An author appreciates (and loves) reviews, even if they don’t have the chance to tell you. Why? Many reasons, I suppose.
Reviews help a book get noticed. It’s not always because someone else might see the review and buy it though yes, that’s part of it. It’s also because the vendor (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) notices and your book gets a higher ranking in searches. Some bookstores (like Amazon) will only consider your book for daily book deals if you have a certain number of reviews. This puts your book in front of more readers! Many, many marketing things go behind the scenes than most readers (and authors) realize.
It’s hard for a newbie author to get noticed, and it isn’t because their book is bad. There are many books out there, and most readers won’t find you unless they know a name or keyword or something they’re looking for. Reviews can help an author get noticed, and to help an author feel appreciated.
Writing is an art, and most people create art because they love it. They also do it because art is meant to be shared. Reviews help the artist feel like what they did matters, or is at least worth someone’s time, even if it’s only one person. And if you liked a book enough to want to read another by that author, reviews can help to get that author noticed, and even to motivate that author to write more. Authors write because they love it, but when you do something you love, you have an urge to share it with the world. Seeing reviews reminds that author that what they do matters, even if to one person.
An author also appreciates reviews because they want to know what you think. If you hated a book, for example, I bet you could find something constructive to say about it, especially if you liked it enough to read the entire thing. If you didn’t read the entire thing, it probably isn’t even worth your review.
There could also be the reader who is afraid to review because they’ve been taught if they can’t say something nice, not to say anything. But if you didn’t like it, you read it for a reason, right? Most authors will appreciate the constructive feedback. What worked? What didn’t work? What would you have done differently if you had written the book? It’s a great learning opportunity!
So why don’t readers write more reviews?
As a reader, I admit I haven’t always written a review, especially if there were already over a hundred and I didn’t think my opinion would matter. But that’s the problem, so many of us think our opinion doesn’t matter when, even after a hundred, to an author it does matter. Sometimes I just don’t have the time at the moment, and then I’ll either forget or can’t think of anything to write. But I shouldn’t make excuses. I had time to check my Facebook page or send a tweet or email. I could even jot down a few notes and do it later. How many times have I opened my Solitaire game today? Why not review a book I just read instead?
You don’t have to be a writer to offer a review, and most non-writers offer the best reviews because they aren’t trying to be eloquent. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Think of it like updating your twitter of Facebook page. It doesn’t have to be long and explanatory. “This book was awesome. I loved it because…” Whatever. Authors really appreciate that. Let’s face it, we all need support and encouragement for what we do, and writing is a solitary experience. Sometimes seeing a review from someone you don’t even know can touch an authors’ heart in a way nothing else can. Knowing you affected a reader enough for them to write a review makes you remember how much you love doing what you love.
Even though opinions are subjective, as I’ve learned in my quest for publication, the opinions of readers are always appreciated! So what are you waiting for? Go review the last book you read. And the one before that!