Tracey Alley's Blog - Posts Tagged "reviews"
To Review or not to Review - that is the question
I've been reading through a thread on another forum where a reviewer was scathingly attacked by the author who felt they'd received a bad review. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have seen this type of behaviour.
As authors we need to develop a fairly thick skin - no matter how good your book is and it may even be a masterpiece there will always be someone who doesn't like it. This happens to EVERY author. A bad review, for an author, might sting a little, might even bring you down for a while but it's actually NOT the end of the world. Even a bad review from a 'professional' reviewer shouldn't be the end of the world either.
When an author reacts badly, especially in a public forum, to a negative review it simply gives all authors a bad reputation. Most reviewers today, on the internet at least, are doing their reviews in their own time, out of their own love of books. So what if they didn't like your book? It's just possible that the reviewer made some very valid comments - in that case a good author should learn from them, they'll probably write an even better book next time.
As a writer I love getting glowing reviews but I'm also not so egotistical [yes I'm using that word] to believe that I've written the greatest novel ever in the history of publishing. Personally I think my books are good, I think a lot of people would enjoy them but I cannot demand that they do, any more than I can vilify someone who didn't like it.
We, as authors, need to remember that reviewers are putting themselves out there just as much as we are by publishing our novels. Reviews, to readers, are extremely important and serve a vital function - I know many people who buy books by previously unknown or unfamiliar authors solely based on the reviews written about them.
I don't write reviews of every book I read - there's only 24 hours in a day - but when I do write a review I try to be honest and fair and if that means I didn't like it or noticed some plot errors or whatever the case may be I will point them out. Because I'm pretty busy I usually only write reviews if I either really liked the book or if I wasn't that impressed.
So to the more dedicated and braver reviewers out there than I am - I take my hat off to you and offer you a very big thank you.
To the author's whose books receive negative reviews I suggest, respectfully, that you take a long, hard look at the review - you might learn something from it or it might just be one person's opinion but try and remember we're supposed to be professionals - not kids in the school yard.
Cheers,
Trace
As authors we need to develop a fairly thick skin - no matter how good your book is and it may even be a masterpiece there will always be someone who doesn't like it. This happens to EVERY author. A bad review, for an author, might sting a little, might even bring you down for a while but it's actually NOT the end of the world. Even a bad review from a 'professional' reviewer shouldn't be the end of the world either.
When an author reacts badly, especially in a public forum, to a negative review it simply gives all authors a bad reputation. Most reviewers today, on the internet at least, are doing their reviews in their own time, out of their own love of books. So what if they didn't like your book? It's just possible that the reviewer made some very valid comments - in that case a good author should learn from them, they'll probably write an even better book next time.
As a writer I love getting glowing reviews but I'm also not so egotistical [yes I'm using that word] to believe that I've written the greatest novel ever in the history of publishing. Personally I think my books are good, I think a lot of people would enjoy them but I cannot demand that they do, any more than I can vilify someone who didn't like it.
We, as authors, need to remember that reviewers are putting themselves out there just as much as we are by publishing our novels. Reviews, to readers, are extremely important and serve a vital function - I know many people who buy books by previously unknown or unfamiliar authors solely based on the reviews written about them.
I don't write reviews of every book I read - there's only 24 hours in a day - but when I do write a review I try to be honest and fair and if that means I didn't like it or noticed some plot errors or whatever the case may be I will point them out. Because I'm pretty busy I usually only write reviews if I either really liked the book or if I wasn't that impressed.
So to the more dedicated and braver reviewers out there than I am - I take my hat off to you and offer you a very big thank you.
To the author's whose books receive negative reviews I suggest, respectfully, that you take a long, hard look at the review - you might learn something from it or it might just be one person's opinion but try and remember we're supposed to be professionals - not kids in the school yard.
Cheers,
Trace
Good reviews, bad reviews, middle of the road - oh boy!
As a first time author, published that is, you wait with bated breath for that first review to come in with some feedback. You worry, you fret, you re-read the book yourself until the words no longer make any sense at all. Then it happens, the first one - with trepidation and half-closed eyes you brace yourself to read it and.... it's good. Sigh of relief, someone read and they loved it. 5 stars. I'm over the moon.
But it's like a junkie, now that I've had a little taste I want more. I have other books, short stories, people are buying them, why aren't they reviewing? Was it a one off, one time only shining star that you'll never see again? You worry, you fret, you bite your fingernails to the quick and then.... you get another one, this is also good. 5 stars.
