For more information on the Random Acts of Publicity Week, see this post or the Facebook Event page.

Today’s task for Random Acts of Publicity: Post a review of a book somewhere. Your blog, GoodReads, Amazon, a school newsletter, a bulletin board. Anywhere.

Amazon Reviews

Are you like many authors, always intending to post a review on Amazon, but haven’t taken the leap yet? Here’s something to think about.

2x: Experts are twice as likely to share information. Why should you, an author (or aspiring author), review a book for someone else? Because as an author, you’re an expert on literature. Studies of word-of-mouth promotions say that experts usually tell twice as many people about something they liked. You are more likely to talk up a book than the normal Amazon shopper simply because you are an expert.

What to Put in an Amazon Review

OK. But what do you write about in a review?
Your honest opinion about the book! That’s it.

Short 50-300 word reviews will work best, something short enough to scan easily. Usually people reading the reviews want a quick glance at what others are saying.

You can also post videos, reviewing a book. Tape yourself talking about the book and upload it, following their instructions.

How to Post an Amazon Review

I suggest you write your review before you go to visit Amazon. That way, you can revise and edit until it’s right. Once you get to Amazon, you can just cut and paste.

• If you don’t have an account with Amazon, you’ll have to create one. There should be a link for this on the front page.
• To post a review, go to the page for the book you want to review and scroll down to the reviews. On the right hand side just above the other reviews, you’ll see a button that says, “Create Your Own Review.” Click on that.
• It will ask you to confirm that you are over 13, to rate the title, and give your review a title.
• Below these questions is a box for you to either write in, or to cut and paste your review.
• Notice a couple things.
  • Product Links. You can use the insert a product link to link to other books/products if you want. That means you can add links to other titles by the author, if you want to.
  • Tags. The Tags are important to fill out, too because they help the book get found by Amazon’s search by topics. The more times reviewers agree that this book is appropriate for this topic, the more likely it is to be in the top search entries.
  • Video Reviews. Also, notice that they accept video reviews! Haven’t done that myself yet, but I want to on a couple books.
• Preview the Review. If all looks well – click to post it!
• If needed, you can come back at any point to edit the review.

Today’s task for Random Acts of Publicity: Post a review of a book somewhere. Your blog, GoodReads, Amazon, a school newsletter, a bulletin board. Anywhere.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

by Darcy Pattison

Giveaway ends March 11, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I’m waiting for critiques from four readers on the second draft of my novel. I know what I think needs work, and it will be interesting to see if the readers agree.

Meanwhile:

Between Drafts

Despair v. Hope. I’m vacillating between hope and despair. My gut tells me this draft is a big improvement, but my inner critic is harsh. I don’t know if I should hide my head in shame or tall taller with pleasure in what I’ve done.

Cleaning the office. Yes, that chore got done. Sorta. I’m doing neglected chores, like filing, updating my bio on various websites, planning holiday meals, and actually reading.

Shorter pieces. I’m working on some shorter pieces. I’ve had a nf article accepted by Highlights, I’m working on another short project, and I’m re-reading almost every failed picture mss in my files to see if I know how to fix any of them. I wrote a piece for our regional SCBWI newsletter. These aren’t time-wasters, but important things which just get muscled out of the way by the heftier novel. I’m glad to be playing with the chihuahuas for a change.

Preparing Emotionally for the Next Draft. I’m getting ready emotionally to “kill my darlings,” to give up my attachment to the current plot and form of the novel if needed, and to dig in and work hard.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

by Darcy Pattison

Giveaway ends March 11, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

It’s well know that I don’t want an honest critique on my novels or picture books! But for some reason, people keep giving me exactly what I don’t want.

Conflicting Emotions of Receiving a Critique

Yesterday, when my local critique group talked about my latest picture book manuscript, three emotions held sway.

• Embarrassment. I am always embarrassed when someone reads one of my works-in-progress, because it’s, well, not perfect. I know it’s not finished, it’s a draft. I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed, that everyone has to go through drafts. Yet, every time, I just want to hide. I want to cry. I am totally and thoroughly embarrassed.
• Outrage. What? You don’t understand that part of my story? It’s perfectly clear! Did you even read it? Even while embarrassment reigns, I’m also outraged that the readers didn’t understand my story, didn’t agree with my wording, didn’t feel the emotion that I know I evoked. Yes, I’m mad. At myself, as much as you, but I channel all that outrage toward you.
• Working it Out. But even while I’m embarrassed and outraged, I’m rewriting in my head. Oh, if THAT is what bothers you, I could do this or that, or say it this way. I won’t let on, of course, that I’m doing that, because then you would be right (see above!). But I’m doing it. Absolutely. Every time. Because I know that I’m trying to communicate something and if you don’t get it, then my communication isn’t clear and I’ve GOT to fix it. The rational brain is there, behind the emotions, clearly, calmly trying to figure out how to communicate EXACTLY what I want. Not what you want me to communicate. But what I want to communicate.

Critique group, I love you. But don’t let it go to your heads. Because I’m still mad at you! BTW, for the next meeting, I’m bringing a revised version of that last story back for a fresh look.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

by Darcy Pattison

Giveaway ends March 11, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win