tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post3766668256000781983..comments2023-05-05T05:56:38.114-05:00Comments on Teri Heyer, Writer/Dreamer: Talking About ReviewsTeri Heyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-61943935991521986612012-05-18T21:13:02.122-05:002012-05-18T21:13:02.122-05:00Kelly, thanks so much for your comment. I fail to ...Kelly, thanks so much for your comment. I fail to understand giving a negative review after reading the kind of book you don't like to read in the first place. That never makes sense to me. True, a 3-Star Review is like giving a "C" grade. I hope more reader/reviewers will see it in this light and refrain from writing those negative reviews. Well, we can always hope.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-31383263695764320202012-05-08T11:05:06.904-05:002012-05-08T11:05:06.904-05:00It annoys me when people negatively review a book ...It annoys me when people negatively review a book just because it wasn't necessarily their cup of tea. Can you really blame the author for the fact that you bought a paranormal romance novel, knowing you don't like paranormal romance?<br /><br />My last favorite rating is 3-star. You're basically giving the book a C.KellyHitchcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06260599935926252878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-75788168395047813012012-05-06T15:28:59.265-05:002012-05-06T15:28:59.265-05:00wilovebooks, thanks for the nice comment. I agree,...wilovebooks, thanks for the nice comment. I agree, some people are just plain mean. It's unfortunate that they feel compelled to write those mean spirited reviews. Yes, I feel like you do and want to give the author a hug. I'm thinking there are lots of authors out there who need hugs.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-42508596272820093352012-05-02T10:25:24.930-05:002012-05-02T10:25:24.930-05:00I thought you summed up my thoughts on reviews fai...I thought you summed up my thoughts on reviews fairly well. I write reviews on books I like. A 5 star review from me doesn't mean the book was perfect, just that I loved it and would read it again. I generally ignore 1 and 2 star reviews. Not everyone likes the same things and some people are just mean. And I always think that authors should write the story they want and ignore the negative reviews. (Easier said than done, I know. But whenever I read mean reviews about a book I loved, I want to give the author a hug.)WiLoveBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345478886762794988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-83043334166148630482012-04-24T19:35:24.963-05:002012-04-24T19:35:24.963-05:00J.L., thanks for adding to this discussion. I'...J.L., thanks for adding to this discussion. I've noticed that when books go on the free or paid best seller lists they become a prime target for unsavory reviews. It's unfortunate that some people feel compelled to put down the successful books. I don't believe real reviewers would do such a thing. Besides, the bad reviews tend to be written by anonymous reviewers.<br /><br />I agree, it often appears that those anonymous reviewers never read the books and often don't even buy the books. I like to think they'll eventually realize the harm they've done and decide to remove their reviews. That would certainly be the nice thing to do.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-55495414186823074662012-04-24T13:54:57.884-05:002012-04-24T13:54:57.884-05:00Gary, thank you. I couldn't have said it bette...Gary, thank you. I couldn't have said it better. Real reviewers know what they're doing. They have tact. I believe all authors appreciate a "well-thought-out, relevant review." It's the make-believe reviewers that get to us from time to time. Thank you for pointing out that "their comments have no critical value." Hopefully readers will realize the difference.<br /><br />By the way, your reviews are excellent. Any author is fortunate to have you review one of their books.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-58458055159307174902012-04-24T13:26:40.806-05:002012-04-24T13:26:40.806-05:00Teri, the people who spew the kind of poison you c...Teri, the people who spew the kind of poison you cited are not real reviewers, and their hateful comments should be dismissed. Real reviewers, with something useful to say, will offer it in civilized terms. I work hard at Honest Indie Book Reviews to offer helpful feedback to authors ~ both what I thought could be improved and what I thought the author did well. Authors need both and I try to provide, but never in a mean or snide way.I'm an author as well, and deeply appreciate a well-thought-out, relevant review.<br /><br />The idiots who write those hurtful things on Amazon are no more reviewers than I am 10 feet tall. While it's impossible not to feel wounded by their thoughtless comments, it is possible to know their comments have no critical value.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-36216444348798703972012-04-22T18:50:16.770-05:002012-04-22T18:50:16.770-05:00Hi, Teri,
