Some Things I've Learned(ish)
FB Groups and Goodreads are awesome-pawesome. I'm a reader, after all. I like to read reviews and status updates and follow along with posts and see book suggestions.
But now that I'm a published (indie) writer, it's changed. It took me a while to catch on, but it really has, and I think a blogger leaving a comment on a review on Goodreads said it perfectly.
“Goodreads is for readers, not authors.”
Plain and simple. And I think – just my own opinion! – that we have to make a choice. Which comes first? Am I an author, or am I reader?
To preserve my career, author should come first. To remain true to my roots, reader should come first. Why does anything have to come first?
Because now when I'm in a FB group and I see people speaking negatively about a book, and a friend of mine wrote that book, my feather's get ruffled. That's my friend. I've read that book. It's a good book. And they're getting kind of mean. Yeah, still technically just “reviewing”, and no, they're not bullying, but they're being mean and nasty about their opinions. WE wrote these books, they are extensions of ourselves, of our imaginations, of our beings. Readers don't often understand that, or understand the depth to which that goes, so yeah, I get defensive.
And then I think “what will saying anything do? It will make people snap back, it'll start a ruckus, it'll create a FB fight, no one will pay any attention to your point anyway, and now an entire group on FB hates you, over what is essentially a book review.”
Solved that problem. And I'm not stupid enough to ever even consider doing such a thing on GR – y'all don't play.
And in that same breath – sometimes I see an author post something on GR or in a FB Group, and the reader in me gets HER feather's ruffled. What business do they have stepping in? This is a talk between READERS, the author has no place, and has effectively disrupted the entire conversation. JERK. Why can't they just butt out and learn that it's about their book, NOT THEM? That they're NOT one of us anymore!?
BOOM. I just yelled at MYSELF. Choice made. I guess I'm an author first and foremost. Now I have to pick and choose my battles - what is REALLY worth jeopardizing fans and sales for.
It doesn't make negative comments hurt less. It doesn't make rude conversations less annoying. It doesn't make blatant lies and fake reviews any less maddening. It doesn't make me wish that people would learn to think before they speak any less. It doesn't make me think it's okay for people to just say WHATEVER they want about something. But for the most part, it's not my place to voice an opinion on any of that. My place is behind a keyboard.
Now if I could just heed my own advice, maybe some writing would get done!
But now that I'm a published (indie) writer, it's changed. It took me a while to catch on, but it really has, and I think a blogger leaving a comment on a review on Goodreads said it perfectly.
“Goodreads is for readers, not authors.”
Plain and simple. And I think – just my own opinion! – that we have to make a choice. Which comes first? Am I an author, or am I reader?
To preserve my career, author should come first. To remain true to my roots, reader should come first. Why does anything have to come first?
Because now when I'm in a FB group and I see people speaking negatively about a book, and a friend of mine wrote that book, my feather's get ruffled. That's my friend. I've read that book. It's a good book. And they're getting kind of mean. Yeah, still technically just “reviewing”, and no, they're not bullying, but they're being mean and nasty about their opinions. WE wrote these books, they are extensions of ourselves, of our imaginations, of our beings. Readers don't often understand that, or understand the depth to which that goes, so yeah, I get defensive.
And then I think “what will saying anything do? It will make people snap back, it'll start a ruckus, it'll create a FB fight, no one will pay any attention to your point anyway, and now an entire group on FB hates you, over what is essentially a book review.”
Solved that problem. And I'm not stupid enough to ever even consider doing such a thing on GR – y'all don't play.
And in that same breath – sometimes I see an author post something on GR or in a FB Group, and the reader in me gets HER feather's ruffled. What business do they have stepping in? This is a talk between READERS, the author has no place, and has effectively disrupted the entire conversation. JERK. Why can't they just butt out and learn that it's about their book, NOT THEM? That they're NOT one of us anymore!?
BOOM. I just yelled at MYSELF. Choice made. I guess I'm an author first and foremost. Now I have to pick and choose my battles - what is REALLY worth jeopardizing fans and sales for.
It doesn't make negative comments hurt less. It doesn't make rude conversations less annoying. It doesn't make blatant lies and fake reviews any less maddening. It doesn't make me wish that people would learn to think before they speak any less. It doesn't make me think it's okay for people to just say WHATEVER they want about something. But for the most part, it's not my place to voice an opinion on any of that. My place is behind a keyboard.
Now if I could just heed my own advice, maybe some writing would get done!
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message 1:
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Lexi
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Mar 10, 2015 02:44AM
Give me an amen.
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Bravo! I don't like groups that bashes authors. My motto is, if I am reading a book either for review or for myself and I am not feeling it, I will DNF and keep it moving. I will contact the PR firm and politely say I will not review. There is no need for bashing whatsoever. It may not be my cup of tea, but someone else's. Authors work really hard to put out their words, some readers tend to forget that.
I must say, I am uncomfortable when someone bashes a book or the author. Anyone who has the ability to write a book deserves the respect they have earned. If you don't like the storyline, that's fine but there is always a good way of saying it without being hurtful. It always amazes me how some people are so quick to judge when they wouldn't have the creativity to do it themselves.
I just don't like to see anyone bashing anyone HAHAHA I recently witnessed an author mocking some of her negative reviewers. I was raised to not be a "sore loser" or a "poor sport" about things, so I virtually never make reference to any of my negative reviews. You take it, you learn from it, or you move past it. And yeah, I do wish some reviewers took the time to realize that a book isn't going to read their review - a human being is, and words hurt. But it's part of the gig. If someone can't handle the heat, they should get out of the kitchen.It all just sucks and we should probably somewhat stick to our own sides when it comes to reviews and conversations about our own books (unless we're personally invited into the discussion or we start it *case in point*).
I find I don't care for negativity on either side. I join groups and visit facebook to have a good time and connect with other people, not to get angry, hurt, defensive, or any other negative emotion. I try to avoid those people because it's just not worth it to me.
You hit the nail on the head, Stylo. When you are both an author and a reader (and aren't we all?) it is tough to straddle that line. And I don't like bashing. Bashing is uncool. If you don't like a book, put it down and move on with your life. The DNF police will not hunt you down. If you get a bad review, feel your feels, put them in a box, and move on to one of the cool peeps who love and get you. No reason to get personal or resort to 7th grade shenanigans.
