Nikki Bennett's Blog
September 10, 2016
KindleScout
Folks, I don't post much here (I've been pretty inactive of late), but I've just uploaded my new YA novel (THE TROULBE WITH DEAD PEOPLE) to KindleScout, and could use some nominations! If you've enjoyed my books, or are new to this blog but want to help me out, head over to KindleScout and nominate my book. The campaign runs until October 8.
If my book gets accepted and published through kindlescout, and you nominate it, they'll send you a free copy. Here's the link!! https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/334V...
Thanking yall in advance!!
Nikki
If my book gets accepted and published through kindlescout, and you nominate it, they'll send you a free copy. Here's the link!! https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/334V...
Thanking yall in advance!!
Nikki
June 22, 2013
Why Is It So Hard to Get a Book Review?
I'm a self-published author and I want book reviews. So, like all good self-published authors, I troll around to find blogs that review indie books, and I send them sweetly worded book review requests. More often than not, I don't get a reply back at all. Sometimes, I'll get a more personal reply saying "no thanks," and every once in a while, maybe one out of five or six, I'll get somebody who'll review my book. Then, unless they're quick readers (which very few are) I wait. And wait.
It's frustrating, but I understand where the reviewers are coming from because I'm one of 'em. I spend a lot of time writing, but an equal amount reading, and what I read are indie books sent to me by authors like me who want a review. I get TONS of requests. And there's no way I can read every book. Just No Way.
When I started my blog, back in January this year, I didn't turn anybody down, and two things happened as a result. One: I spent every waking moment reading and I started to neglect my own writing, and two: no matter how much I read, I still couldn't keep up with demand. I finally had to put a temporary halt to requests so I could catch up on the two-month backlog. And from this, I came to two realizations.
1. No way can I read every book requested of me.
2. I can only read comfortably (and still have room for other things) about 60,000-80,000 words per week. Or about one book. Two if they're children's books, but more often than not, one book.
So if I can only read one book a week and I get anywhere from five to twenty requests a week, the only way I can do it and stay sane is to pick one or two books from the slew and politely decline the rest. The Only Way. I could add more reviewers to my site, but I'm not comfortable with that. It's my site, and I want my opinions reflected, not somebody else's. Everyone has their own taste in what they like and don't like, and my site should showcase what I like. So I have to stick to my limit.
So if you've been sending out review requests and are frustrated with the lack of results, I hope my explanation helps you out. The self-publishing era is here, and zillions of folks are publishing their stuff. They're all hoping for reviews. Be happy if you get one out of five blogs requested to review your book. Be ecstatic if you get more than that. And don't get frustrated if a book reviewer turns you down. They want to read just as much as you want to write. But unfortunately, demand for blog reviews is way greater than the supply.
It's frustrating, but I understand where the reviewers are coming from because I'm one of 'em. I spend a lot of time writing, but an equal amount reading, and what I read are indie books sent to me by authors like me who want a review. I get TONS of requests. And there's no way I can read every book. Just No Way.
When I started my blog, back in January this year, I didn't turn anybody down, and two things happened as a result. One: I spent every waking moment reading and I started to neglect my own writing, and two: no matter how much I read, I still couldn't keep up with demand. I finally had to put a temporary halt to requests so I could catch up on the two-month backlog. And from this, I came to two realizations.
1. No way can I read every book requested of me.
2. I can only read comfortably (and still have room for other things) about 60,000-80,000 words per week. Or about one book. Two if they're children's books, but more often than not, one book.
So if I can only read one book a week and I get anywhere from five to twenty requests a week, the only way I can do it and stay sane is to pick one or two books from the slew and politely decline the rest. The Only Way. I could add more reviewers to my site, but I'm not comfortable with that. It's my site, and I want my opinions reflected, not somebody else's. Everyone has their own taste in what they like and don't like, and my site should showcase what I like. So I have to stick to my limit.
So if you've been sending out review requests and are frustrated with the lack of results, I hope my explanation helps you out. The self-publishing era is here, and zillions of folks are publishing their stuff. They're all hoping for reviews. Be happy if you get one out of five blogs requested to review your book. Be ecstatic if you get more than that. And don't get frustrated if a book reviewer turns you down. They want to read just as much as you want to write. But unfortunately, demand for blog reviews is way greater than the supply.
June 3, 2013
Write for Free! It Pays!
Stephen King hit it dead on when he said you have to write every day to be a good writer. Doesn't mean you have to be writing a full-blown novel all the time, it just means you have to write (like I'm writing right now!) When I'm not working on stories, hosting this blog and writing book and travel reviews keeps me busy, but I also write articles for my local magazine.
The PREVIEW is a very community-based magazine. I live in Iwakuni, Japan, and work for the Marine Corps Air Station here. The Preview is our little mag, and doesn't have a huge distribution, seeing as there's only 4,000 of us or so, but it has the feel of a bigger publication. I write for free, but I get paid back tenfold. Here's what I get in return for my time:
1. I have to work with deadlines. This teaches me to make better use of my writing time (although I still end up scribbling something out right before the deadline half the time)
2. I write about different subjects. My novels are all fantasy, fiction, but my Preview articles are either travel related, cultural, or talk about some environmental topic.
3. People see my work. Whether they know it's me or not doesn't matter, but my words are out there in front of others' eyes. This is really important, especially if you're just starting out, because having strangers read your work is a big step for a lot of people (myself included.) There's something terrifying about getting published for the first time--once you get past that fear, writing is a hell of a lot easier.
4. Even though I'm not pushing my books, I'm marketing. I'm marketing myself, my writing style and my thoughts.
So even if I don't get paid for this writing gig, I'm still way ahead. I'm very lucky that I get this opportunity and I encourage others to try. If you have a local paper or magazine in your area, try getting in contact with those folks and see if they need some extra help and wouldn't mind a few free articles. This is a great way to hone your writing skills and to achieve the #1 goal - to keep writing!!
The PREVIEW is a very community-based magazine. I live in Iwakuni, Japan, and work for the Marine Corps Air Station here. The Preview is our little mag, and doesn't have a huge distribution, seeing as there's only 4,000 of us or so, but it has the feel of a bigger publication. I write for free, but I get paid back tenfold. Here's what I get in return for my time:
1. I have to work with deadlines. This teaches me to make better use of my writing time (although I still end up scribbling something out right before the deadline half the time)
2. I write about different subjects. My novels are all fantasy, fiction, but my Preview articles are either travel related, cultural, or talk about some environmental topic.
3. People see my work. Whether they know it's me or not doesn't matter, but my words are out there in front of others' eyes. This is really important, especially if you're just starting out, because having strangers read your work is a big step for a lot of people (myself included.) There's something terrifying about getting published for the first time--once you get past that fear, writing is a hell of a lot easier.
4. Even though I'm not pushing my books, I'm marketing. I'm marketing myself, my writing style and my thoughts.
So even if I don't get paid for this writing gig, I'm still way ahead. I'm very lucky that I get this opportunity and I encourage others to try. If you have a local paper or magazine in your area, try getting in contact with those folks and see if they need some extra help and wouldn't mind a few free articles. This is a great way to hone your writing skills and to achieve the #1 goal - to keep writing!!
