Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Michael wrote: "I wonder now that Amazon is running goodreads.com if that trend will trickle down here. They are the 800 lb. gorilla, and they are throwing their weight around -- now in a lawsuit as co-defendents ..."

I’m not sure how they could do this on GR, how could they know where you got your book? I guess if you have given someone a free book for an honest review they will state this in the review - would they really bother creating an algorithm to search for that in every review? I wish Amazon would stop messing with system. At first none of my international reviews showed on my local site, they told me that had stopped doing that, then a week later most of them popped up. But not all!

Jane wrote: "Michael wrote: "I wonder now that Amazon is running goodreads.com if that trend will trickle down here. They are the 800 lb. gorilla, and they are throwing their weight around -- now in a lawsuit a..."

That's the problem with these large companies. There is no appeal to their Star Chamber Tribunals. I am not selling on Amazon, but I am on Goodreads. Things might change, but the goodreads.com policy is that if you receive a complimentary copy of a book, you must have full disclosure in your review. Otherwise, they can be posted here. I don't mess with Amazon directly, though Goodreads is part of Amazon. Their policies are different. Will Amazon put their foot down if people begin using Goodreads as a prime source for finding review? Maybe, but I think most who buy on Amazon are too lazy to come here unless they know about it. Many still do not. I should note that I had to fight to get listed here as an author. They said I would be notified in 2 business days and 4-5 went by before I wrote to them and asked, "What gives? Goodreads does not say it is only for those who sell on Amazon or Barnes & Noble -- or it is not stated, if it is." I was told I was not on any of their lists. I did not ask what lists. I think I shamed them into it. I sent an ebook copy of one of my books to demonstrate that I was for real. A week later, I was approved.

It might be a major marketing blunder, but I don't sell on anyone's website but my own. I guess I will never be an Arthur C. Clarke or Stephen King, but I can retain my independence.

Michael

Michael wrote: "I have begun a new group called Authors' Review Exchange where we review each other's work to both improve our writing..."

Oh dear... I hope any authors joining this exchange are aware that such author swaps violate retailer TOS and cannot be posted on bookseller sites. Amazon in particular takes a dim view of "review manipulation" and can ban accounts when swaps are detected.

Consumer reviews are not editorial feedback for authors. It's interesting how many authors skip seeking independent feedback before they publish, then expect paying readers to provide free edits after the book is up for sale. Authors should be working with critique partners, beta readers, and editors before they publish not after. This backwards approach is one of the main factors in why self published books have a bad reputation.

Many novice authors are unaware of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulation that requires any book review obtained through any type of promised compensation such as a free book, gift card, cash, or reciprocal review include a disclaimer stating so within the review itself.

Contrary to what some believe, sales drive reviews, not the other way around. Strive to constantly improve upon technical writing, editing, promotional, and marketing knowledge and skills rather than obsessing over reviews, then sales will increase. Reviews will follow.

Tilly wrote: "Michael wrote: "I have begun a new group called Authors' Review Exchange where we review each other's work to both improve our writing..."

Oh dear... I hope any authors joining this exchange are a..."

Tilly,

To be clear, this is all in the group rules shown each time one enters> the site. Amazon.com does not allow swaps. That would violate the Amazon TOS policies. Goodreads does allow swaps but there must be disclosure if the person doing the review received a complimentary copy. This must be stated in the review.

The group is for authors to give genuine reviews of each other's work with the stated disclosure noted above. There is to be no quid-pro-quo in the quality of the review. Those I have been working with are quite straightforward in wanting a review and doing the work to read my book for the same in return. I had conversations with another Goodreads author who was also in the publishing business for some years having written close to 20 books himself. He sells on Amazon.com but was not concerned with leaving a review on Goodreads.com.

Michael

I usually post my reviews on three sites, here, Bookbub and Amazon but have noticed that Bookbub doesnt always have the books on their list and Amazon sometimes refuses without any reason.
Looking back, even if they are much older books (the last I read was published 1975) if I didn't buy them from Amazon, I suspect they don't consider them valid?
And yet, I don't often buy from Amazon unless they are new since Amazon is far more expensive than eBay.

Douglas wrote: "I usually post my reviews on three sites, here, Bookbub and Amazon but have noticed that Bookbub doesnt always have the books on their list and Amazon sometimes refuses without any reason.
Looking ..."

I have regularly reviewed for Amazon - and then was rejected. No explanation, and reading through their requirements, can find none. There seems to be no way of finding out what the problem is. Surely authors must find this a problem as the yare so keen to get reviews? Unfathomable.

Robin : Did you ask why? and were you just rejected once or always now?

Robin wrote: "Douglas wrote: "I usually post my reviews on three sites, here, Bookbub and Amazon but have noticed that Bookbub doesnt always have the books on their list and Amazon sometimes refuses without any ..."

Yet another example of the corporate Star Chamber tribunals. We are expected to kow-tow to these wannabe masters whether they are in large crony-capitalist companies or the government itself who makes them possible.

Just this morning I received an anonymous blackmail letter threatening to 'ruin my reputation' with Amazon and Goodreads.com for violating Amazon's TOS. I am not selling on Amazon and even here I am not violating their TOS, as I encourage other to abide by some of their Draconian rules. Amazon owns Goodreads, but Goodreads has to maintain their reputation as an open forum -- as I pointed out to the powers that be just to get my author status. Granted, if they kick me off, there is nothing I can do about it. Allegedly, we live in a Free Market, so perhaps it is time to invent more alternatives. Goodreads and Amazon -- despite their reach, are also sensitive to public opinion.

Bezos hates real competition, evidently, as he went crying to the government over the SpaceX contract to develop a lunar lander. Blue Origin started before SpaceX and has yet to put a single payload into orbit. SpaceX has already smoked crony contractor Boeing ferrying astronauts to the ISS and will likely end up replacing the failed Artemis Project. This is the too big to fail mentality we are fighting.

I have personally posted 143 book ratings, each accompanied by a review, on both the Amazon and Goodreads literary websites. To-date, none have ever been deleted.

This discussion topic inspired me to actually check the review and general participation established rules and restrictions for the first time. I found nothing extreme or unreasonable. The TOS is similar to most other literary sites. Am I missing something? The reason I ask is that three of the messages within this discussion describe the Amazon TOS and rules as being Draconian.

Draconian - adjective, often capitalized> : cruel or severe. (Source: The Merriam-Webster English Dictionary)

To be honest I am more than a little lost in this now. Amazon / GR threatening people, really?

That's a big fish to care anything about anyone on GR I would have thought.

I mean how are we a threat, what can we do, nibble them to death? :)

I have not referred to amazon rules as draconian, nor objected to them. They seem reasonable enough. My stance is that I believe I comply with the rules but my latest reviews have been rejected. I have written to the available contact, from recall a community group who is associated with amazon. I received a reply, asking for a copy of the first rejected review. I sent it and have not received an answer as yet. I'm more perplexed than angry about it. One possibility for the rejection I have picked up from this discussion is that the review was in exchange for an uncorrected copy of the book. If this is the problem I need to choose NetGalley and Goodreads, or Amazon. I'm happy with NetGalley and Goodreads, so will leave it there. If I hear from Amazon I'll let people here know.

Douglas wrote: "Robin : Did you ask why? and were you just rejected once or always now?"

Douglas, further information - the address I wrote to is [email protected].

My reviews for items other than books are being accepted. I think there is a glitch of some sort, so am just proceeding with my other options.