you think people other than book bloggers are going to make a running list with publication dates and what not? I don’t think so, and while bloggers do read my blog I want my blog to be the best for regular every day readers.
We are not Kirkus or Publisher’s Weekly and frankly we will never be. This statement has nothing to do with professionalism and everything to do with the same question: “who are we reviewing for?”. Kirkus and the like review for the industry. Meaning their reviews are tailored to help booksellers, librarians and others decide what to buy. I don’t think any of us think our blog is ready made for that. I am sure it happens that at some point we influence some decision somewhere but again this comes back to my blog is for regular every day readers.
This isn’t going to be a very popular paragraph but I feel the need to say this. Those who are reviewing the book as soon as you get it, what is the motivation? Most of the time the book isn’t even available for pre-order, so it all seems to boil down to the “OMG look what I had before any of you!” mentality. No one likes this. Not the publishers, not your fellow bloggers and especially not any readers you have amassed or have found you from searching for a book they really can’t wait to read.
I have never posted extremely early reviews here, and that is more of an accident of chance than me making a conscious decision not to. I am always just a little bit behind with my reading so I tend to post on release date, or a week late, or at times I am so late I have to schedule my review for paperback release.
If your argument is you have to review as soon as you read it or you will forget. I have to say, that is what that fancy ‘schedule’ button is for. You don’t have to click post now, and I know excitement takes a hold of me too at times. I had to wait to post for The Name of the Star and I am still waiting to post my love for The Iron King.
This post isn’t about pissing early reviewers off, it is more about asking you to think before you post. Is the review you worked so hard on going to benefit you and the author? If you review a book six months in advance even bloggers aren’t usually interested, maybe you would see a rise in traffic and comments if you waited until around release day.
By: April (Books&Wine) (@booksandwine)
Actually I’ve noticed that I get more traffic from posting reviews early.
I’ll post reviews whenever I want, unless I get a specific email saying don’t post this until X date.
By: Pam
You should post whenever you want. That’s the beauty of blogging.
By: Jen - Devourer of Books
Yeah, I used to post right away when I first started blogging, but then I thought about the audience I had and wanted to continue to amass and made this same decision. This is the same reason I don’t blog about blogger drama and other meta stuff like that.
By: Lara Starr
THANK YOU! As a publisher I really, really don’t like it when consumer publications (such a blogs) post reviews early! It doesn’t serve the reader, writer or publisher and I think is a function of of the “ARCS-a-Trophy” culture I’ve observed that’s more about the blogger’s ego than anything else (and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE bloggers)
In fact, most bloggers don’t need ARCs, they can review from Advances which are actually cheaper than ARCs to produce.
By: Jennifer (@knittingmomof3)
I prefer to post on or near the publication date if possible.
By: Lara Starr
Think of it like the movies – there are lots of feature stories and buzz about a movie before the premier, but the review – the actual, professional review, is the the month/week/day of the premier (depending on the publication) – the same should be true for books
By: Lenore Appelhans (@lenoreva)
An early review (I call them Advanced Buzz Reviews on my blog) can put the book on other bloggers radars and it is this kind of word of mouth that publishers are looking for when they send out ARCs so far in advance.
It’s also a reason publishers stagger their review copies and most bloggers will get them shortly before release – because most reviews should go up to hit that sweet spot around publication.
When I review a book in advance, I always do a reminder post once the book is available which equals double exposure.
Of course if you are specifically asked to withhold a review until a certain date, it’s professional to comply.
By: Bea
I know that as a reader I find it frustrating to read a review and get excited then realize I have months to wait.
My blog is for myself and other readers so posting reviews of new books close to the release date, whether before or after, just makes sense to me.
By: Pam
Laura: I think ARCs are still relevant especially for blogs that receive a lot of reading material. I have my reading planned (and have books) through February of next year.
Lenore: I tend to agree. I just never review for or create buzz for bloggers, but some sites like yours, The Story Siren and Books and Wine do that kind of early blogger buzz VERY well.
