Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Hey guys, I'm quite a new book blogger and I don't have a huge fan base at: www.bookmark-reviews.blogspot.com and I wanted to ask you guys a few questions. Well first off my blog is mainly about book reviews, so basicly, whenever I finish a book, I review it! Sounds simple right? :) Well I've decided that my viewers might not just want book reviews every week and some diversity should be added. So I thought a bit what I could do. Of course I don't have any experience in writing a book or publishing one for that matter. The only thing I'm decent at would be writing reviews. Well atleast I think I am. So I thought I might add a feew tips every week on how to improve your reviewing techniques. Of course this will be my personal tips and they might be pretty basic but what the heck. Enough rambling, what do you think about this and would you suggest me any ideas?
Any thoughts are welcomed :D

Hi Nic,
You might try interviewing authors, especially those you have reviewed. It's a double bonus for the writer (review and interview,) and readers would be interested in hearing about authors they are reading. You would benefit both ways. Authors would direct others to you and readers of your blog would keep coming back. I don't know how easy it is to make contact with authors, but their are quite a few on Goodreads.

Find a unique focus for your interview though, as there are a lot of reviewers who interview as well.

Good idea about offering tips on reviewing. Basic is good. You'll built it up as your blog builds up. You might also consider what authors most want to know from reviews.
Elldee (L. Darby Gibbs)

Hello Eldee, thanks for the quick comment. Would you have any tips on interviewing athors? For example: what should I ask and what would the readers like to know? What do you mean by "you might want to consider what authors most want to know from reviews"?

Every body likes to talk about themselves.
Think about the things that get you talking.
What is important in your life?
What are you looking forward to?
Readers like back story. What started the writer writing? What do they believe strongly about? What impresses them? Who or what is important to them. What is next on the writer's writing agenda?

For focusing on a particular work, I as a reader would want to know which was their favorite character and did they model any characters after friends, family, etc. Did they have a similar experience? Where do they get their facts?

Some readers have questions only the writer can answer about events or character motivation. My students often ask, Did the writer put those repeating images in on purpose? Did he mean from the start to have events work out that way? Why did the writer make so&so so mean?

Authors want feedback. What worked, what was a weak area, how did they capture the reader, why did the reader keep reading?
Elldee

Have very funny author interviews which would be less formal and more on the human side of the author. Ask funny personal and embarrassing questions. Some authors will be game with that. Readers would definitely appreciate to read that their fave authors are also like them.

Great ideas Eldee, I'll certainly jot downa few of those questiosn and brainstorm some of my own.
Hello Mirvan, thanks for the small tip, I think you're right on that one. The more naturall and human-like the better!

What about prompts? Blog about books/stories you'd like to read, and invite people to suggest books, and authors to write them.

Claude Dancourt

Hello Claude, I'm not familiar with prompts. Any in depth explanation would be very appreciated. Also keep in mind that my "fan base" is at most 6 therefore suggestions that do require a lot of reader interaction can't be used but of course those suggested will be written down and kept in mind for the future!

Glad I could help, Nic.
There are probably several types of prompts. I use them to get my students warmed up for writing on more serious work. So they might be images or ideas that will get them thinking. But for your readers it might be more along the lines of what they would like to have the author write next. Some authors pay a lot of attention to what their readers would like to read next from them.

Or you might use a prompt directed at your readers. What is the question you are most wanting to ask Joe Schmoe?

Elldee

Awesome! Thanks Elldee, that clears up a few things. But like I've discussed on my previous post. Wouldn't that require somewhat, some reader intereaction. I can say I do love my 6 blog readers but that's ver minimal, isn't it? :)

awwww... You do not have to worry. Start small. I suggest make at least 10 reviews first and constantly add members in your blog reader's list by reading other blogs and commenting too. =P Then start what you want to do when you have at least 20 readers. =P

Solid Suggestion, thanks Mirvan! I'm working on Meta tags right as we speak, quick question, is anyone somewhat competent in using Html Meta tags and all. I've tried to follow guides with no suhc luck. If you can help me out message me and we can maybe figure it out :D thanks