Linda’s Comments (group member since Jan 17, 2012)

Linda’s comments from the Q&A with Matthew Williams group.

Ahhhh, if only most of us could wait for 100 reviews. I'm afraid I'll be dead first! Hum, maybe I'm more like Mozart than I realized!

James wrote: "Linda wrote: "On most counts, I absolutely agree. However, readers who offer reviews should remember that the writer gains no insight whatsoever when a number is clicked on without any specifics gi..."

James, you're correct. They are "ratings", but I think most shoppers consider them in the same category with reviews, and they do have a negative impact when they are selecting a book to purchase. It would be lovely if the reader could take just a minute to tell us what they did or didn't like about the work.

James wrote: "Linda wrote: "...How do you handle negative reviews?"

Well, the simple protection from negative reviews (not necessarily the easiest thing to come by, however) is to develop rhinoceros hide. Ever..."

On most counts, I absolutely agree. However, readers who offer reviews should remember that the writer gains no insight whatsoever when a number is clicked on without any specifics given.

A "1" in of itself means absolutely nothing to the writer. You could be reading a new genre and not like IT, not the specific book. How is the writer to learn what needs work if you just hit a number?

Even a "5" means less unless you tell us what it is you liked so much. The next reader can only take away that you like it, but WHY you liked it might make all the difference in the next person's reason for buying or not.

My suggestion to readers is to do a review that means something. Too few readers review anyway. We writers need your opinions and information about how that opinion was reached or even you are wasting your time. WE NEED YOU! And, as Jonny 5 (old rat pack movie robot) used to say, "Input. (we) need input!"

Tiffany wrote: "I've gotten two for the same book. This is one the best things about ebooks in particular. If there was something like too many typos, you can unpublish the book and go back and fix them. If the st..."

On a couple of points, I agree with you. With one, I cannot, however.

As Indies, we have a responsibility to one another, let alone to our readers, to assure that "too many typos" doesn't happen. This is where Indies gain a bad reputation. Assure that the typos are corrected BEFORE you publish. No one is perfect and even a TP work (Nora Roberts' "Tribute" is one off the top of my head) can have one slip by even the best editor, but we should always strive for perfection before we put our work out there! We may not get there, but we should never see a poor review due to too many typos.

Here's my last discussion offering for today. This one is near and dear to every writer's heart--and, might I add, painful to it. How do you handle negative reviews?

And for readers, I ask:
-What can you do to help the writer when giving a review?
-Are you giving feedback that can help the author improve the work by editing it, improve his/her skill for the next piece of heart and soul put out there for all to criticize?
-Or, do you just hit a low ball number that has absolutely no value to anyone?

http://lindaraeblairauthor.wordpress....

Another topic starter. This blog is about my take on the responsibility of indie writers to do their utmost to keep the quality of their work as publish-worthy as that of traditionally published work. I believe this blog will be a great starting point for the discussion.

Read, "A Reminder to Indies" http://lindaraeblairauthor.wordpress....

Matthew, since your invite manifesto includes this subject, I thought I start it off with a link to exactly this topic on my website. Other members may read the entire blog about why I write, which is too large to include here.

http://lindaraeblairauthor.wordpress....