By: kaye (@papereader)
I usually try to wait for a month before the release date to post any ARC reviews. The only time I would post them any earlier is if they’re part of a book blog tour and the tour requires me to do so.
And even then I’ll repost it or relink to the review so that it can get circulated again.
I try and follow the instructions from the publishers, because they’re the ones letting me read the book early in the first place.
By: Pam (@iwriteinbooks)
In the very early days of blogging, I reviewed as soon as I got because I was just so darn excited. No one really read my blog so I wasn’t really bragging to anyone. ;O)
These days, I just barely have time to review by the date I NEED to so I very rarely come to this question. I do find it a bit early, the six weeks bit. BUT it depends on the publisher’s concept of buzz, I suppose. If people are looking ahead to reviews so they can get a sneak peak and it serves the book and the author to GO ahead and post that early, I suppose there may be some merit in that. I still find it long, though.
By: Pam
I also think it matters whether it’s available for pre-order. If it is I don’t see a problem.
By: Leila (@lostwithinpages)
I have a few ARCs for review right now and I have the reviews in the month of release or about 2 weeks early. I know there are specific criteria for some publishing houses and I take that into consideration too.
With a small selection of ARCs putting their review dates closer to release also means I can focus on other selections until then.
I know that at a 6 month marker or even 3-4 I might not remember the book is coming out unless it were a super anticipated like The Iron Knight or The Clockwork Prince.
By: Angela Mann
Pam, I post early for completely different reasons. When I bid for authors to come to our store, I like to be able to point then to the blog so publishers can see what I thought of the book. I find it helps back up my enthusiasm to host the author.
As booksellers, we read books early to see what we want to buy, which books we want to highlight, and we write reviews for our proposals (see above), and for Indie Next List (which has incredibly early due by dates). So we really do read a season in advance.
We do, however, put our reviews in e-newsletter form and send it out as the books are released. And I mention which books are now on the shelves, and a link to the review on the blog.
By: Pam
Most definitely a bookstore blog is an industry blog and has a different set of things to accomplish.
By: Marina
“Do you think people other than book bloggers are going to make a running list with publication dates and what not?”
I do think that I’m not the only regular reader who keeps lists of books to read/books to buy that include not yet published books with their publication dates. Though maybe it just means should be a book blogger myself :D
however, If somebody publishes a very early review, I do appreciate it if they also post a reminder closer to publication date.
By: Leeswammes (Judith) (@leeswammes)
I agree 100% with your post.
I publish my reviews on or very shortly after the publication date. I write for myself and my readers, and they often comment that they’ll look for it next time they’re in the book shop – so it’s important that the book is out already when I review it.
I do read early sometimes and then keep my review in draft until the date I want it on my blog.
Advance buzz – Every week or two I present the new books I’ve received and this will include early ARCs as well (with a synopsis).
By: KB/KT Grant (@katiebabs)
If I happen to get an ARC, I’ll post a review, at the earliest, one month before it’s release, but that’s just me.
Unless a publisher asks to not review a book until closer to the release date, then it’s a free for all.
If pubs don’t want way too early reviews, they shouldn’t send out ARC so far in advance, including places like BEA and other publishing and author events were bloggers and reviewers can get them.
By: Jennie (@kidsilkhaze)
I’m so behind on reviewing so usually I post my reviews way after pub date, BUT! In my perfect world, I write the review a few days after I read the book, the pub date goes in my spreadsheet and the review is posted the week of publication. Sometimes, if I’m super excited about a book, I’ll write a short teaser post with a brief synopsis and a comment that it’s awesome and you should keep it in the back of your head as something to pick up in a few months.
The only time I break this rule is when I’m in love with something international that is on a delayed US pub. schedule and i don’t know when the US pub date is. I often order books from England that may or may not come out in the US. If I don’t know when/if it’s coming out in the US, I’ll review right away and post my UK book contacts (bookdepository.co.uk). When (if) it comes out in the US, I’ll do a new post saying it’s out.