But just like that junkie now I'm really hooked. I want more, more, more I say! More - you want more? But they start to come and bam.... 4 stars. That's ok, I can live with that, but then ... 3 stars, it's all right, she says breathing heavily trying to remember her yoga exercises... not everyone will love your book. But Why? I wail. Why doesn't everyone love my book and why, why, why don't more people write reviews????
I need another fix, another hit, another 5 stars... it must be out there somewhere surely? Or is, gulp, maybe I'm not that good.... another review 5 stars.... breathe again. But still I want more. I've become a glutton for reviews, even the bad ones because I'm telling myself it will make me a better writer... but what if it just makes me a bigger review junkie? Oh to rid myself of this obsessive curse. It's worse than the constant watching sales figures. Why, why, why did I ever get into this business?
Then I remember. Writing is what I love. Book, short story, poetry, blog post, flash fiction - give me a keyboard and I'm in heaven. Is it a blessing or a curse? I don't really know but I have so many words inside I have to let them out and you, poor reader, have to suffer them.... unless, of course, you don't read it?????
And the cycle starts again.
Cheers all,
Trace
But it's like a junkie, now that I've had a little taste I want more. I have other books, short stories, people are buying them, why aren't they reviewing? Was it a one off, one time only shining star that you'll never see again? You worry, you fret, you bite your fingernails to the quick and then.... you get another one, this is also good. 5 stars.
But just like that junkie now I'm really hooked. I want more, more, more I say! More - you want more? But they start to come and bam.... 4 stars. That's ok, I can live with that, but then ... 3 stars, it's all right, she says breathing heavily trying to remember her yoga exercises... not everyone will love your book. But Why? I wail. Why doesn't everyone love my book and why, why, why don't more people write reviews????
I need another fix, another hit, another 5 stars... it must be out there somewhere surely? Or is, gulp, maybe I'm not that good.... another review 5 stars.... breathe again. But still I want more. I've become a glutton for reviews, even the bad ones because I'm telling myself it will make me a better writer... but what if it just makes me a bigger review junkie? Oh to rid myself of this obsessive curse. It's worse than the constant watching sales figures. Why, why, why did I ever get into this business?
Then I remember. Writing is what I love. Book, short story, poetry, blog post, flash fiction - give me a keyboard and I'm in heaven. Is it a blessing or a curse? I don't really know but I have so many words inside I have to let them out and you, poor reader, have to suffer them.... unless, of course, you don't read it?????
And the cycle starts again.
Cheers all,
Trace
Where's all my millions?
If you've read any of my blogs then you've probably figured out by now that I can be pretty naive at times if not downright stupid about some things. I thought once you were a published author that throngs of people would just automatically line up to read your book - no, you have to market it and promote it without at the same time putting people off with the pathetic cry of 'please buy my book'.
I also thought that once you had a couple of 5 star reviews for the books that would immediately translate into thousands of sales and you would suddenly be making the millions you so desperately deserve. No, it doesn't quite work like that either.
Firstly I've discovered that some Indie authors get family and friends to write them glowing 5 star reviews so the ones you have don't count as much as you might think. Then I found out that some Indie's also swap 5 stars just because they're friends online or have made some kind of pact. Shock and horror, and how come I didn't think to do that? Seriously I wouldn't actually do that - yes I like it if my family and friends like my work but they just tell me personally - that's more real I feel than having a bunch of relatives giving glowing reviews.
So basically I guess what I'm saying is that I'm still here, still learning, still writing and yes, still waiting, patiently, for my millions - even though they will probably never come but hey, a girl can dream.
Cheers all,
Trace
I also thought that once you had a couple of 5 star reviews for the books that would immediately translate into thousands of sales and you would suddenly be making the millions you so desperately deserve. No, it doesn't quite work like that either.
Firstly I've discovered that some Indie authors get family and friends to write them glowing 5 star reviews so the ones you have don't count as much as you might think. Then I found out that some Indie's also swap 5 stars just because they're friends online or have made some kind of pact. Shock and horror, and how come I didn't think to do that? Seriously I wouldn't actually do that - yes I like it if my family and friends like my work but they just tell me personally - that's more real I feel than having a bunch of relatives giving glowing reviews.
So basically I guess what I'm saying is that I'm still here, still learning, still writing and yes, still waiting, patiently, for my millions - even though they will probably never come but hey, a girl can dream.
Cheers all,
Trace
