A Day in the Life of a Book Reviewer: Scheduling Book Reviews

The concept for this particular post comes to you from a recent rant I did on Twitter. It’s not too uncommon, actually, that I get ideas in this manner. I feel the longer I rant about a particular subject matter on social media, the more validation it gives me that this topic deserves it’s own blog post.

So, today I’d like to talk about the process for scheduling reviews.  The last edition of this series I shared how I handle incoming book mail. I briefly mentioned scheduling reviews in that post but, honestly, it’s a more complex process than just adding it to my calendar.  Additionally, I feel I probably should devote more time to what happens BEFORE the book arrives in the mail. Following is, in my mind, the perfect book pitching process.

1. It’s February. In my inbox, I find a book pitch for a book that releases in May. This book is right up my alley, a title I’ve already had my sights on.  I just finished scheduling reviews for April (yes, I said April and it’s only February) so the timing on this can’t be any more perfect.   I respond to the publicist, indicating that I am interested in receiving the book for review consideration (these last two words are very important).

2. A week later (still February!) I receive the book. I add it to my review calendar.  Note that I do not add it to my calendar until I have the book in hand (or in the case of egalleys, on my iPad).  So many times I’ve accepted a book for review consideration and I don’t receive it for several weeks, sometimes not until days before the release. This doesn’t give me enough time to read it, unrushed, nor devote an adequate amount of time to writing the review.  Trust me, no one wants a rushed review.

3. Typically a month before the book publishes I pick it up to read. Again, not hurried or rushed. Additionally, as I submit recommendations for a number of other bookish sites I need this sort of advanced time to read and submit my recommendation. Upon completion, if I choose (going back to the terms I mentioned above: review consideration) I schedule and post the review.

Now, imagine this process when I receive unsolicited books for review?  My finely tuned and scheduled blog calendar goes haywire.  While there are circumstances in which I do a bit of review shuffling and squeeze in a review, but this certainly isn’t preferred. In most cases, as you saw in the previous post, these unsolicited books end up in my donate pile.

And here is where the Twitter rant comes in:
I don’t try to compare myself to larger media vehicles with more web site traffic, but in my opinion, bloggers/reviewers should no longer be treated as “fillers” to fill in those last minute gaps in book promotion. Why reviewing books is certainly not my profession, it is a passion of mine and I feel I deserve the same concessions offered to others.   Please don’t consider this a post complaining about the lack of review titles I receive. That’s certainly not the case; instead, it’s a plea to save the time and resources of all involved by starting the marketing processes early.  Pitch me a book (no later than a month in advance).  Send the book in a timely manner. I’ll reciprocate by devoting that same amount of attention to the book once it is in my hands.  I want to love this book as much as you do. Give me the opportunity to devote to it the amount of time it deserves.

End rant.

Any questions, either about this post or blogging/reviewing as a whole? Your question may be answered in the next edition in this series!