By: Lara Starr
“If pubs don’t want way too early reviews, they shouldn’t send out ARC so far in advance, including places like BEA and other publishing and author events were bloggers and reviewers can get them.”
Traditionally ARCs to booksellers, librarians, media and reviewers with the understanding that the recipients were professionals who respect that the publisher and writer’s goal is ultimately to sell books.
Trade shows like BEA used to be much more strict about who could attend, and publishers could confidently hand-out ARCs to those in the trade who would respect pub months and the sales cycle. For better or worse (mostly for the better if you ask me) the show floors are now open to new types of attendees. The way books are promoted has definitely changed in the last couple of years, and the “problem” of early reviews is a new one that I hope will be addressed by mutual respect and understanding.
By: Emily's Reading Room (@emsreadingroom)
In my totally honest/humble opinion, I think a lot of bloggers post their reviews early in the hopes that they’ll get blurbed in the final copy or something.
I post my reviews 1-2 weeks before publication date, max. I usually try to get it during the week of publication.
You can do whatever you want with your blog, but that’s my perception.
By: Braiden (@livin_thru_arts)
I agree with Emily above. Many post their reviews in that hope of being blurbed in the final copy. What I do however (or really, have yet to do) is write my review and send a copy of it to the publisher if there is a chance that it could be blurbed, but still not publish it until the week before/after publication date. So that way I’m pleasing both myself and the publisher.
And many bloggers have egos, yes. I see it in many IMM’s and its disgusting. I know I may have been a little boastful when I flaunted my advanced manuscript of Angel Arias (sequel to Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres) in the past week on twitter and in my IMM, but I’m not posting my review for it until closer to its release date. It’s not everyday when you get to be boastful here in Australia. I’ve only got few ARCs and I have still yet to read my Glow ARC for example which I got like a month ago but doesn’t get published until October.
Recently the books I get for review are finished copies but just sent early, and that “early” is basically only a couple weeks before their release dates.
I hope I’m getting across what I wanted to say but I should stop writing.
By: Erika Robuck (@ErikaRobuck)
I agree. I ask the writer/publicist what he/she prefers, but if it’s up to me I post on the pub date. I want my readers to be able to click a link and buy it if it sounds interesting to them. I don’t want to let them rely on memory.
Great post!
By: Liz (elizziebooks) (@elizziebeth)
I think around a month is a good time to review because it gives the reader enough time to pre-order without forgetting about the book.
By: Phoebe (@PhoebeNorth)
I post my ARC reviews largely whenever not because I’m bragging, but because I’m disorganized/ I have a shelf in my house where my paper ARCs are roughly set up by their monthly release dates, but programs like NetGalley and GalleyGrab make it difficult to stick to that. Again, not because I have an inflated ego, but because I’m disorganized.
I have no delusions about the reviews on my personal website–they’re consumer reviews, not “professional” reviews. Frankly, I can’t help but grit my teeth at Lara Starr’s comments. The authors and publicists who send me ARCs have seen my website, know about my blog stats, and know that I don’t always post reviews close to dates of release. If these things don’t match their preferences, they’re welcome to not send me ARCs.
By: Lara Starr
I’ve said a lot already (probably too much) but one more player to consider is your local, beloved independent bookstore.
The pub dates/months are set because that’s when the book has had time to ship from the publisher’s warehouse and get on the shelves at brick and mortar stores. If a potential book buyer reads your review and skips down to her local store and it’s not there, that’s a lost sale. Can she pre-order/order it from her friendly bookseller? Of course! But many won’t go to that trouble and will just move on to something else.
Thanks for the lively discussion!
By: Leah
TOTALLY agree, Pam. Early reviewing is mildly pointless other than to gloat about the book you have. We tailor our reviews to the month the book’s released, most of the time even the week. Reviewing a book months before it’s release is just stupid. I get that it’s up to bloggers when they review, but posting a review months before the book is released is just silly and it amounts to nothing more than people bragging they got x and x book.
