What are your green lights?

caleb72 · 07-09-2013, 12:54 AM

Red flags? Green lights? We're all about being colour-coded here.

Considering we're having a blast saying what will immediately turn us off a book. How about we also look at this from the other side? What will immediately get your interest in a book blurb?

Are there words, phrases that serve as a magnet?

For me - unlike some others in the other thread - recommendations do actually make a difference. However, I usually prefer it to come from a review site/publication.

Additionally, if there is reference to an award won or even a nomination for an award, this will draw my eye.

Words like "dystopia", "dark", "controversial" all work to varying degrees and a post-apocalyptic feel usually works unless there's reference to EMP or zombies. I particularly like it if there's no real reference to the event itself because the event is far less interesting to me than the reality it has created.

Covers will work for me. It's not blurb-specific, but it's an aspect of how the book is presented to me and a good cover will definitely draw my attention.

Feeling like a book is going to force me to look at a issue from an angle with which I'm unfamiliar intrigues, even if it promises to be challenging. Most obvious and well-known example this year would probably be Lolita. This links back to the word "controversial" I guess.

Where references to page numbers (especially equating a book's size with its value) fails completely for me, sales figures and the word "best-seller" can sometimes grant a book a little extra time from me to make a decision. It's a cheap tactic, but it will sometimes work with me.

What tactics work for you?

speakingtohe · 07-09-2013, 01:20 AM

I don't think any tactics work for me.

But what I want is a nice square synopsis or lead-in to the book. I don't care who recommends it or how many stars or what people are tweeting. Tell me what the book is about and not why I should read it based on the opinions of others.

In the not so distant past (before getting ereader) the blurb was my first line of defense against buying the same book twice. I find re-reading about as much fun as watching the grass grow, no offense to those who enjoy it. I have been reading 200+ books a year for at least 50 years so I do not remember all of the titles dammit, and if I am going to buy a book I want it to last more than ten pages in before I remember all the details

But I don't think any blurb has made me buy a book. If it is by an author I like I will just buy it and an author I don't like I won't. Anything else, I will borrow it if possible or if strongly recommended by someone I know look at a page or two.

Basically I take a lot of blurbs with the same grain of salt as advertisements for bridges for sale.

Helen

Apache · 07-09-2013, 06:36 AM

A well written and interesting synopsis that makes me want to read the book right away. Covers, reviews and recommendations are not going to do it for me. Basically, what speakingtohe said.

Apache

fjtorres · 07-09-2013, 09:29 AM

Author familiarity.
I have a short white list of pre-approved authors.
Everybody else gets a cautionary flag.

Covers, blurbs, summaries, reviews all are data I cosider but I have no specific pavlovian triggers other than "new Vorksosigan!" = "drool".

John F · 07-09-2013, 09:43 AM

My biggest green light currently is multiple recommendations from members of MR.

alicepattinson · 07-09-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

A well written and interesting synopsis that makes me want to read the book right away. Covers, reviews and recommendations are not going to do it for me. Basically, what speakingtohe said.

Apache

Yeah me too! i always read the synopsis first. If it's interesting, then it's really a go for me

BenBanned · 07-09-2013, 11:28 AM

I'm a sucker for well designed spines.

CWatkinsNash · 07-09-2013, 11:36 AM

A description that makes the characters seem like real people (as opposed to sounding like Mad Libs) will suck me in provided it's already in a genre I'm interested in.

Also: giving me a hint as to how the author's take on X is unique, instead of telling me that it is.

Going slightly beyond the blurb, if I come across a well-written blurb, and clicking the "look inside" shows me a beginning that is also well-written and feels like it's written by the same person - that is a win.

Ninjalawyer · 07-09-2013, 12:31 PM

It really depends, there's no one thing that will draw my eye to a book but a few things are more likely to trigger an attention response: author familiarity, positive mentions on podcasts I listen to, positive mentions by authors I follow online and a compelling title or cover, and generally interesting topics for non-fiction or settings for fiction. Once I've gotten over the hurdle of actually picking the book up, the biggest greenlight for me is the summary.

I admit it, how nice a cover goes into the quick decision of whether or not I'll even pick up a book to read the back cover. That's one of the reasons I rarely glance twice at Baen books.

Catlady · 07-09-2013, 12:34 PM

I'm drawn in by stories in which a sister tries to uncover the truth of her sibling's death or disappearance, and/or in which a main character has amnesia.

dandelioncottage · 07-09-2013, 01:16 PM

The words "Anne Boleyn" and "Titanic." They suck me in every time (even if I later regret it

)

Penforhire · 07-09-2013, 02:17 PM

A recommendation from another author whose work I like. I've never been badly burned by something incoherent or poorly written that way. Of course it is possible but most good (to me) authors are already expert writers themselves. If they like something it just isn't going to be a steaming pile.

EowynCarter · 07-09-2013, 02:33 PM

Synopsis mostly.

Cover and title have a part too, as it's what will caught the eye and lead you to read the synopsis.

morriss003 · 07-09-2013, 02:55 PM

Other than my favorite authors, a good concept in a genre I enjoy.

crich70 · 07-09-2013, 03:44 PM

Books on subjects/genre's that I like, a good looking cover (one that looks like a 5 yr old made it is a red light), a well written & clear blurb (if the author can't state what the book is about in a clear and concise manner what does that say for the book?), and of course if I have already bought books from the author before and enjoyed them that's a big green light. Finally, the price of the book is a red/green light as well. I try not to overspend on ebooks as it's easy for the cost to add up to not so small charges.

