Book Blogger Confessions: Social Networking with Authors
Book Blogger Confessions is a bi-weekly meme hosted by Tiger’s All Consuming Media and For What It’s Worth. The 1st and 3rd Monday of every month we will discuss a topic that affects book bloggers and provides a chance to vent, share opinions and offer solutions. No bashing of bloggers or authors is allowed.
February 20th: Social networking with authors. Do you interact with authors on Twitter/Facebook etc? Does it affect how you review their books if you are on friendly terms with them?
I can honestly say ‘knowing’ an author doesn’t affect my reviews of their work. For one, I don’t get to know an author unless I like their work or I’m helping them with my opinion of their work. Second, if I do have a negative thought or opinion about an author’s work that I ‘know’, I’ve already liked something they have done and know they are approachable with my comment. I did use to follow authors if they followed me, but yes, this does get tricky for many reasons. Now, I only follow an author if I have read their work or they are highly recommended by others that have similar taste in books as I do.
Even with authors I like, if I there is something I didn’t like in the book, I will still politely include it in my review. This isn’t just because I know the author, it’s because I politely do that for any review that I may be writing. If I don’t like a book at all, I write a short blurb as to why and include it in a DNF (Did Not Finish) and Not For Us post where it is posted along with similar titles by the other reviewers on our blog.
Now, I WILL say if there is an author I have socialized with a lot, they will have a much better chance of getting on my review list. That doesn’t mean I’ll get to the book any faster, but I will add their book to be read at some point. Granted, it has to be a book that interests me and if an author knows me, they should know my preferences. haha
~ Julie
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6 Comments
I liked your answer and most of it applies to me as well.
I don’t really follow many authors on twitter (my favorite site) & even then it’s because I find their tweets amusing or insightful not to become friends or interact with them.
I am friends with one author and kind of more than a passing acquaintance with a few more but I have always been able to be honest both privately and while blogging. If they couldn’t handle that then I guess they wouldn’t be my friend.
I can see where it could all go horribly wrong but I’ve been lucky so far.
I agree. I think you need to be able to separate the review from the reviewer. I separate the writer from the book. But, again, I’m much more careful who I do socialize with now. That doesn’t mean I won’t tweet with an author that follows me if they tweet me, but I don’t follow or actively seek an author out unless I know their work or know they can take things constructively.
I love posts like these! Anytime I can get into the brain skull of a blogger/reviewer, it helps me with my boundary issues! Seriously, though, I think this post strikes at the heart of most social media relationships PERIOD: who do you connect with and why? Is it, like you said Julie, because you’ve noticed/been impressed by/laughed at that person’s posts and want more of the same? Is it because you think you have something in common and could teach and/or learn something from that person? Or is it just to “get” something?
I think authors who cozy up to bloggers/reviewers on social media simply for a good review learn pretty quickly that it doesn’t work that way, but I love when bloggers interact with me because I learn so much about writing, publishing, YA readership, giveaways and more that help me both professionally and personally.
I am constantly getting “schooled” by bloggers in a kind of big brother/sister, “aw, look at the dumb author” way and I take it in stride and learn and try to avoid that same mistake next time.
It’s a little like friending or following agents, editors or publishers. I don’t expect them to represent or publish me, but I know I’ll learn something from them and I typically only follow the ones that seem like they “get” me and vice versa.
I would hate a blogger not to friend me, or respond to me, because they think I’d get hurt feelings if they slammed one of my books. Of course I would; I get hurt feelings anytime anyone slams my books, but I understand that cheesy, b-movie zombie books aren’t for everybody and move right on!
Anyway, sorry for the rant! I wrote all that to say this: GREAT post!
Rusty, you should start looking out for these bi-monthly posts then and follow what other bloggers say if you want into the minds of bloggers. There is a linky list at the meme host links above. lol That sounds creepy in an I totally understand kind of way.
You are one of the authors I know would take constructive criticism and that not everyone will like every book.
That cracks me up that you schooled in a nice way. That tells me you have chosen good bloggers to socialize with.
Ummmm…I meant bi-weekly meme. Yeah, that’s right. o_O
GREAT post…one all writers should read. Glad to know your reviews remain honest regardless of how well you know/don’t know the author. *Tips my hat*