By: Cori (@letseatgrandpa)
I find I get a little irked when a review is so early that I can’t even find it on Shelfari to add to my TBR list. And by the time it does come out, it’s buried in there and I’ve forgotten about it and I’m on to wanting to read something else. Half the time I look at books on my TBR list and wonder, “when did I even put that on there?”
By: Carrie K. (@booksandmovies)
I used to post early reviews when i first started getting ARCs – and it wasn’t out of a “look what I have!” mentality, it was simply out of ignorance. I honestly didn’t put any thought into it – I finished a book, then I reviewed it, whether it was published 10 years ago or not until next year.
Now, I try to take the publication date into account. I did inadvertently review Holly Cupala’s Don’t Breathe a Word – I thought it was already out due to the fact that there is another book out with the same title. Once I realized my error, I rescheduled the post for the release date.
There may be some element of “look what I have” to early reviews, but I think sometimes it is simply a fact that the blogger doesn’t realize that they should wait.
By: Monica
I usually write the review when I finish a book and shedule within the week of the release but when I finish that review I instantly copy it to goodreads and it stays there.
So…blog review around release date (which is exactly how I want it) and goodreads review as soon as I finish writing…the goodreads goes to Twitter too.
I totally agree with the whenever the heck I want to. Great post Pam, thanks!
By: Wendy (@Caribousmom)
Great post. Like you, I am always behind, so very rarely do my reviews go up way early (usually the best I do is within the month of publication). But, I DO participate in Mailbox Monday and I post on all the books I get in a particular week including a blurb, links to publisher, author page, etc…and tell when the book will be released. Then the review goes up closer to the actual publish date…I think this kind of meets both the needs of the publisher to get early buzz, and the needs of the reader who can both anticipate the release date and then read a review around the time it is released.
By: nomadreader (Carrie) (@nomadreader)
I always seem to have a contrarian view to this discussion. I think thinking about our audience is incredibly important, but that answer might vary among bloggers. I do know I get the most number of Google search visitors to my Waiting on Wednesday posts. To me, it’s a sign readers are seeking out information well before a book’s release. Similarly, when I have posted reviews early (typically two weeks to three months before a release), those posts also receive an inordinate number of search engine hits. Still, I haven’t seen proof these visitors become regular readers (i.e. no uptick in subscribers or corresponding daily increase in page views from these posts.) As a reader, I like early reviews. I’m a unique reader in that I only purchase e-books or get books from the library. In both cases, I have the ability to request well before the publication date. I have things requested from my library that won’t be published until February 2012. I have books pre-ordered for my Kindle that won’t be published until February 2012. Many of these books have been published in other countries and reviewed by bloggers I admire in other countries. My readers are a mix of bloggers and readers, but I have as many international readers as I have domestic readers, and that does impact when I choose to post. I actively read the longlists for the Orange Prize and Booker Prize and with the unfortunate disparity in publication dates in different countries, there are times we have access to the same book as a new relase several years apart. I also read a lot of literary fiction. There isn’t the same level of embargo as there is on popular young adult or popular fiction authors (or at least that’ how it seems to me.) I think it’s an important conversation, but I also think there are quite a few variables and no universal answer can account for them all.
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By: Julie G (@julie37619)
This is a great post and I love all of the discussion. A lot of the reasons for early reviewing have never crossed my mind: showing off what I got, hoping to get a blurb on the cover. My blog is smaller, so those things haven’t even entered the realm of possibility yet – and ARC envy is just silly. I have posted early reviews and I’ve posted later reviews and honestly I don’t feel like one is better than another. I’ve noticed backlash on GR for marking a not-yet-published book read WITHOUT posting a review. I do try to post in a reasonable time frame, but I think a lot of people just haven’t thought it through this much. The idea of jealousy over other bloggers ARCs would never have occurred to me, but I also probably wouldn’t have put a lot of thought into the publisher’s perspective either. Like I said, good discussion!