tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post8292669912453546416..comments2024-02-11T10:58:23.271-08:00Comments on Reading to Know: How to Start a Book Blog (Part II)Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-40094937873197376362011-08-23T09:36:09.986-07:002011-08-23T09:36:09.986-07:00Fantastic post. I agree with so much of it and do...Fantastic post. I agree with so much of it and do many of the same things you do. I started book blogging simply to record my opinions of the books I read. I sort of stumbled into the reviewing/receiving ARCs, etc. At first, it was so cool to get free books and accepted nearly every book I was offered. I quickly realized it was also a privilege to receive these books and it wasn't a privilege I wanted to abuse in anyway. I'm much more selective now about what books I accept for review.<br /><br />I'm like you, if I think I won't like a book, I don't request it. My time is too valuable to read books I don't like. I don't relish writing negative reviews either, although if I do, I try to be fair and balanced without trashing the author. I kind of learned that one the hard way.<br /><br />Thanks for such a fantastic post!<br /><a href="www.2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">2 Kids and Tired Books</a>Holly (2 Kids and Tired)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13075380878850295214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-90812436716292912052011-07-05T11:38:01.657-07:002011-07-05T11:38:01.657-07:00Apparently, I'm still a month behind on your b...Apparently, I'm still a month behind on your blog...just one of the side effects of vacation!<br /><br />I love your blog (I think you know I do!) and I appreciate your approach to the books. I've long since learned not to accept the review copies offered to me. I think I've only accepted one this year, and it was because it really stood out to me.Ronnicahttp://ignoranthistorian.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-61302246453667221652011-06-07T22:17:27.346-07:002011-06-07T22:17:27.346-07:00Fantastic posts, Carrie! Although I've had my ...Fantastic posts, Carrie! Although I've had my main blog, <a href="http://cindyswanslife.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Notes in the Key of Life</a> since 2003, I've only been seriously book-blogging at <a href="http://cindysbookclub.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Cindy's Book Club</a> since October 2010. I've really struggled to gain readership and get the blog noticed, even though I feel the blog is unique and appealing. Your tips are invaluable!Cindy Swansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14090693362997103412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-28858335857422076012011-06-07T20:56:40.560-07:002011-06-07T20:56:40.560-07:00This was great again Carrie! Love your tips about...This was great again Carrie! Love your tips about which books you will take and which you won't.<br /><br />I think I would be totally overwhelmed if publishers just sent me multiple books to review at one time.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02757963698816530787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-21690069107457102082011-06-07T11:29:14.094-07:002011-06-07T11:29:14.094-07:00Carrie, I think it is totally OK not to hand out y...Carrie, I think it is totally OK not to hand out your contact's info to just anybody and everybody. Networking is one thing, tacky is another. Maybe you could write another post telling how you've built relationships with publishers/publicists and your recommendations for others doing the same.Stephanie Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02976709475515458563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-56254503953683547142011-06-07T10:45:20.496-07:002011-06-07T10:45:20.496-07:00I signed up with one publishing house to review bo...I signed up with one publishing house to review books for a while -- I love to read, I love to talk about the books I read, and the thought of getting books for free to do that was enticing! But there was no say in what I received and they began sending six at once. That was too much both in terms of numbers and pressure.<br /><br />Sometimes I get a request from out of nowhere -- author and publisher I've never heard of. I am more wary of those. I like the idea of helping out new authors, but...there's only so much time and I have so many other books stacked up already. What times I have clicked on sample pages of those kinds of offer,s sadly, they've been poorly written.Barbara H.http://barbarah.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-91258975973178752352011-06-07T09:08:18.778-07:002011-06-07T09:08:18.778-07:00Just three iclips?? WHOA!Just three iclips?? WHOA!Annette W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02498639468291720406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-33911744783416010502011-06-07T08:55:14.925-07:002011-06-07T08:55:14.925-07:00Fascinating! A world I knew little about. Great po...Fascinating! A world I knew little about. Great post.Aaron Kleinhttp://www.aaronklein.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-31784005292530744962011-06-07T08:02:47.402-07:002011-06-07T08:02:47.402-07:00Annette W. = ACK! I meant to answer that question ...Annette W. = ACK! I meant to answer that question in a post since you've asked me that one before! (Sorry about that!)<br /><br />Here's my answer for that: I give myself 3 (maybe 4, if I'm pushing it) i=clips per book. I clip them to the front cover of the book when I start writing and every time I come across a paragraph or a point I want to remember, I stick an i-clip there. Then when it comes time for me to write up my thoughts, I revisit those particular passages and write from there. <br /><br />The only times I write down actual notes is when I really, really need to cautiously read through something. For example, I took notes when I read The Shack and Velvet Elvis. It was very time consuming and I ended up with something like 7 notebook pages full of notes (front and back.) <br /><br />I actually learn best and remember more when I write out what I've just read or heard. The problem is that it just takes me SO MUCH LONGER to get through a book when I do that then I tend to just stick to my three i-clips, to help make sure that I remember at least three things from the book.<br /><br />Then again, I remember a great deal more of The SHack and my disagreements with it because I took the time to write out so much. <br /><br />If I only had more time . . .Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-49128084281452308052011-06-07T07:43:11.091-07:002011-06-07T07:43:11.091-07:00This, I think, helps me further solidify what type...This, I think, helps me further solidify what type of nook blogger I am--a hobbyist. I do it for my own enjoyment mostly. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!Amy @ Hope Is the Wordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949836482747469686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-32595148994532164382011-06-07T06:48:43.055-07:002011-06-07T06:48:43.055-07:00This was so helpful and interesting - great advice...This was so helpful and interesting - great advice and opinions that I think can be applied to all online reviewers. <br /><br />I would love to get more connections in book reviewing circles but to be honest my reading schedule is a little overwhelmed at the moment between the few reviews I do get, my book club and you know the 8 million books I want to read already anyway. <br /><br />This tells me that it isn't a good time to expand on more book reviewing - if I don't have time to read it then I'm not really being fair to anyone and having the time to enjoy the books is more important I think. Same goes with all products, I've only just recently figured out that I shouldn't bother requesting a product unless I really think I'll love it / use it.Jen E @ mommablogsalothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06131726447353529092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-20055806606510442982011-06-07T06:36:59.253-07:002011-06-07T06:36:59.253-07:00How do you create such detailed posts? Do you tak...How do you create such detailed posts? Do you take notes, bookmark, underline? I have decided on my next NF book, I want to take notes.Annette W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02498639468291720406noreply@blogger.com