Asking your blog readers for advice
I’ve just received a comment from Lee Henshaw, whose novel, Queer Fish in God’s waiting room, is being published in February 2008 by Legend Press.
Lee’s been given three potential versions of his novel cover, and is asking his blog readers for advice on which one he should go with.
I did a similar thing, before Lessons to Learn was published, asking the readers of my blog over at LiveJournal which photo out of a series that my husband had taken one Sunday morning, should be used on the cover of Lessons to Learn. I sent the four favourites from that vote on to the publisher, and ultimately, the one that was the most popular with my blog readers was the one that was chosen.
Why ask your blog readers for advice?
Personally, I suck at making decisions, and once I’d asked my husband, parents, friends and everyone at work for their input, then blog readers became the next logical step.
As a reader of blogs, I like to be asked. It makes me feel like I’ve played some small part in the publication process.
What do you do if you don’t agree with your blog readers’ suggestions?
Luckily, in my case, my readers’ preferences largely coincided with my own. If they hadn’t, well, then the decision ultimately had to be made by me and perhaps more importantly, by my publisher.
Even if your blog readers have read your entries all through the drafting stages, even if they feel they’ve been asked then ignored, it’s likely that you’re the one who knows your book best and you’re the one whose names on the cover that has been decided upon.
Your thoughts
Would you/have you asked your blog readers for advice on any elements of the writing, publishing and/or marketing of your book? What sort of reaction have you got?
PS: If you want to take a look at Lee Henshaw’s cover options, and give him your thoughts on those, you can do so at his website Next to Hemingway.
I’ve had over 30 comments and I’m more confused now than when I started.
Once I’ve had time to digest them, I’ll write my response.