Ask the Author discussion

I recently received an un-asked for critique from a person I knew in college. She is also a writer. The critique picked apart the novel tearing at words the characters used, how they said them, tone, style, verisimilitude and pov. At one point she says, "you know, you can get books on this." My novel was in the top 2 and 5 spot for free downloads during the one day KDP promo - in it's genre and overall. I received 2025 downloads in one days and have about 20 5star reviews. So my question is, at what point do you take the critique seriously? Is she jealous? Telling me my novel stinks and she's just trying to "make you a better writer." At what point to you press delete and chalk it up to pettiness?

First time I've ever heard verisimilitude mentioned for a genre book! Did she use that word or is it yours? If hers, I'd toss the damn thing.
On the other hand, you might put it away and take it out a month from now. Go over her points and see if you can find anything of value, but I'd be suspicious. The words your characters use (between the quotes) are part of who they are. I've had readers offer corrections of mountain dialect such as iffen as in 'Iffen you're going to the store' or 'set' instead of 'sit'. That's how some of my characters speak. Not my fault!
I haven't read your book, Richard, so I can't judge, though I think the woman has a lot of nerve. After your post, though, I'm thinking maybe I should read it!

I just told the world on FB and Twitter I bought your book. Your reviews look good!

Thanks Jacqueline. She used the word verisimilitude. I keep sending her my latest reviews. Thanks for the great advice. I will keep her critique and then go back when I'm not so heated. It really steamed me and had me second guessing my work or my ability to write. I had a writers group - and we went through it page by page -although they were mostly English and older, I am certain they'd have ripped me to ribbons if my pod was off. They were not kind, but constructive.

@Jacqueline -That's POV not POD. Maybe I'll have pods in the next book? Hmmm.
The writer's group helped with the manuscript (not her critique) weak preposition there, sorry.

I won't criticize your weak prepositions if you don't pick on my mistaken their, there and they're! I know the difference, but my fingers don't always connect with my brain. I know your field of study, so please don't take offense, but many of the literati don't understand why most people read or why many of us write. I've said in other posts, I write entertainment. If someone derives a few hours of reading pleasure from one of my books, I have met my goal. Not all of us aspire to be the subject of a university literature class (and many of my readers wouldn't read me if I was!)

Or should I say, if I were. lol

I'll second that. I'm of the Penny dreadful variety. Here here!

I've just this minute finished your book. I enjoyed it tremendously. Truly. I've a few more things to say, but I'll PM you.

Jacqueline, thank you for the message. Your words are very encouraging and I am going to take your advice and change the genre. You've made my Friday!

Richard wrote: "I recently received an un-asked for critique from a person I knew in college. She is also a writer. The critique picked apart the novel tearing at words the characters used, how they said them, ton..."

What I want to know is, what's your secret for getting so many sales and reviews? Shoot, if I were doing as well as you, I wouldn't care what any one naysayer had to say.

We write for entertainment. You will never please all the people all the time. Evaluate the critique then decide what action to take--corrections or ignore. Have faith in yourself, after all you are writing for yourself first. There could be lots of reasons the reader picked apart your story. Jacqueline and Sheryl had excellent points. Never pass up the opportunity to say nothing.

Sheryl wrote: "Richard wrote: "I recently received an un-asked for critique from a person I knew in college. She is also a writer. The critique picked apart the novel tearing at words the characters used, how the..."

I received reviews in 3 ways: I went on the college alumnus board and offered a free copy, I paid for story cartel, I went to Amazon's top reviewer list and wrote every single reviewer in my genre and asked for reviews and lastly the KDP free promo. I don't know any of the reviewers personally save one.

Patrick wrote: "We write for entertainment. You will never please all the people all the time. Evaluate the critique then decide what action to take--corrections or ignore. Have faith in yourself, after all you ar..."

Patrick, I agree with you. But in this case, it was a friend I had in college who wrote, No Buttons For Suzie Cow, a children's book. Her critique I suppose hurt because we were at college together and were both English majors.

In order for criticism to be constructive- I think it's helpful to speak about what's good in the piece as well as what you don't like. As for commenting on what the character says or how they say it, they do what they want. I tried to use less flowery descriptive verse in this last novel when writing the Narrator and the Character Narrator. It's peppered with description, but only where i felt it was necessary. I suppose I wanted the novel to be cold and stoic, like my vampire (if she is a vampire) with economy of design. But perhaps I didn't manage to pull it off successfully. I"ll do better with my next book I write. Christopher Little read this past novel (JK Rowling's Agent for the Harry Potter series) and he said that what he didn't like- was that it moved too slowly. He never mentioned POV and he said that he did get a feel for Montgomery's pain and loss. I didn't feel I could change the book, and CL is not my agent. The last novel I wrote, which is not yet released is, "Shoes On The Table, Hat On The Bed." It is the second part to the novel, "Seven Murders In Sussex." I am still in the editing process, but the ms is written. I'll market Seven Murders In Sussex a bit before I release the second part. Thank you for your comments, I do appreciate them, and take them to heart.

Richard, what jumped out at me was your statements, "...it was a friend I had in college who wrote...." and "...hurt because we were at college together and were both English majors."

By the way, this could be the plot of a great murder mystery! (Lover scorned)

Are you writing for her or yourself? Two people can read the same story and have two different views. If you decide not to make corrections after you evaluated the critique, so be it. Never pass up the opportunity to say nothing. Regards.

Sheryl wrote: "Richard wrote: "I recently received an un-asked for critique from a person I knew in college. She is also a writer. The critique picked apart the novel tearing at words the characters used, how the..."

There are great R2R programs here on GR and it's a great way to meet new people and friends. Is Stage Daughter a YA novel? If so, I'd join some of the YA groups here to comment, not promote. Do you have a Facebook presence? There are lots of book groups there. Find the ones that read your types of books. There are also book (self) promo sites on FB, though it takes time to learn which ones work for you. It's a slow process, but it helps build a following.
Richard used the KDP free days to his advantage. Most of those free downloads won't be read, but if 50 out of a thousand are, then you have 50 more readers than you did before and maybe 30 will buy your next book. Best of all, it costs you nothing. Those downloads will also raise you up in the sales and popularity standings so your book ranks higher on the Amazon search engine enabling more people to find it.
Search out review blogs that favor your type of books. Write and ask if they'd be interested in doing a review. I've found that smaller blogs are just as effective as large ones when it comes to sales. When a blog gives you a good review, quote it and promote it on FB and add a quote under 'editorial reviews' on your Amazon author page, so it shows up on your book page. It helps the blogger and it helps you.
All this takes time, and there is no sure fire method, but anything that brings in even one or two sales is worth it.

Patrick wrote: "Richard, what jumped out at me was your statements, "...it was a friend I had in college who wrote...." and "...hurt because we were at college together and were both English majors."

By the way, ..."

There were absolute barbs and insults in her critique against me personally, not about the book,I suppose that's what offended me. But it's okay, I told her to put her book up for a kdp promo and see how many downloads she gets. I sense some jealousy. Ah, success has its barbs.

Thank You J.R. for the review! I really appreciate it. I think your description will help potential readers know what the book is about. With some of the reviews, I wonder what the reader was reading. I have no real werewolves in the book. Strange. Thanks again - I do appreciate it!