Attention Authors, Readers and Book Reviewers

Posted August 8, 2016 by Literati Lovers in Book Reviews / 6 Comments

Attention Authors, Readers and Book Reviewers

Hi, I’m Karen with Literati Literature Lovers and Book Reviews. These opinions are strictly my own and are not those of the blog in total.  We are nine very independent women and each has her own opinions.

I remember when growing up back in the seventies, there was an uproar about the average newspaper and magazine article being written on a fifth-grade reading level.  We are now in the early part of the twenty-first century and I think the I.Q. of books being published in the digital platform has sunk to an all time low. With the advent of the Kindle and the self-publishing platforms, anyone can publish a book.  A lot of people see it as easy money and a ticket to public adoration   Please understand that I am not disparaging all authors or readers/reviewers, but I want you all to think about what is a five-star book to you.  As an author are you really putting out the best book you could possibly write? Have you had people that don’t love you read it?  Come on now . . . we all know your family and friends are going to lie to you. This is why publishers reject books all the time.  Please, please look at your book with a critical eye.  I suggest you finish it, even have it copy edited and put it away for at least a month.  Don’t even think about it for that month.  Then come back to it, and read it cover to cover as if you don’t have any stake in the book except to enjoy a good read.  Then read it again; make notes and ask yourself the hard questions about plot and  character development. If there is any sex in the book, ask yourself if the sex scenes are removed from your book, do your characters still connect? Hmmmm…..? Or is your book simply one bang to the next? If sex is the only way your characters connect, then you need to rewrite it, even if your book is erotica. Readers do need more than a bang fest.  Have you fleshed out all your characters? Never give your readers just a talking head. We readers need to know about the characters you have created.  Even minor characters are important.  This doesn’t just apply to characters. What about your setting and locations? We readers deserve the whole book we are paying for.

Another little tip: finish your story in one book. Even if you intend to write a series, a good book needs an ending, not a freaking cliffhanger.  Stop the madness of the cliffhanger book as a means of luring readers into buying your next book!  Want me not to read your next book? Then give me an incomplete story in the first.  Write me a book with a beginning, a middle and an end. Don’t write me a freaking soap opera where I need to tune in next time to see what happens. I am tired of the same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel school of authorship because it stinks. If you can’t tell me the story without stringing me along, then you either suck as an author, or you just want to get rich off the serialized version of your never-ending story.

Please pick a point of view to tell your story.  Either third person or first person works, but, honestly, I  don’t need the damned dog to have a point of view too!  I have felt schizophrenic with the multiple point-of-view stories.  I know you are feeling pressure from your readers to give this or that character a point of view book, but stop the POV madness!

Also, do me a favor and pay to have your book edited by a real editor.  Psst . . . not everyone who says he or she is an editor really is. You need someone who can tell you what is working and what is not working.  If you are a romance writer, join Romance Writers of America. Go to their local group meetings and get objective opinions on your writing.   Please look for continuity issues. Lack of continuity will kill a book for me.  In addition, you are selling a product to me: you had better sell me a non-flawed product.  If I point out your  book has problems, it’s because the book has problems. It is not an attack on you but a product you sold me: if you sold me a story I find lacking, your book is what I found lacking, not you as a person.  I don’t ask for refunds for books, ever, so don’t think my review is bullying you personally.  If I bought a shampoo that made my hair fall out, then I would complain.

If you get a ton of five-star reviews, my suggestion is to take them with a grain of salt. Read the other lower reviews because you obviously missed selling your story to those readers.  Their reviews can actually give you a glimpse into the how and why you missed being a good story teller for them.  You are an author selling a product, not your soul. If you want to be a successful author then be able to handle criticism because, if I buy your product and it was a dud, you are going to hear about it in a nice way.  Your book is your product. Don’t tie it to your self-worth or self-esteem.

