by Katrina Latham
I want to share with you two different opinions I’ve received about stories I’ve written.
“The writing is so good and I’m so disappointed the story doesn’t match.” –Contest judge
“Although we enjoyed the characters, I’m afraid the writing isn’t as strong as other manuscripts currently under consideration.” – Editor
I received both of these comments over a year ago, and they’ve stuck in the back of my mind as I’ve worked hard to improve both my writing skills and my storytelling abilities.
Writers can be very thin-skinned. Although each of these comments manages to be both polite and honest, I still remember feeling my face burn as I read them. The second one made me a little nauseous (maybe because I’m a professional writer and read the rejection while I was at work).
I am an unpublished writer, and I am also a novel reviewer. I write honest reviews on my blog”, for the Season for Romance, and on Goodreads.
Is it smart for me to share my opinions on other writers’ work when I’m trying to break into their industry? Should I only share positive reviews and keep criticism to myself?
Many people would say this is a no-brainer. Of course writers, editors and agents have a long memory if you pan their work. What if I want to submit my own work to that agent or editor? What if that author and I share an agent or editor, or both have a professional opportunity to work together? Would they really want to work with me?
Honestly, I don’t have the answers to these questions, and I’m not sure that anyone does. Surely it depends on the individual author/editor/agent.
The absolutely brilliant author Roni Loren recently dealt with this question on her blog, talking about authors who tear others down or post scathing reviews. She cautions writers who would post negative reviews:
I’m NOT saying someone shouldn’t be allowed to post negative or even scathing reviews. That’s everyone’s right. It’s definitely a reader’s right. Honest reviews are needed for every book, and I know I count on them to help me making my buying decisions.
However, once you put on the writer hat, you’re in a different place whether you like it or not. You’re not simply a reader anymore. People are watching you. And karma may bite you in the butt. So you need to make a personal decision on what’s right for you. (My personal yardstick is that if you wouldn’t say whatever it is to the writer face to face, you probably shouldn’t put it on the internet.)
I totally agree, especially with the last sentence. But I actively seek books to review, and I do publish reviews of books I don’t like.
But there are things I keep in mind when I write reviews – not because I’m worried about whether writing a particular review will screw my writing career, but because life is too short to spend any of it being mean.
1. Even though I don’t get paid for reviews, I approach reviewing as a professional writer, not as a grouch hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.
Everyone I meet on- or offline should expect the same courtesy from me. It’s much easier to say “This person’s writing sucks” when you’re not looking them in the face, but easier doesn’t mean it’s right.
I keep my reviews focused on the book itself, not on the author. And when I criticize elements of a book, I always try to be honest but polite – just as I am when I give people feedback face-to-face at work.
Some writers can take this on the chin, mull over the criticism, and decide whether I’ve touched upon a weakness that they can improve (or whether I’m just full of crap). Others can’t. And really, that’s their issue, not mine.
2. Authors and publishers make their books available to reviewers because it makes good business sense, not because they expect everyone to throw confetti around them.
Okay, this isn’t so much a rule for myself, but it’s something I try to keep in mind. Because to be honest, it’s actually harder for me to say negative things about a book than positive. I don’t enjoy writing reviews of books I didn’t like. But I know that when I accept a book for review, I’ve entered into a sort of contract that I will be honest. And really, there are things I’ve criticized about novels that other people have said they liked. At least giving readers my full, honest impression allows them to decide for themselves whether they agree with that criticism.
3. Readers should be warned about books that aren’t worth paying for.
Obviously, “not worth paying for” is a subjective opinion. And I haven’t run into many of these in my time as a reviewer. Mostly I’ve been lucky enough to discover new favorite authors or, at worst, books that just left me feeling “meh”.
But I have run across a handful of books that seemed to me to be an insult to readers. I mean, they actually felt like very rough first drafts that only got published because the author had built up a big brand name. To me, this is an insult to readers. And if I’m given the responsibility to review one of these books, then I will (politely, honestly) explain what I didn’t like and give it a low rating.
Will this give people a negative impression of me as a writer? Possibly. But they should probably worry more about having lost me as a reader.
I’d be really interested to hear from other writers who review books. Do you find it a difficult balance? And from agents and publishers – would you shy away from a writer who has posted negative reviews? And published authors – how do you feel about other writers who find fault with your books?
Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!
