Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Best Practices: How not to Email a Book Reviewer

dee

I don’t know if it’s because of spring fever, desperation or just not knowing what to do, but weird emails from novice authors must stop. Today and over the weekend I’ve received very bad emails from authors either seeking a book review or seeking literary pr representation. Usually I either flag the email for a later response, which unfortunately may mean that I forget to respond. So today I want to share a few reasons why your email is getting no play with me or with anyone like me, not to put you on blast, but to educate you on best practices for reviewers. Moreover for my clients and past clients, please save this document. I do not want you to commit these wrongs.

  • Don’t leave shameless  plugs on my about page.
    • Because I monitor all my comments on my site and blogs, your comment will not get through any way. So don’t do it. It makes me wonder whether you want representation or you want to spam my network
  • Don’t leave shameless plugs on my facebook fan page using the notes feature
    • I will remove it and unfriend you. Although it should be common sense, but my page—or anyone’s page for that matter—isn’t an opportunity for you to advertising on it. Newsflash: if I don’t plug my clients on my page, then why would I plug you, so stop it.
  • don’t email your press release to me
    • I don’t know who’s teleseminar or blog post told you to get a press release and email them to everyone who writes book reviews, but as a pr specialist, let me tell you that dog don’t hunt. email me and ask me what kind of books i like, what mags i write for and how you can help my blog or my column. prs are deleted.
  • don’t email me  or mail me your manuscript without my approval
    • I hope i don’t sound hard here, but I know a few people, so from time to time i get requests to review from people who know the people I know. Just because I know someone who knows you doesn’t give you the right to send me your book. I don’t bombard my bookclub president friends with every client I have and every friend I know, so don’t do it to me.

hope this helps less than it may hurt. if you would like a review, check my sidebar and complete my book review submission form

 

dee

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your advise was great, but then you ended by sending readers to your sidebar for submission information...after scrolling up and down several times, I could not find it...?? Was that deliberate?

Suzanne

Unknown said...

No, Suzanne. I changed my layout and didn't upload the link. It will be corrected tomorrow. thanks for reminding me.

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