Four days ago, The New York Times exposed the practice of purchasing five-star reviews on Amazon. So far, few have offered solutions. A Reddit user explains how to properly read Amazon review graphs through the cloud of purchased hype. Erin Keane calls for independent writers to hold themselves to higher standards.
Self-Published, Self-Promoted
New York: It Isn’t All That
Roxane Gay rounded up some of her favorite writers from “Outside of New York City.” (And she’s not talking about Brooklyn.)
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Mad Content
Is there a difference between journalism and advertising? Buzzfeed doesn’t seem to think so.
Library Extension
A simple web browser extension will tell you if the book you’re reading about online is available at your local library. Currently a Chrome version is available, and Firefox is on the way.
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Two Gentlemen of Lebowski
Following in the footsteps of the recent Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, the Coen Brothers’ cult movie The Big Lebowski has received the Shakespeare treatment.
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To the Moon and Back
David Seed looks back on more than two millennia of the moon in literature, from Galileo to Jules Verne to Johannes Kepler to Edgar Allan Poe.
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AWP Anxiety
Don’t let social anxiety trap you in your hotel room at AWP. At Tin House, Courtney Maum gives advice for how to make and keep your writer friends in an essay aptly titled, “How Not to Hate Your Friends.” Her first wise tip: “Only be friends with people you actually like.” Pair with: Our dispatch from AWP 2013 to know what you’re in for.
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Book World
“These days…the brick-and-mortar bookstores that are still standing have a loyal following.”
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I have to say it is tempting to hire people to give your book a positive review, or for that matter, any review. So far I have resisted the temptation. I have tried the honor system and find readers myself, or authors that want to do a review in exchange for one on their book without the promise that it will be positive, but with the assurance that it will be an honest reflection of their thoughts. Unfortunately, I did more reviews than I got back from other authors, but we are only talking about very low numbers. There just are too many books out and a lot of slush…it is hard to break into the world of books as a new independent author.
Johanna van Zanten