I don't know if I've ever wrote a post about blog tours on this blog before but I know I have mentioned how time consuming they can be - IF I go crazy and pick all that I can possibly want. It's like NetGalley with me. I pick as much as I can and then I fall short or take forever to read and review the book. I've missed a couple of blog tours or have done them late before because I always pick them on the wrong day. I don't know the future. I don't know what it holds for me and yet I've picked 10 books to read in two months. Thankfully, I've learned my lesson to not go absolutely crazy signing up for blog tours that are on the exact same month. Although, it seems I have a new lesson to learn.
I must learn to read and write the review of a blog tour book well before I have to post it. I've become a tiny bit better by reading or listening to a book a day or two before I have to write the review. Sometimes I'm even finishing off the book in the morning before I write my review. MISTAKE! Things come up easily in my life apparently especially classes. If I have classes I will have to wait until I get back to my house to write my review and that's not what's supposed to happen. Also, I never know what my parents have planned. There could be a birthday party I have to go to and I'll be gone most of the day while I'm silently beating myself up by not writing the review earlier.
So there are a couple of things I need to have in my mind from now on when I am asked to do a blog tour:
Are you 100% sure you want to read this book?
There are a lot of books that pique my interest but I've learned that sometimes they are just no good. I hardly rate stars a two on Goodreads but I've been noticing I did so a good many times this year with blog tour books. I need to analyze these books more. I need to check if other people like them, if there are any complaints about parts of the book, if there is a sneak peek of it out there, and making sure the premise makes me more than happy to read it right then.
Do you even have time for this?
Scheduling is a big problem for me with blog tour books. Like I said before you don't know what is going to happen in the future. You'd think I would just say to these blog tour hosts that I can't do it. But, I usually wait to the last minute to do so. Also, I do really want to read these books. I picked them for a reason after all. Anyways it doesn't really matter what time I pick (unless it's finals week or something) as long as I read the book well in advance AND write the review. The thing with me is I over schedule. Books pop up that look really enticing but sometimes it's just too much and I need to realize that. I need to be more conscious of these blog tours and remember there are people who count on me to post my review or any other type of post.
Saying all that I've done a lot of blog tours right on time. I just have been late on the last couple of ones I've done so I'm not really happy with myself about that. I don't have any blog tours planned for the rest of the year except maybe one blog blitz that looks really good. I've been planning a couple of blog tours for next year already and I've been thinking about those a lot lately. I've tried to make sure they are spaced out enough so I don't get overwhelmed. I've done all of the above to make sure I'll be ready for those books and I'm pretty confident I got it handled. Do you have some of the same problems I do with blog tours? Do you over schedule yourself or has the book you wanted to read so badly turned out to be a dud?
I have the same problem. I find that I generally like books that are published by a traditional publisher the best, so I've only been participating in blog tours from them. But it's happened a lot where I sign up to review a book and then I drag my feet getting through it because it just isn't that great of a book. There are too many good books out there to waste time on the ones that aren't! Sometimes I over schedule, but I haven't done that in a while. And yes, there have been books that I've been very excited about and then they turn out to be duds. Always disappointing!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you - "There are too many good books out there to waste time on the ones that aren't!" it really puts a damper in reading books afterwards because I'm feeling off about reading that dud. I rather just stop reading it.
DeleteI've only participated in a few blog tours but I soon realized it wasn't for me. I always waited until the last minute and would find myself reading the whole book the night before I had to post a review. It's just not worth the stress!! I pretty much just review books from the library now, so I can read whatever I want, whenever I want =)
ReplyDeleteI hope you're able to work out a schedule that allows you to participate in the tours that interest you but not overbook and stress yourself out!!
You are a very smart girl. I'm finding that it's best to just read books from the library. It's simpler that way. But, the allure of book blog tours is just too great. But, I've been curving my need to get NetGalley books. Those build up way too fast!
DeleteYour advice about blog tours is spot on! Before committing I try to make sure I will have time to read and review the book and help promote it. Sometimes there are book tours that I would like to be a part of, but sadly I realize that my schedule is too full or I don't have enough time to read the book. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard when you're asked months away and you think you can do it but then suddenly you are swamped with something else. You do great blog tours when you do them so your tips are helpful, thanks (:
DeleteHey Adriana,
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised your feeling stressed, I don't know how you find the time to read at all. I stopped doing blog tours for the same reason, the restriction and international time difference was too much pressure to hurry up and read them. I think most bloggers have felt overwhelmed at one point or another and most of us have cut back. Reading is supposed to be fun, I hope that once things settle down you'll find your passion for books and reviewing again. Love reading your thoughts :)
Thanks Kelly! The time difference must be a pain for you. I've been reading a lot more lately now which I'm really happy about. School stress is the worst but without it I'm able to read and review more. Hopefully I will find my balance soon. It seems like I complain about one thing or another every once in a while :P
Delete