Review blurb etiquette

I think it's perfectly kosher--fair use. As for best practices, I don't know! I should think it'd be better to put it more front-and-center-ish, myself.

The only thing limiting you is copyright law because the review is copyright to its author. However you can quote parts by the fair use laws, so long as they're attributed correctly. I always use a link. I've had Chris Poirier object to me crediting one with "[reviewer name], Web Fiction Guide" because the reviewer is not an editor, but that was a banner ad so "Web Fiction Guide" could not be a link, as I usually use. I think "@ Web Fiction Guide" would put you in safe territory -- if not, I'm sure Chris will speak up.

I second what MeiLin said about front and centre, though my current website has them on a separate page. Who's going to go there? My new website, once I get it going, will have them under the blurb (see the "about page" thread) just like you see on a dead-tree book. I totally believe in using them in ads - it's what the dead tree people do, obviously because it works.

While quoting reviews or portions thereof for promotional purposes might be permissible under copyright law, I think it's polite to ask the reviewer for their permission first anyway. If nothing else, at least give them a head's up so they aren't surprised when they see their names on your site.

If they're writing positive reviews of your work, I'd expect most of them would be okay with you quoting them anyway.

Good point, though it's not always possible to contact them.

I disagree, when it's a review on an open website. A person should not write a review -- or anything for that matter -- in a publication or public website, if they are not okay with it being quoted, within the fair use laws, without permission. What is impolite is to quote out of context so as to distort meaning, alter wording while purporting that you haven't, or otherwise violate the intention of the quote.

I ask permission if it's in an email, a private message, a private forum or a relatively unknown forum intended for an in-group.

I have quotes from reviews displayed in the sidebar on my site: http://roydss.blogspot.com

I link back to the website where the review appears and also to the website of the reviewer (if they have one).

I will say I have used comments on my site as review blurbs. I always make sure I include at least one "you suck!" comment. It's funnier that way.

I second about linking back to the review. First, this drives traffic to the review and the website on which it's posted, which is fair reward to the review, and second, it provides verification of the quote.

Lol. I used to use the "You suck" and "This is the worst story ever" ones too.

Personally I think, if it's possible, you should contact them. If not, you can probably still use it and make a link to the post on it's respective sites.

Now I'm really tempted to quote that comment where someone said Chatoyant College was the most cliched story ever and they didn't know why they came back every day...

Clare,

You have my permission.

A

>Now I'm really tempted to quote that comment where someone said Chatoyant College was the most cliched story ever and they didn't know why they came back every day...

"The food is so bad! And the portions are so small!"

Do it, do it! That's hilarious.

So I've edited my front page (http://allantmichaels.digitalnovelists.com) to include some blurbs, along with links to the whole review.

I didn't contact anyone, but I did put links.

Does that look good? Too cluttered?

Also, should they be on the front page? Or on the Table of Contents page? Both?

Cool, well done, Allan. Hm. It does look a bit cluttered there. I wonder, can you just make the names (like Merrilee and Karen) into links, rather than including the whole long link verbatim? Also maybe add a header and a bit more space between the intro text and the blurbs? Even a horizontal line would add a bit of visual distinction between the two sections.

Also, I recommend linking the titles in that intro section as well. Right now they're just boldface, but it seems to me that it would be more logical/user-friendly to link 'em to the stories themselves.

Nice blurbs though! I think it's good to show them off on the homepage.

Alan, here's now I'd style this. Just look at this page's source to see what I've done:

A selection on the e-Fiction Book Club! Here's what members had to say:

"Some of [the chapters] were more interesting than others, but there were quite a few times that I simply HAD to read the next one." - J.C.

"I think the real question should be, what isn’t there to like about this story." - Karen

"If I could describe it, I’d say it’s a cross between a Lord of the Rings type fantasy epic and a political drama like Dune...It’s a huge, country-spanning, political epic full of tragic characters all hurtling inexorably towards their fate." - Merilee Faber

Thanks for the suggestions. I've incorporated aspects of both.

Look good?

Yeah, that looks better!