TSR Newsletter: 2024 Survey Results
Our Readers Respond, and We're Listening!
On Tuesday December 17th, I sent out a survey to our subscribers (both paid and free) to get their valuable feedback on how we as a book review site are fulfilling an ever-increasing lack of published reviews in Canada. I asked them two questions and the responses were immediate and insightful. Let’s have a look, and in the conclusion, I will address some upcoming changes based on this survey’s findings.
(Note: these are all actual quotes taken from the survey; I have edited some for brevity and combined similar sentiments)
1. Please tell us specifically what you like the most about The Seaboard Review.
Diversity of materials reviewed, I like the variety of reviews, Good quality reviews.
I appreciate the wide selection of books that you review. I like the format of a SHORT plot summary, followed by the critic's response to the book. As you know, the larger venues that used to do book reviews no longer do. As an author myself, I cheer you on.
It's nice to read good, honest, down-home journalism. There is so little of it left in the world...
I really enjoy reading Michael Greenstein’s in-depth reviews.
The consistency and quality of the reviews. As book reviews become increasingly scarce, we need places like the Seaboard Review to keep critical thinking, readership, and enthusiasm for reading alive. I also love the website. Looks great, easy to navigate.
I enjoy the mix of books from various genres that get reviewed--this provides a refreshing glimpse into contemporary writing in Canada that considers work often overlooked by other outlets. The range of reviewers from different backgrounds is also refreshing, as the opinions expressed are often outside the predictable purview of CBC favourites. We need more reviewing in Canada and TSR helps fill an ever-widening gap. I greatly appreciate your initiative and your dedication to books and writers, especially in the Atlantic region. I greatly appreciate the Review's fiercely independent spirit!
2. Please tell us specifically what you don’t like about the The Seaboard Review? We value your honest feedback. Please tell us more about the aspects you're not satisfied with. What improvements would you like to see, and what do you feel is missing or could be done better?
Content should come in a digest format and not individual emails, Perhaps deliver reviews in bundles instead of individually.
Sometimes a reviewer's writing seems a bit amateurish, which brings the review into question. Too many reviews to read, so many get deleted without being read. But since I am an author, always looking for reviews, I wouldn't want to suggest you publish fewer! Make them shorter, maybe?
More poetry.
I don't have anything critical to say! It seems to be growing in leaps and bounds, new reviewers all the time. Love it.
Conclusion
Newsletter: In the new year, I will send out a weekly digest newsletter with links to all new reviews that have been posted that week, as well as any other TSR news. Remember, all reviews are available on the website, even if you don’t get around to reading the newsletter in your inbox.
Poetry. I recently sent out a call on social media for poetry reviewers. While the posts were “liked” and even “shared”, there were no replies from any interested parties. So, we’ll try and manage to cover more poetry this year with the contributors we have.
Reviews. Our contributors all have their own style, and if some seem “amateurish” it may be a reflection of their level of education, among other things. I myself did not receive an academic education, so they may seem to be written by a novice. Perhaps others are in a similar situation. However, I appreciate all our contributors, and I’ll keep an editor’s eye on any areas for improvement.
Thanks to all those responded to this survey!
James M. Fisher, Editor-in-Chief