So, this is a glimpse into the world of books. Hey readers/reviewers, stop blowing smoke up my ass! Really! That porn book you just gave five stars to – the one with Bigfoot as the love interest – that seriously was the best book ever?  Reviewers, those of you who only give five stars because you only review books you love . . . get a pair and start being honest with your readers. You really think that many books are five stars? Or is it that five stars will sell books and you have associate links? Or are you friends, or want to be friends, with the author?  Or are you afraid your ‘honest’ opinion won’t get you that coveted ARC (author review copy)? Please stop the madness! Not every book is five stars. I enjoy a good B movie and guess what? I enjoy a good three-star book. A three-star review doesn’t mean a book is bad or isn’t worth my time or yours as a reader.  I sometimes love a three-star book, just like I love a great action film.

Furthermore, you reviewers/readers don’t need to spoil or rewrite the whole book to leave a review.  If you can’t tell me why I might enjoy the book you just read without cutting to the chase, I will more than likely skip over your two-page review.

Finally, authors, reviewers, and readers, be honest with yourselves about the books you read, recommend, and publish. Readers, you don’t have to be mean in reviews. And, authors, you don’t have to consider a less than favorable review a personal attack on you.

6 responses to “Attention Authors, Readers and Book Reviewers

  1. Some great advice. However, I would say that reading and reviewing is subjective and one person’s one star is another’s five star read.

    I am an independent author as well as a reviewer, and I know how difficult it is to ‘sell’ books, especially with no money for the hype machine. Most of my reading is from the independent pool because there is such variety, unlike the formulaic and mostly boring books for sale in bookshops. That’s not to say they are all good, but I would say that 90% of the independent reads have been fabulous. And, for the most part, traditionally published books are not good – although some are. But that’s just my opinion and I read many, many books.

    Having said all this, um, do you accept books for reviews? Just in case: My pen name is Julie Elizabeth Powell and I write in a variety of genres and lengths, including fantasy, horror, paranormal, humour, mystery adventure, crime thriller, science-fiction and non-fiction. If you are interested, please let me know.

    Most of my stories are also audiobooks.

    I would say that yes, it’s no point in being overly-sensitive to poor reviews, although if reviews are merely attacking the author and not constructive criticism, then that’s really unprofessional. Be honest, yes, but not mean.

    Thank you – oops, I’ve rambled enough.

    • Karen

      Hi,

      We #Lovers actually disagree on books. What one might find five stars read another might find as three. We actually LOVE our conflicting view points as we are very open minded about books and the subjective nature of the art form. Plus we love to debate and can agree to disagree and also find conflicting views valid. We bring our life experiences to the books we read, it is only human nature.

      We love the Indie community. In fact you will find our book review quotes listed in numerous Indie Books. In fact we could tell you plenty of ‘I knew them when’ stories. In saying this Indie authors need to hone their craft. Even New York Times authors need books read with a critical eye. Critical to us never means cruel to us. In writing in a genre, if an author throws something completely implausible into a story, and for me the reviewer it halts my belief in the story than the author has lost me as a reader. Author’s need to not think critically of their own art. Yes, they are passionate about their creations but in this market of book glut seeing the wheat amongst the chaff can be hard for the buying public. The said thing is that some ‘chaff’ become bestsellers, while the ‘wheat’ gets passed over left in the dust.

      Author attacks should not ever happen. Most times if we find major problems in an Indie book we reach out to help an author. If the author doesn’t care that they have a book problem, than that just lets me believe they are after the fame and money, not the telling of a story. I understand it is a business but the product they sell should be a complete polished one too.

      I ramble too! 🙂 Karen

  2. GeenaK

    Loved this! It’s exactly how I feel with all the new books they push out daily. I’m with you on seriels and cliffies.

    • Karen

      I really want a complete book or series! One who’s plot has been mapped out. One where the author has a critical eye and pushes themselves to provide a fully formed story.

  3. Joycedale

    “Don’t write me a freaking soap opera where I need to tune in next time to see what happens. I am tired of the same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel school of authorship because it stinks.”

    Could not agree with this anymore!

    • Karen

      Cliffhangers are annoying readers. A full story needs to be told. Yes the author can have strings hanging for the next book in a series, but if a major plot point isn’t at least resolved then readers are cheated. I don’t like feeling cheated. Karen

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