I'm with you, in that if I can'...Hi, Teri, <br />I'm with you, in that if I can't write a fairly decent review about a book, I won't review it at all. Based on all the time and effort writers spend on producing one book, I've also stopped 'rating' books. <br /><br />I certainly don't have time to post a 1 or 2 star review on someone's book. Unfortunately, it's a permanent slur on the book. Not to say that people shouldn't be honest, having read a book, but the fact is, there's always a way to be tactful. <br /><br />I notice that the books that tend to have really bad reviews are the ones that go free and the ones for 99 cents. Sometimes, I wonder if the reviewers have even gone beyond the sample chapters downloaded for those books that aren't free to read.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-67173130936973754642012-04-22T14:46:30.042-05:002012-04-22T14:46:30.042-05:00Deb, thanks so much for your sweet comment. I pret...Deb, thanks so much for your sweet comment. I pretty much avoid reading my reviews too unless a friend lets me know that I have a new, nice review on one of my books. I'm so glad you love the photos of my pets. I love animals of all shapes and sizes. My husband wasn't a dog lover when I married him so he's had to learn along the way. I'd have a bigger menagerie if I could afford to feed them all. My two dogs, Shani and Dude, insist they're always hungry and always need more treats.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-64696253384818294152012-04-22T14:33:01.569-05:002012-04-22T14:33:01.569-05:00Catherine, thank you so much for adding to this di...Catherine, thank you so much for adding to this discussion. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I believe reviews should be used to help a reader decide whether or not to read the book. A review is most helpful if the reviewer doesn't try to grandstand. Also, I like to think all reviewers will strive to be kind. Thanks again for your wonderful input.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-64574263261053951312012-04-22T14:24:16.401-05:002012-04-22T14:24:16.401-05:00Thank you so much for your wonderful input. This r...Thank you so much for your wonderful input. This really helps to define the purpose of writing reviews. Authors love having their books reviewed, but also love kind words. Emailing an author about formatting, typos, script advice, etc. is a great way to let an author know about problems with his/her book. As an Indie author, I know I strive to make my books as error free as possible, but I'm only human and some things slip through. I'm always open to receiving emailed suggestions. Thanks again for joining in this discussion.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-14847107979818617582012-04-22T13:41:17.105-05:002012-04-22T13:41:17.105-05:00Good blog. Thoughtfully written. I've stopped ...Good blog. Thoughtfully written. I've stopped reading my reviews. It helps me stay sane and keeps my blood pressure normal. Incidentally, LOVE the photos of your pets. I'm a big animal lover, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-48067629803425160082012-04-22T13:06:01.856-05:002012-04-22T13:06:01.856-05:00I'm an author who has published in the "c...I'm an author who has published in the "corporate" realm and now in the Indie world as well. One thing I've noticed is that (my) books that pull 1-star reviews are almost always the ones perceived as "successful." It's almost as though when a book starts flying high, some people want to shoot it down. It may be true that they didn't like it, but with a "small" book it seems they're more inclined to withhold that opinion.<br /><br />I think it's hard for some people to keep their own personal and emotional agendas out of reviewing, because often they don't even realize they are there. This is true in the world of big-name print reviewers as well. When too much ego comes in on the part of the reviewer, the reader (who is using the review for purchasing advice) will suffer.<br /><br />Like you, I don't agree that a review should be a critique for the author. I think a review has one purpose and one purpose only. To help those who are considering a book decide whether or not to try it. Therefore, a positive review should focus on why the reviewer liked it--negative, why the reviewer didn't. That gives the potential reader a better idea of whether he or she will feel the same. In my opinion, trying to do more is overstepping, and attempting to place the focus back on the reviewer. Of course it's a free will situation, and people can do so if they choose. But I think everyone would benefit if we focused more on what a review is meant to accomplish.Catherine Ryan Hydehttp://www.catherineryanhyde.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-90000947084572463832012-04-22T01:18:59.704-05:002012-04-22T01:18:59.704-05:00I have recently started a review blog trying to me...I have recently started a review blog trying to meet indie authors & I review to be helpful. I have done mostly ebooks, but have done a few print ones. If I noticed any error, I made a note of it & emailed it separately to the writer ( to help) in case it slipped through. I have given a lot of 5 reviews because I truly liked the book. I did not dissect it as required in college, but mostly commented on things I liked. I notice things like unreadable script type, or bad color of type that designers like myself would notice since so many writers are not getting professionals to design or illustrate for them. <br /><br />I am never mean, because as you say... No book is perfect and my personal opinion is NOT perfect. It is just my opinion. Even if