07-09-2013, 12:54 AM	#1
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	What are your green lights? Red flags? Green lights? We're all about being colour-coded here. Considering we're having a blast saying what will immediately turn us off a book. How about we also look at this from the other side? What will immediately get your interest in a book blurb? Are there words, phrases that serve as a magnet? For me - unlike some others in the other thread - recommendations do actually make a difference. However, I usually prefer it to come from a review site/publication. Additionally, if there is reference to an award won or even a nomination for an award, this will draw my eye. Words like "dystopia", "dark", "controversial" all work to varying degrees and a post-apocalyptic feel usually works unless there's reference to EMP or zombies. I particularly like it if there's no real reference to the event itself because the event is far less interesting to me than the reality it has created. Covers will work for me. It's not blurb-specific, but it's an aspect of how the book is presented to me and a good cover will definitely draw my attention. Feeling like a book is going to force me to look at a issue from an angle with which I'm unfamiliar intrigues, even if it promises to be challenging. Most obvious and well-known example this year would probably be Lolita. This links back to the word "controversial" I guess. Where references to page numbers (especially equating a book's size with its value) fails completely for me, sales figures and the word "best-seller" can sometimes grant a book a little extra time from me to make a decision. It's a cheap tactic, but it will sometimes work with me. What tactics work for you?

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07-09-2013, 01:20 AM	#2
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I don't think any tactics work for me. But what I want is a nice square synopsis or lead-in to the book. I don't care who recommends it or how many stars or what people are tweeting. Tell me what the book is about and not why I should read it based on the opinions of others. In the not so distant past (before getting ereader) the blurb was my first line of defense against buying the same book twice. I find re-reading about as much fun as watching the grass grow, no offense to those who enjoy it. I have been reading 200+ books a year for at least 50 years so I do not remember all of the titles dammit, and if I am going to buy a book I want it to last more than ten pages in before I remember all the details But I don't think any blurb has made me buy a book. If it is by an author I like I will just buy it and an author I don't like I won't. Anything else, I will borrow it if possible or if strongly recommended by someone I know look at a page or two. Basically I take a lot of blurbs with the same grain of salt as advertisements for bridges for sale. Helen

07-09-2013, 06:36 AM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	A well written and interesting synopsis that makes me want to read the book right away. Covers, reviews and recommendations are not going to do it for me. Basically, what speakingtohe said. Apache

07-09-2013, 09:29 AM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Author familiarity. I have a short white list of pre-approved authors. Everybody else gets a cautionary flag. Covers, blurbs, summaries, reviews all are data I cosider but I have no specific pavlovian triggers other than "new Vorksosigan!" = "drool".

07-09-2013, 09:43 AM	#5
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,941 Karma: 70766125 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	My biggest green light currently is multiple recommendations from members of MR.

07-09-2013, 11:28 AM	#7
BenBanned Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 1326166 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NJ Device: Paper	I'm a sucker for well designed spines.

07-09-2013, 11:36 AM	#8
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	A description that makes the characters seem like real people (as opposed to sounding like Mad Libs) will suck me in provided it's already in a genre I'm interested in. Also: giving me a hint as to how the author's take on X is unique, instead of telling me that it is. Going slightly beyond the blurb, if I come across a well-written blurb, and clicking the "look inside" shows me a beginning that is also well-written and feels like it's written by the same person - that is a win.

07-09-2013, 12:31 PM	#9
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	It really depends, there's no one thing that will draw my eye to a book but a few things are more likely to trigger an attention response: author familiarity, positive mentions on podcasts I listen to, positive mentions by authors I follow online and a compelling title or cover, and generally interesting topics for non-fiction or settings for fiction. Once I've gotten over the hurdle of actually picking the book up, the biggest greenlight for me is the summary. I admit it, how nice a cover goes into the quick decision of whether or not I'll even pick up a book to read the back cover. That's one of the reasons I rarely glance twice at Baen books.

07-09-2013, 12:34 PM	#10
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm drawn in by stories in which a sister tries to uncover the truth of her sibling's death or disappearance, and/or in which a main character has amnesia.

07-09-2013, 01:16 PM	#11
dandelioncottage Abibliophobe Posts: 425 Karma: 4379916 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPad Mini 2 64 gb, Nook Glowlight, iPad 4 (128 gb)	The words "Anne Boleyn" and "Titanic." They suck me in every time (even if I later regret it )

07-09-2013, 02:17 PM	#12
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	A recommendation from another author whose work I like. I've never been badly burned by something incoherent or poorly written that way. Of course it is possible but most good (to me) authors are already expert writers themselves. If they like something it just isn't going to be a steaming pile.

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07-09-2013, 02:33 PM	#13
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,337 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Synopsis mostly. Cover and title have a part too, as it's what will caught the eye and lead you to read the synopsis.

07-09-2013, 02:55 PM	#14
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	Other than my favorite authors, a good concept in a genre I enjoy.

07-09-2013, 03:44 PM	#15
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Books on subjects/genre's that I like, a good looking cover (one that looks like a 5 yr old made it is a red light), a well written & clear blurb (if the author can't state what the book is about in a clear and concise manner what does that say for the book?), and of course if I have already bought books from the author before and enjoyed them that's a big green light. Finally, the price of the book is a red/green light as well. I try not to overspend on ebooks as it's easy for the cost to add up to not so small charges.