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Reader comment on:
How Not To Write a Best Seller

Submitted by Elaine Bloom, May 16, 2007 10:21

I think the mistake is thinking in today's world that reviews really, really matter when it comes to how well a book will sell. It's all about the marketing and not the Times Book Reivew cover. Sad to say authors should have a marketing plan of their own and work their website, their contacts, their blog and everything else they need to become well known.

There are going to be fewer and fewer reviews as time goes on but there are more and more opportunities for author's to promote themselves. We all know it's kind of a mystery as to why some books become bestsellers and some don't but today and author also has to be a marketer.


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Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

the article is good ,as long as am an upcoming novelist as i was searching for some of the info... [MORE]

lazaro mawe 

Nov 21, 2007 09:35

The question isn't why doesn't a wonderful novel like Ferris's THEN WE CAME TO THE END make it to the... [MORE]

E.C. 

Aug 1, 2007 01:08

David Blum is asking the wrong questions and coming to bizarre conclusions in this piece. I do think the sales... [MORE]

Matt Briggs 

Jul 11, 2007 16:33

As I wait - nervously - for a first review of my first book: Voice of the Tiger, think of... [MORE]

Markham Turner 

Jun 2, 2007 01:10

in our local store and library there is a section promoting 'what our staff recommend'. it is next to the... [MORE]

Elaine 

Jun 1, 2007 16:48

While the life and times of someone working in an ad agency in a large city might be appealing to... [MORE]

Cliff Burns 

May 22, 2007 21:42

Many independent booksellers do have sections devoted to that week's best-reviewed books. Many independent bookstores do post copies of book... [MORE]

Cal Godot 

May 18, 2007 17:35

Short, catchy titles are don't guarantee good sales anymore than long titles will doom it. Take, for instance, The Curious... [MORE]

Nanette Heiser 

May 18, 2007 16:14

It is a peculiar article to ask the question why a particular book, in this case, "Then We Came to... [MORE]

Tony Esposito 

May 18, 2007 10:59

Here in the Uk one chain of bookshops (Waterstone's) does indeed have a section of recently reviewed books and captions... [MORE]

PD Smith 

May 18, 2007 08:40

Very much enjoyed the article 'How to write a bestseller'. I am the author of a Young Adult novel called... [MORE]

Edward Trayer 

May 18, 2007 08:20

During my (brief) time working the register at the local B&N, in Park Slope- is there a less literary neighborhood?-... [MORE]

Mmirer 

May 17, 2007 13:24

I am the author of "Camille Claudel, a Novel," which received over 40 rave reviews, in addition to several awards.... [MORE]

Alma H. Bond, Ph.D. 

May 16, 2007 23:17

Its ironic that a novel about a female artist who is unjustly unknown is also unjustly unknown. But women buy... [MORE]

Catherine Caldwell-Harris 

Jul 31, 2007 10:45

I think the mistake is thinking in today's world that reviews really, really matter when it comes to how well...

Elaine Bloom 

May 16, 2007 10:21

Along with your list of "...part of the problem may be..." you should ponder why you didn't go to a... [MORE]

Tim Huggins 

May 16, 2007 07:45

Yes, the title isn't interesting, but even glancing at the cover turns me off. Just from this I wouldn't buy... [MORE]

Billy Sauce 

May 15, 2007 17:17

This is why editors and j-school "professors" should do some actual research on the business side before expressing their opinions.... [MORE]

Chris 

May 15, 2007 12:37

Most people assume that my career as a writer ended when it came out that I had not disclosed who... [MORE]

Tim Barrus 

May 15, 2007 11:06

Book reviews are handy for those who buy newspapers, especially the NYTimes and the larger ones. But most people buy... [MORE]

Lyn LeJeune 

May 15, 2007 09:58

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