Pitching for Review: A Bitches Discussion

by SB Sarah

One topic I discuss a LOT - and do workshops about - is reviews. Finding them, requesting them, and dealing with them and reacting to them. I did a workshop on that topic at RWA this year (and thank you again to everyone who came).

One of the points I stress is that the book and the author are separate things. I know it can be difficult to separate, because writing a book, especially one about emotions and sexuality, can be a very intimate process. But alongside the oft-repeated phrases that reviews are for readers and that the conversation about books once they are published cannot be controlled is my repeated insistence that the book and the author are distinct things.

So I try to maintain that separation as much as possible when we review a book. Very early reviews of mine did not, and I re-read them and cringe like cringing has never cringed before. Now, it’s a line I try to maintain as best I can - though sometimes it gets fuzzy.

This is one of those cases. Recently, we received the following request for a review.

I have read your website and still I am brave enough to contact you to request a review.

My book is a romance book with a real difference - it goes behind the mawkish, slushy, sentimental type of novel and has a deep and meaningful plot. I hope you can handle it....

If you want a challenge and are up for delving into a deep and profound romance book that will show you a different side to relationships and love, please contact me.

Yikes.

The pitch generated a lot of discussion among the five of us. As a result, we also wanted to address that pitch and others like it (yes, there are many). We decided it would be helpful to talk about pitches, what works and what does not, and what we think best practices might be.

Generally speaking, pitches that insult us, the genre, and other books we like are not going to get the desired response. I mean, I would think that was obvious, but in this case apparently not.

Note: This is not true for all blogs. We don’t speak for every reviewer (Dude. No way. Not a job we want!) but, much like social media interactions, review blogs are still growing in the publishing world, and in many, many ways, we’re all still figuring things out as we go.

So let’s talk pitches and reviewers.

What pitches work on you? What do not? What are your recommendations?

RHG:

One of the things that really pissed me off about that particular pitch is the “I hope you can handle it.” Because that’s the author giving herself an out if I didn’t like it- it’s obviously because I just “couldn’t handle” the subject matter and not because of any other factors.

Then there’s pitches that say things like, “I think you’re gonna hate my book, and I can’t wait to see you savage it!” Or, “I know you’re going to tear my book to pieces, but I can take it.”

That’s….please don’t do that. Please don’t. There is at least one person who needs to believe in a book, and that’s the author.

I really am tickled to see the pitches that say “I really think that this specific reviewer would like this book!” because it demonstrates that you’re familiar with the site, and with us, and when you find the match of reviewer to catnip, it’s glorious.

Sarah adds:

The amount of vowels used in the reply when I correctly forward a review pitch to someone whose catnip trigger will likely be tripped is AMAAAAAAZIIIIING. We all get so excited about a book we think we’re going to enjoy.

Personalization. I cannot stress that enough. A pitch is more likely to capture my attention if the book can be related to me in some way. At SBTB, romance readers (and reviewers) come in all different forms. Carrie loves some good scifi and dips into nonfiction titles. RHG is a historical romance and old skool fanatic. Elyse’s catnip includes suspense. Sarah handles everything plus the kitchen sink (except romantic suspense). And I just snag whatever looks interesting. For those pitching books, I second RHG’s advice in connecting with a specific reviewer. It also shows you're familiar with a site and aren’t just sending out an email blast.

For those who may not know, I’m currently a publicity intern at a publishing house. I write pitches. I send them off. But before I do that, I do an obscene amount of research. Some places aren’t right for certain books and that’s okay. It’s hard to resist a large audience or an outlet that has a great community, but if it doesn’t fit...don’t force it.

In my pitches, I do my best to tie the author or subject matter into the website. That way, whoever is receiving it doesn’t have to figure out an angle. I’ve done the work for them. I tend to pitch a lot of nonfiction, so this may not apply to romance.

Throwing down a gauntlet is never a good idea, in my opinion. It may catch our attention, but the writing/plot better deliver on whatever promises the pitch makes.

Elyse:

For me, it’s huge when the author/publisher/agent calls me out directly because he/she has researched the site and knows what I like to read and review. If someone directs a pitch for a romantic suspense at me because they know I love that sub-genre, that will straight up get my attention. If they ask me if I want to review the latest Twilight-esque New Adult, I know they really don’t know who I am or what I read, and I assume I’m part of a blast going out to lots of reviewers. Everyone wants to be recognized as a special snowflake sometimes, even me.

I read historicals, romantic suspense and some erotic contemporaries, basically in that order. Honestly, if a pitch falls outside those sub-genres, I probably won’t look at it at all.

One set of pitches I struggle with are those that contain tales publishing woes; it makes me really uncomfortable. I recently had a self-pubbed author email me explaining that she just couldn’t break through and telling me my review could help make her career. I’m really flattered she said that, but I can’t even make an omelette, much less someone’s career. It also made me feel very pressured to give her extra consideration because, despite popular belief, I’m not a giant asshole and I really do want people to succeed and be happy.

CarrieS:

I can’t agree enough about the importance of personalization. I look for science fiction and fantasy, books that have some sort of science or geek appeal, and books that feature diverse protagonists. I recently agreed to review a book because the author included in her pitch the fact that her book featured a kraken. This has the same effect on me as flashing a laser pointer at a cat. Another pitched a contemporary but it’s one in which the hero is a French rocket scientist - so even though I don’t read many contemporaries I immediately had a ton of interest in the book, plus respect for the author who had done her research before making the pitch.

I like it when authors understand the process. I can’t guarantee a review. The TBR is simply too big, even given the fact that between Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and Geek Girl In Love I write approximately 8 - 10 reviews a month. I also am not in the role of career-builder/life coach. One person pitched her book to me by saying that a review from Smart Bitches was going to make her decide to either keep writing or give up. No, no, no. If you want to write, write. If you want honest feedback as part of your process, join a good writer’s group. I’m here to give honest, constructive reviews, not determine anyone’s destiny.

One of the points I make in my workshop is that pitching for review is often a bit like querying an agent or an editor. If a writer addresses an agent query to someone who doesn’t represent romance, that’s not going to work. Same for an editor who may publish romance, but doesn’t acquire that particular subgenre. That’s a lot of time wasted on all sides.

With reviewers, identifying who is most likely to really like a book is the first part of a good pitch. Most review sites have profiles of their reviewers - for example, here are ours.

But here’s the TL;DR:

• Insulting the reviewer, the genre, the readers, or other books in the same genre or even completely different genre: BAD IDEA JEANS.
  
• Presuming that we feed exclusively on the tattered remains of books we have not enjoyed: not true. We also like cookies.
  
  I’m kidding, of course. All of us here, we want to read books we’re going to like, or that are so completely over the top full of effervescent crazysauce that we are charmed senseless. It’s rare that we hate-read a book.
  
• Researching review sites and developing a list of those who have reviewed similar books: Terrific idea!
  
• Addressing a review pitch personally to someone who is likely to enjoy a book: Excellent notion!
  
  Note: I’m not saying writers need to develop personal relationships with every single reviewer online. Egads, no. But good Google search or two can help significantly.

There are so many review sites now, covering so many aspects of the genre - not to mention every other genre besides. And as I said, the community changes daily, and we’re figuring things out as we go. I hope this discussion has been helpful or at the least interesting. And if you have suggestions to add, I hope you’ll share!

Categories: But...that's not really about romance novels, General Bitching, Random Musings