by A.L. Knorr
A surprising portion of an author’s time is spent trying to garner positive reviews for their stories. Leaving a review requires an effort that many readers don’t see value in. It takes time, their review will just get buried and no one will ever read it. So why bother?
What most readers don’t realize is that leaving a verified (the book has been purchased) review has a larger impact than they could even imagine. Aside from helping other readers decide if the book sounds like something they’ll enjoy or not, sharing your thoughts about the story helps the author become a better writer. You have an opinion that is unique to you, and author’s need to see the world through readers eyes to grow.
Readers are far more likely to purchase a book that has lots of positive reviews, and of course, less likely to purchase those who have poor reviews. By writing your review, you are either encouraging or forewarning other readers. Who doesn’t appreciate guidance on whether their money will be well spent or not? Search engine algorithms also take into account the number, frequency, and rating given by reviewers. Every positive review is an air bubble that helps the book rise and become more visible. You also help to protect authors from trolls, not the kind with green hair, the kind whose sole desire seems to be to spread negativity on the internet. Every author will be hit by a troll at some point in their career, lots of positive reviews help buffer the occasional random negative attack.
So how do you best rate a book? Making your own personal criteria for what a 1 star looks like vs a 5 star is helpful. Here’s an example of some rating criteria:
⭐️ A lot of mistakes, maybe it wasn’t ready for market. Didn’t make sense, or I fell into a plot hole while reading and couldn’t get out.
⭐️⭐️ I think there was a story in there somewhere.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Finished and mostly enjoyed. Would even consider reading more by this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good story! Looking forward to more by this author!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Couldn’t put it down and I’m sad that it’s over! Still thinking about this story!
Next time you read a book, please consider writing a review. Even 1 or 2 sentences is enough. The author will thank you, and other readers will thank you!