Comments on: Paid reviews hurt everyone, except those being paid

By: Paid reviews hurt everyone, except those being paid (via @alanbaxter) | Literarium – The Blog

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:34:33 +0000

[...] read it, Alan is always entertaining: http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/paid-reviews-hurt-paid/ This entry was posted in Literary, Marketing, Tips and tagged marketing, reviews by Tom [...]

By: alan

alan — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:17:09 +0000

Sean – you raise an interesting point with the doctors/big pharma company comparison. I would certainly hate to see reviewers courted in that way. But reviewers do take on a lot of work and do a great job, for nothing usually. At best, unless they’re a paid reviewer for some publication, they score free books. When I review, that’s enough for me (and I’m happy to review the books I buy too.) I think the only way for a reviewer to be paid for their review and remain impartial would be if they were the sort of person who could do that in the first place and not feel obligated in any way. And their policies would have to be very clear. Then the proof of their impartiality would hopefully shine through in their reviews.

It’s a minefield, that’s for sure.

By: Damien

Damien — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:02:21 +0000

Deadlines for ransoms are, of course, important to stop the flow of fingers in the mail. This time, however, I meant ‘randoms’. Thank you Apple.

By: Damien

Damien — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:10 +0000

I would have absolutely no problem if someone wanted to give me a big bag of money to review, but they’re going to be sorely disappointed if they expect it to influence my opinion. If anyone wants to give me a big bag of money for anything else you are of course most welcome. I can see that the perception of impartiality would be a problem though, so I’m not holding my breath. Still, we live in hope.

As far as feeling obliged to review something goes, I make sure to review anything I’ve formally requested ASAMFP. Anything that just shows up in my mailbox goes into the ‘to read’ pile and will get reviewed if I get a chance within a reasonable period of time, but I don’t ever give myself deadlines for ransoms.

By: Sean the Blogonaut

Sean the Blogonaut — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:32:57 +0000

Hmm I’m uncomfortable with being paid. I’m uncomfortable being given gifts too ( which is why I think Dark Matter’s full disclosure is a good idea). I don’t like to think money or gifts would cause me to change my view of a book, but the possibility’s there. The perception that it will is there as well.

I am reminded of Doctor’s being given inducements by Pharmaceutical companies and the issue that causes with public perception and trust. But also they way in which being funded by certain companies has been shown to influence (subconsciously) results of experiments.

I doubt this issue is new though. I am sure that reviewers for broadsheets have been offered inducements and lunches since books were first reviewed.

Getting paid would put even more obligation on me to read. The more I feel obligated the more resistant I feel to reading.

I also fear the temptation would arise in some reviewers to not bother reading yet still review to claim the cash (as happened in one of those news articles) in that case the reader is being defrauded, but the reviewer and author are happy.

I am also reminded of the contract some companies tried to pull with bloggers/reviewers in the states last year, where a blogger/reviewer had to agree to review within a certain time and review regularly or they would be dropped from the list, or wouldn’t receive copies. Imagine how that effected the quality of reviews and likelihood of being honest in your opinion.

So on the surface, yeah paying for people to give honest “no obligation to love the book” reviews might be okay, I think the reality would be different.

A good question Alan.

By: Dark Matter Fanzine

Dark Matter Fanzine — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:01:51 +0000

And wine. And mojitos. Not to mention food….

By: Damien

Damien — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:33:43 +0000

Excellent news! Publishers and authors, you heard it here first: Reviewers like beer.

By: alan

alan — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:49:51 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with accepting a beer AFTER a review!

And no one can be held responsible for their actions when bacon is involved.

By: Damien

Damien — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:39:52 +0000

I can’t add a great deal to what DMF has said. I always try to give an honest review. If it’s negative it’s never scathing (at least in an insulting way) and either way I try to pick who might enjoy it.

Having said that, I have been bought the odd beer after reviewing books and in the dark recesses of my soul I wonder how corrupt I’d be in a Reviewing For Bacon scandal. Am I a bad person?

By: Authors Behaving Badly: The Seedy Underbelly of Reviewing | The Happy Logophile

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:50:07 +0000

[...] you’re interested in other points of view, both Chuck Wendig and Alan Baxter have both blogged about this issue today and their opinions are always worth a [...]