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Advice for Bloggers from Tools of Change

I was lucky enough to attend the Tools of Change conference in New York City this past few days, and learn all about digital publishing and the cool innovations when it comes to e-books and apps and all that jazz!

One of the best sessions I attended was on Literary Reviewing in the Digital Age and bloggers, the speakers had some great advice that I want to share.

Here are 5 tips for bloggers, from experts in the industry:

1) Stay positive, and keep doing what you are doing! “People are still looking for really strong voices… You will be heard.” – This is from Sarah Weinman, News Editor for Publishers Marketplace (Optimistic, right?!)

2) Express your enthusiasm in a way that is infectious. (Which a lot of you already do! Through you guys on your blogs and on twitter I get so excited for certain books, cough, Divergent, cough)

3) Keep developing your craft of writing. – This was brought up by Ron Charles, Deputy Editor of the Washington Post Book World.

4) Don’t just provide summaries (which I’m sure you’ve heard before, and Steph makes great commentary on this here). Instead, Ron Charles suggests you write snappier features, and add contest so that your review has a news element. (Ie. What is significant, interesting, and new about the book? About your review? — Yes, this is my journalist training coming in to add my own advice!)

5) There are so many books, and so many critics, but now, people look to reviews more than ever for opinions on what to read. So make your voice heard!

There you have it, advice for bloggers from experts at the Tools of Change conference.

Have additional advice? Let me know.

Also, I just want to say a huge thank you to our bloggers out there. Being at this discussion on digital reviewing made me realize how difficult it can be when blogging to feel like you are being heard, and I know some of you do it just for fun and to get your thoughts of there, but, I want to thank you for getting your thoughts out there and for being so enthusiastic about our books!

– Shannon

Follow me on twitter @shanparsons

For more on the Tools of Change conference visit www.toccon.com

  • http://www.bellasbookshelves.com Steph

    You couldn’t have posted this at a better time, at least for me. Right now working on no. 3. Well, I’ll always be doing that…

    Thank you, Shannon. These tips are encouraging! And thanks for referencing my own post. :)

  • http://topsy.com/thesavvyreader.ca/2011/advice-for-bloggers-from-tools-of-change/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention Advice for Bloggers from Tools of Change « The Savvy Reader — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steph VanderMeulen, The Savvy Reader. The Savvy Reader said: Attention bloggers! 5 tips on blogging from experts at the Tools of Change conference: http://ow.ly/3YzA8 [...]

  • http://thecaitfiles.blogspot.com/ Caitlin

    I think number 4 is a really crucial point! If people wanted a summary they’d read a description of the book on Amazon or somewhere similar!

  • http://emeire.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/margaret-atwood-and-the-publishing-industry/ Margaret Atwood and the Publishing Industry « C'est la vie!

    [...] for those of you who want to improve their book blogging skills, here is the advice that was given by some experts at the conference. [...]

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