something doesn't strike your fancy, that does not automatically make it wrong, & every reviewer should use some kindness & think about what is constructive and what is just mean lashing out at a stranger. Writers and artists are real people and kindness should always be used in conveying any message of likes, & what you disliked may be just your opinion in the first place. No reason to be unkind. Be helpful or hush. Haha.Lisa ~ Moon Shine Art Spothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14910144164438235038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-90435084957095291862012-04-21T19:21:20.657-05:002012-04-21T19:21:20.657-05:00psycthom,thanks for the comment. You're right ...psycthom,thanks for the comment. You're right about reviews being one of the perils of putting your writing/art out there. You get the good, the bad and everything in between. Of course, writers, and artists too, desperately want to be liked. So the negative stuff hurts even more. I just have hopes that reviewers will at least include kindness with their criticism.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-29966265241257794052012-04-21T16:19:49.051-05:002012-04-21T16:19:49.051-05:00Phew, quite a furious dissemination of book review...Phew, quite a furious dissemination of book reviews here...<br /><br />One of the perils of putting writing out there, or any artwork really, is that you do get exposed to everyone's opinions; whether positive, negative, wanted, or unwanted.<br /><br />I suspect reviewers post more for their own benefit, than that of the author, hence the occasional tendency towards rantitivity. Maybe I'm revealing my own motivations here, however I'm pretty sure many reviewers, are in fact authors hoping to get a little readership, and sometimes offload some angst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-83992247530464162572012-04-21T14:41:10.187-05:002012-04-21T14:41:10.187-05:00Michael, thanks for the comment. I left a critical...Michael, thanks for the comment. I left a critical review once on a corporate author book and then felt so bad about it that I deleted the review. At the time, I felt an established author should have done a better job. But negativity doesn't sit well with me. Since then I've tried to be very positive in my reviews. Indies are particularly vulnerable since we don't have corporate backing to offset negativity. So bad reviews can be devastating for an Indie. We need to help each other through this learning process and not tear each other down. Like Ben said, we are all in this together.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-12798713921103902032012-04-21T14:26:34.910-05:002012-04-21T14:26:34.910-05:00Ben, thanks for the comments. I agree, I'd rat...Ben, thanks for the comments. I agree, I'd rather talk to an Indie author and explain the problem(s), usually formatting, rather than leave a low review. We Indies have a hard enough time as it is to get established, recognized, develop a fan base. Also, for Indies it can be difficult learning all the formatting tricks to begin with. I've learned a lot since I first started out as an Indie and I'm sure you have too. Anyway, I agree, there's no reason to be rude to other authors. We are all in this together.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-62636407111529289642012-04-21T12:33:24.287-05:002012-04-21T12:33:24.287-05:00I don't leave negative reviews. I read a lot o...I don't leave negative reviews. I read a lot of Indie books and I know how difficult it is to not just write but revise, edit, format, publish and promote a book. If I do not like a book, well that's me. Others may love it in spite of whatever flaws I might perceive. I think I would leave a 3-star review on, like Ben said, a book written by a corporate author. But on an Indie? No. If the book really isn't any good, others will probably do the dirty work but I don't want to be part of tearing down a fellow author.Michael K. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-39319268101923009592012-04-21T08:01:55.921-05:002012-04-21T08:01:55.921-05:00And by "most" I mean "everything bu...And by "most" I mean "everything but the part about literary criticism." Actually, if there are gross errors in an Indie's work, I would rather talk to the author personally and let them know where the problems are in kindest way possible. We're in this together, and there's NO REASON for being rude to other people.Benjamin X. Wretlindhttp://bxwretlind.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8565945884554720094.post-6902559528897464912012-04-21T07:59:24.344-05:002012-04-21T07:59:24.344-05:00I have a lot of opinions on reviews, and I think t...I have a lot of opinions on reviews, and I think there are many authors out there who do as well. I will say that I have written 2- and 3- star reviews, but I save those for corporate authors (e.g. David Morrell, Douglas Clegg). I view those reviews as literary criticism (and I believe the author won't read them anyway.) I'm never trying to be mean, just honest in my assessment of the book.<br /><br />I like the Goodreads definition of reviews where 2-stars actually means "it was okay." Very few people do that, though, and I know authors who view anything less than 5-stars as a slap in the face. <br /><br />I agree with most of what you've said.Benjamin X. Wretlindhttp://bxwretlind.comnoreply@blogger.com