And I really appreciate all the comments and positivity from yesterday, THANKS! I'm still trying to go visit the IWSG posts. There's just so many of them!
Anyway,
As a writer, our first goal is to finish the book, eh? Then we want to get published. Which some of you are, yay you! So then we get to the next goal of actually selling the book. Now I am past Step 1 and working on Step 2 by editing and querying agents. But I think after the rejoicing of getting an agent is over, Step 3 will be the most intimidating. So,
Today I have a question for you:
What makes you BUY a book?
Here is a list of possible answers I came up with, but there are probably more,
- Genre
- Cover
- Title
- Author
- Back cover blurb
- First page
- Recommendation
- Reviews
- A movie is based on it
- Dumb luck
My response - First, I go by recommendations, which I get a ton through blogging so I've been reading a lot more. Thanks! But if I just go into a bookstore (or am looking online, which isn't as fun) I look at genre, author and/or cover, then I read the blurb (price is also a factor, but if it's too expensive it goes on my bday or xmas list =). My son has taught me that if I read the first page, I will get a good gist of the writing, too. But I usually forget to do that until I get home.
< = = = >
PS - On a side note, even though the holidays are over, my personal responsibilities have increased. I had to chose something to let go of. I tend to take on more than I should, thinking I can handle it all and spread myself thin and that makes everything come out in poorer quality. I chose to bow out of writing for Unicorn Bell. I always felt like I was asking for advice rather than giving it anyway. I will still continue to be a regular commenter and contributor of work for critique, but that's all I can handle. I hope you will check them out if you haven't because they are great! And I am very sad to leave them =(
14 comments:
It might be an easier question to answer on what makes me not buy a book. *laughs* I'm a bit of a book hoarder.
The cover alone can make me look at a book further. I then look at the author's name. If I recognize the author, I'll buy more sight-on-seen. If I've never heard of them, I investigate further. Genre and back cover blurb are next. Then, if I'm still on the fence, I'll go with recommendations and reviews. Of course, if I had all the money in the world, I would probably just buy any book whose cover catches my fancy.
First is the genre. I read mostly YA. Next the cover will entice me to pick up the book and read the blurb. Occasionally I'll read the first page, but that's only if I'm browsing in the store. If I've seen the book online (on the blogs), I don't worry about this step when I order the book.
Books are shockingly expensive in New Zealand, so high on my list is availability at an affordable price. I would say recommendation or author are my top two motivators.
I have certain genres I like and from there, the cover draws me in. Recommendations from others is important as well.
Don't feel bad about leaving Unicorn Bell. Sometimes it's best to know when to say when.
Genre and the cover are important since I tend toward YA paranormal or sci-fi. But price is big too. I've passed on books because they just didn't fit a corner of my flimsy budget.
By the way, I enjoyed the feedback I received from you. Though you're stepping down, you were great. Glad you're doing what you need to do for you :-)
I tend to look at genres. But I read a lot of things based off of recommendations. Honestly, I'm very much a fantasy writer/reader, but I will branch out if I hear good things about the book. In writing, I'll branch out if the characters grab my brain, which is how I ended up publishing a contemporary YA when most everything else I've ever written is fantasy or steampunkish. ;)
Recommendations--hands down. But I think cover copy is a close second.
All of those things can make me buy a book. Yet I go by recommendations, author and genre most often.
Bummer about Unicorn Bell, but I've noticed a lot of us having to set our priorities.
As far as books. COVERS catch me first, then I check out the blurb on the back. Sometimes I look into reviews, OR if I've heard a LOT of good reviews, I usually try to read it too. :)
I'm totally about recommendations. Which is why being in the blogosphere is tough. So many good ones out there!
I'm a bad person to ask. I use my local library. A lot.
But, there are a few times a year that I will indulge in buying books.
Title is important.
Cover is important but I am aware that the author has nothing to do with it.
I am not stuck on genre. I'll read anything if it interests me.
I'll read the back cover or the inside cover but I won't read the first page.
Recommendations help.
I won't buy based on reviews. Those people don't know anything.
I hope that leaving Unicorn Bell helps you have more time to get published! ;)
Recommendation, first chapter, and price. That determines if it goes on the top of the TBR list or near the bottom.
Recommendations are about all I have time for anymore. I have about 126 books on TBR list at the moment and I know as the year progresses it will get bigger. I don't like reading reviews or blurbs because they usually give to much away. I live for the intrigue of figuring things out. But covers are what catches my eye if I'm just browsing.
I must admit...I adore books and when I go into a bookstore, I have to buy a book. I do look at the cover art, that typically draws me in, but then I will read what the story is about, read about the author and decide from there. I also go by recommendations, but will typically check those out at the library first. I do have a tendency to collect books by favorite authors too.
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