And in that spirit, I have decided that I will no longer be trying to coax #bookbloggers and #bookreviewers to look at my #books. I reached out to the ones who had already agreed to review my latest #novel, and have withdrawn my request.

The time I have already spent sending out press releases and requests to review my book, could have been far more productively used to #write more #shortstories.

I will announce new stories or books here, but I no longer give a fig about reviews

#bookstodon

I know #bookreviews are a gateway to being in #library holdings, and that #librarians use reviews as a gauge of how much #readership a #book might enjoy, but like I decided that querying literary magazines was a waste of time, I'm rapidly approaching the point at which I will say the same about ##bookreviewers and ##bookbloggers

I'm sure this works for many other #writers, and other #writersofmastodon may find it worth the time, but I'm not seeing the value vs spending that effort #writing

@EveHasWords
I have a small number of people who more or less eagerly take my ARCs, but that's really my beta-readers. I think they like the #books and in return for a free book, they give me edits and sensitivity feedback.

I'm not sure I have my head around the point of #bookreviewers or #bookbloggers in this picture, but I'm starting to feel like I care if they help #readers who would naturally like my writing to find my books, but that I actually DGAF what the reviewer or blogger thinks

Which brings me to the final lap

Not all #writing is appealing to all #readers. People want different genres (itself a hot mess) different topics, different styles, and will tolerate or demand different levels of editing stringency.

The best a writer can do is find the audience for whom the content, style, and level of editing is satisfying.

The best thing you #bookbloggers #editors #bookreviewers can do to help, is to connect those two groups. Help #readers find their #writers

#bookstodon