Discovering reader preferences, habits and attitudes
Readers and writers – a symbiotic relationship. Ideas spark writers to create stories and build worlds and characters for readers’ consumption. Readers add imagination and thought to interpret those stories, deriving meaning and enjoyment in the process. A story is incomplete without both reader and writer.
What then do readers want? What constitutes a compelling story? How do men and women differ in their preferences? Where do readers find recommendations? How do readers share their book experiences?
ANNOUNCING A 2018 READER SURVEY designed to solicit input on these topics and others.
Please take the survey !
Please share the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68HL6F2 with friends and family via email or your favourite social media. Robust participation across age groups, genders, and countries will make this year’s survey – the 4th– even more significant.
If you’re an author, please share the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68HL6F2 with your readers.
Participate by clicking this link. (You may only take the survey once!) Those who take the survey will be able to sign up to receive a summary report when it becomes available.
M.K. (Mary) Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, Time and Regret was published by Lake Union. Fellow authors Patricia Sands and Heather Burch helped design and plan the survey. Mary can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or here on her blog A Writer of History.
18 Responses
Thanks for sending the link to the survey. The first thing that struck me, though, is that your question about gender is completely binary and old-fashioned. Where’s the button for neither, both, fluid, or decline to state? You’re eliminating many potential folks from your survey.
For example:
What is your gender?
☐ Female
☐ Male
☐ Non-binary/ third gender
☐ Prefer to self-describe _________________
☐ Prefer not to say
Thanks for your comment, mfennvt. I’m very sorry we offended people with the gender question. Have to do better next time. Unfortunately, I can’t change it now that it’s underway. Best wishes.
Thanks for your response, M.K. Good luck with the survey!
Thanks for doing this survey again, Mary. I know how much time it takes, and I appreciate your effort. Looking forward to the results!
I’m all over it, Mary! Just tweeted it out to my now 5,000+ (!!!) Twitter followers, too. And thanks for doing this. So important to your HistFic tribe mates.
Jeff Walker
Sent from my iPad
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Have just sent to 800+ subscribers. Thanks and look forward to the results! >
Many thanks, that’s awesome!
Hi, I made a quiz of Time and Regret: https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/1128449-time-and-regret
Wow – isn’t that cool! Took the quiz – fortunately, I got all the answers correct 🙂
Good on you! As it happened I go one wrong – the war one would you believe. Do not know how that happened – must have rushed!
The survey gets better all the time, Mary. Thanks for doing it.
BTW, not sure if it’s a Survey Monkey thing, but love the colored hands graphic!
Many thanks, Harald. I found the coloured hands and added the title 🙂 Wanted something that would stand out.
Reblogged this on and commented:
Who doesn’t want to give their opinions about reading?
For sure! Thanks, Xina Marie
I bought Time & Regret as a Kindle / Audible Whispersync duo. It was great! MS Tod, please keep up the good work and publish another novel with an excellent narrator.
Many thanks, Johndy. I’ll let my publisher know!! Working away on another novel.
Thanks for the survey link. It’s wonderful to have authors interested in what readers want and enjoy. I hope you get a good and varied response.
Many thanks, Veronica. I’m continuing to spread the word.