Great post, and an interesting question. A fine line when you are reviewing and writing. On the one side you want to be honest and lay it out there, but on the other side you want to support your fellow authors (like my mother always told me “Never burn your bridges.”). I follow a handful of authors that post their reviews on their own blogs, and it is well done. Sometimes you can tell that the author is even friends with the person who’s book they are reviewing, which is great to be able to review a friends work.
Good luck to you Kat in your own writing, and I hope you continue enjoying and posting reviews!
There are some contests for readers that the first requisite is that they want you to put a review on amazon or somewhere. I tried it once and found I just couldn’t be objective. I know some that do this really expect only a good review. I never agree or enter when they ask that first. If they ask it of me after I have received the book, I only do it if I really enjoyed the book. Now if I read a book I really enjoy, I’ve been known to write something nice just on my own. That said, I as a reader really appreciate those that give an honest review and it shows if they happen to critize some of the story but never anything hateful. There is no reason to ever do that. Hopefully as a reviewer, the authors really want that honest review.
I have read some reviews posted on Amazon and feel they did not even read the book. I do wonder if some peoplepost just topost.
I’m a writer. I’m a reviewer. In fact I write a ton of reviews for this site. I’ve read some I would never read again and I’ve read others that I would read every day. I think you can be both a writer and a reviewer, but you have to have a policy and commit to being honest about that policy.
I’m in the boat that I believe in being honest about my opinions, but I always try to point out who would like the book or something positive about the story. I would hope that agents and publishers would agree with others that reading is subjective. We can read the same stories and disagree about the very reasons we liked one book.
As a writer I look at each book as a learning experience, but I can stay objective about the story. I can discern between horrible grammar with a touch of awesome character development. Each writer has strengths and weaknesses, you just learn to decide if the weaknesses effect the story too much to enjoy it.
P.S. It’s late so most of what I wrote may or may not make any sense. But this is a great topic! Thanks Kat!
Interesting post. In my opinion a review is just one person’s opinion. I have read books were people raved about a book and I scratch my head and go HUH and vice versa.
I do not put much stock in Amazon reviews because a lot of reviews are done by “fan girls.”
I’m a reader, not a reviewer. Frankly, I admire the many bloggers out there who put so much time and effort into crafting honest and helpful reviews. Like some others here, I don’t put much stock in Amazon reveiws. But the sites I visit regularly–yep, those reviews do influence me.
In my past profession, I wrote for a large corporation: employee communications, public and media relations materials, and employee publications were all in my baliwick. I’m home now. The only writing I do is for volunteer work. Like you, Kat, I approach everything I write in a professional manner. I hope it is received in that spirit.
Roni Loren offered sound advice, especially about making a personal decision that will work for you. I do hope you continue writing reviews and that your publication goals do not suffer for it. Thanks for what you do.
The post was very interesting. Reviews are subjective. As we read a book we interpret it according to our own lives and experiences. No two people are exactly alike and we can’t expect any two readers will take from a book exactly the same things, or perceive it in the same light.
I think reviewers have to do their best to be objective, fair, and not hurtful. However, if one loves a book, I think it’s fine to say so and why (if one can). 🙂
I just finished one of the Mackenzie books by Jennifer Ashley. I felt moved by the horror of the brothers’ experiences and how their entire lives were affected by those experiences. Yet, I thought the book was great! Another day, I may re-read “Last Night’s Scandal” by Loretta Chase and love it for its humor and wonderful characters. How unfair I would be if I reviewed “Last Night’s Scandal” and proclaimed it shallow! It was one of my favorite books ever. 🙂
So many reviewers think all romances are not serious literature. Now that is unfair.
Interesting post. I am a reader, not a writer, a try to post reviews on Amazon of books I’ve read. I have read some nasty and totally uncalled for reviews. They reflect more on the reviewer than the book.
As an author, you submit your book to an editor and get it back for revisions. Many authors have Beta reviewers/readers and share their manuscripts with writing groups. All this to get opinions and point out concerns.
Not everyone will like a book. As long as you give an honest review and point out why you responded the way you did, the author should understand and not be offended. It is hard not to have your feelings hurt, but in the business of writing, the reader’s response to what you write is of utmost importance. You need to know if they are not taking it the way you meant it.
As an author, reviews become more of a problem. In a way, you are part of the competition. You really are put in a position of “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Anything too negative could be misconstrued as an attempt to decrease sales for the book. An “I don’t think this book is for me, and here is why…” with a soft comment on what you found wrong, should not be too offensive. Authors who have been around for a while should have no problem with that. Newer authors who are that thinned skinned, may not be along for long.