Tag: GoodReads

Finding Free e-Books Online

On August 11, 2019

More and more people are switching from hard copies of books to reading electronically, with most people finding it more convenient than traditional books. If you have a tablet or an e-reader you can store thousands of books, you can adjust the contrast and the fonts so that it doesn’t bother your eyes. One of the other perks of reading electronically are the amount of free books that are out there for you. You can simply download them and start reading, even some of your favorite authors offer free short stories or novellas that you can only read electronically. Finding free e-books online is easier than you think, here’s how.

Finding a Good Site

There are plenty of site that you can find free e-books but make sure that they are reputable sites. Find one that contains books that you’re interested in so that you have some choices. Amazon has a section of free and cheap read for your Kindle. You can find a ton of free books from authors that just want some exposure and reviews to boost sales in the future. There are also plenty of books that only cost $0.99, while not quite free that is still pretty cheap.

Be Wary of the Format

EBooks come in a bunch of different formats and your ereader or your reading app may not be able to read them all. You may want to look for books that come in the PDF format if you can find them. It is the most common format and it is visually appealing. PDFs display images, graphs and tables really well making them easy to ready. You may also want to use an app that will convert books from one format to another.

Books in Exchange for Reviews

If you participate in the various groups and communities on Goodreads or LibraryThing there are often plenty of independent authors willing to exchange ebooks for a review. Good reviews help them to sell more books so if you have a number of connections then they are more than willing to make the trade. Check for different groups where you can find authors who write the style you want to read and then check for the threads where they are willing to exchange a book for a review. Goodreads is really a social media platform for authors and book lovers to connect and it is great for finding new books to read.

Don’t forget to check your local library and see if they have a way to “borrow” electronic books, some will and it can be hit or miss. Don’t worry there are plenty of places to grab free ebooks online for a dedicated reader.

Finding Something New to Read

By John Watts

On August 9, 2019

In Books

One of the best ways to pass the time is simply by curling up with a good book. Books are one of the greatest creations of mankind, not only do the serve to educate us by the have been entertaining us for hundreds of years. Today there are book stores in every town across the country despite that finding something new to read can still be a challenge.

Aside from bookstores being absolutely everywhere you can also turn to the internet. Whether your preference is for hardbound books or you prefer to read electronically your choices are endless. If you prefer electronic reading then you can get your book and start reading immediately. Now let’s look at some of the ways you can discover something new to read.

Keep Up to Date

Do you have a couple of favorite authors that you follow? Are you active on Goodreads or any of the other reading communities? Check out what is new on the bestseller list or ask a friend to recommend a new book for you. Keeping up to date on new releases will give you plenty of books to choose from when you are looking for something new.

Read Reviews

Once you have a couple of books that interest you then you might want to check out the reviews. Reviews are great when you’re trying to figure out if the book is something that you would want to read. Today there are hundreds of sites where you can check out book reviews for pretty much every book that has ever been printed. Sites like Amazon or Goodreads have reviews listed under the book. In addition Goodreads has listopia where you can find a bunch of great books available in any niche including new releases.

Recommendations

If you belong to a book club or have friends that enjoy reading as much as you do you can always ask them for recommendations on new books and authors. Recommendations are similar to reviews and if it comes from someone you know they can tell you what they liked about the book. Whether it was character development, the plot twists or the world building, you can get a great idea about a book without getting unwanted spoilers.

Try Something New

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Pick up a book from a different genre; try a different author in your genre. It can open you up to a whole new world of reading possibilities.

Becoming a Book Reviewer

By John Watts

On August 2, 2019

In Books

If you love to read and want to get paid for doing so then becoming a book reviewer might be great choice for you. The next question you need answered is how exactly you go about reviewing books and getting paid for it? Here are some tips for breaking into the world of reading, writing and publishing and how you can become a book reviewer.

Qualifications

Becoming a book reviewer isn’t as hard as you think, in fact you don’t need any particular qualifications and you don’t have to go back to university to pursue a degree in English. You will need to have a decent command of the English language and the ability to eloquently express yourself. You need to put yourself in the shoes of the books intended audience and critique the book.

Getting Started

In order to get started you might want to register at some of the reader and book lover sites like GoodReads or LibraryThing. Creating a blog where you can post your reviews may also be a good idea. Since so many book reviewers are independent agents you will have to connect with other reviewers and authors on your own.

Finding Your Own Space

In the beginning you may be willing to review any book that comes your way to build your reputation and some credibility. However you should focus your attention on the kind of books that you like to read. Do you prefer fantasy or romance novels? Whatever genre of novels you like to read in your spare time is what you should pursue. Start out with some Indie authors it is easier to become a reviewer for their books and well established authors already have big sales channels in place.

Getting Paid

In the beginning as you build your following you will probably end up reviewing books for free. Once you have establishes a reputation and have some credentials under your belt then you can approach an author’s association and off reviews at a discounted price. As your reputation grows you can charge more in the future, don’t under-price your services reading a book and preparing a well thought out review takes time and work, you should get paid for it.

Being Impartial

As a book reviewer you have to give your honest opinion and sometimes that is going to be favorable. If you’re getting paid for a review there are many authors who will expect you to write a positive review no matter what. Don’t fall into that trap it will ruin your credibility; a poorly written book is still a poorly written book. You should establish a policy early on that your reviews will be honest regardless of compensation. You can show the author your review before you publish it and offer tips on how the book could be made better.