Peg Herring's Blog - Posts Tagged "feedback"
WAAAAAAH HOO!
If an author needed motivation to rev up work on the second book in a series, great reviews of the first book might do it. I'm thrilled with the reviews of HER HIGHNESS' FIRST MURDER in PW and LJ this week, and I'm fired up to finish the sequel, which had gotten to that "Muddle in the Middle" stage where it seems like nothing is going to work, ever. Honestly, I've done this often enough to know that I just have to keep going, but nothing boosts a person's motivation like positive feedback.
So as soon as I come back to earth, my butt's in the chair and this sequel is getting whipped into shape.
Read the LIBRARY JOURNAL's starred review at
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article...
So as soon as I come back to earth, my butt's in the chair and this sequel is getting whipped into shape.
Read the LIBRARY JOURNAL's starred review at
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article...
The Twist That Won't
I had a twist I wanted to add at the end of my WIP, but it was giving me trouble. I'd worked out most of it, but I wanted a delay in one plot event (a murder...what a surprise) that would create some irony and a more satisfying conclusion. I was ranting about it at the breakfast table, and my husband, who never reads my stuff or offers an opinion, listened, knowing it was important to me because I've hardly left my office for three days.
His comment? "You're making it too complicated." And after a ten-second scenario!
I was. I was trying too hard to be clever, when all I really need at that point in the story is what's already there. The irony is apparent; I was going a step too far, not trusting my readers to get it. Looking at it through the eyes of someone who has no (well, very little) stake in the plot outcome, I could see that.
Out of the mouths of non-mystery readers!
His comment? "You're making it too complicated." And after a ten-second scenario!
I was. I was trying too hard to be clever, when all I really need at that point in the story is what's already there. The irony is apparent; I was going a step too far, not trusting my readers to get it. Looking at it through the eyes of someone who has no (well, very little) stake in the plot outcome, I could see that.
Out of the mouths of non-mystery readers!
Keep Those Cards and Letters Coming
Writing is a solitary occupation. We write what pleases us and then, sometimes timidly, sometimes not, we show it to the world. Often the world returns it with a brief comment, "Not for us" or "Not interested" or simply "No."
What keeps a writer going is someone, somewhere, who likes her work. For some, it's friends and family, although that isn't enough to get published. Still, some spend thousands of dollars to show their work to the world because Mom says it's really good.
For those of us who get beyond that, there is the business of publishing. Here the rewards come from sales, from reviews, and from fans. Fans should not be shy about telling writers that they like their work.
In a week that was downright awful, my sanity (whatever of it I still hold) was aided by two fans. At an artists' show on Saturday, a man told the director of the show how much he loved my books. She, bless her, brought him to me and had him repeat the praise. That same day I received a long letter from a fan, detailling everything she liked about two of my books. Honestly, it was like water to a drowing woman.
So when you read a book you like, find the author online and tell him or her so. Be brief but specific. Do it no matter how big the author is. Unsolicited praise is the best, and we love it when you say exactly what we've done that tickles your fancy.
What keeps a writer going is someone, somewhere, who likes her work. For some, it's friends and family, although that isn't enough to get published. Still, some spend thousands of dollars to show their work to the world because Mom says it's really good.
For those of us who get beyond that, there is the business of publishing. Here the rewards come from sales, from reviews, and from fans. Fans should not be shy about telling writers that they like their work.
In a week that was downright awful, my sanity (whatever of it I still hold) was aided by two fans. At an artists' show on Saturday, a man told the director of the show how much he loved my books. She, bless her, brought him to me and had him repeat the praise. That same day I received a long letter from a fan, detailling everything she liked about two of my books. Honestly, it was like water to a drowing woman.
So when you read a book you like, find the author online and tell him or her so. Be brief but specific. Do it no matter how big the author is. Unsolicited praise is the best, and we love it when you say exactly what we've done that tickles your fancy.
If You Like It, Tell Somebody!!!
Dear Readers of Books, (any books)
As an author, I will give you a piece of inside advice. The best thing you can do for us if you like our work is TELL it! Two methods are really helpful.
First, you can tell the author herself, in person or online or whatever. (We'd even love a singing telegram if they still had those.) Every author wants to hear someone say, "I loved your book." It never gets old. Yesterday in church, two people said that to me, and I can't tell you how much it lifted my spirits. It's book #5, and some of my friends are starting to think it's old hat that I write mystery novels. But on a day when life is getting me down, on a day where the things stacking up in front of me are overwhelming and not-fun, those two people in church were golden. They didn't make a big deal out of it, just said, "I read the new book. It's really good." One added the often-heard, "When's the next one coming?"
The other thing readers can do, so valuable that it can't be measured, is tell others about a book they like. Word of mouth is better than anything a publicist can come up with. A former coworker liked THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY, so she took it to her sister, who was recuperating from surgery. She liked it too and is going to present it to her local library and recommend that they look into my work. Another acquaintaince was disgusted that a local bookstore isn't carrying my books. She asked them why and said she'd come there specifically to buy one. See how those ripples move outward and get bigger?
Don't be shy about writing reviews on Amazon. They don't have to be scholarly or in-depth. A simple "I liked this book because..." is great. Readers unfamiliar with an author want to know that someone liked the book, and often another "plain old" reader has as much influence as a professional reviewer.
So when you like a book, say so. I'm going to take my own advice now and write to Michael Orenduff, whose book, THE POT THIEF WHO STUDIED PYTHAGORUS, is both well-written and fresh. I recommend it.
As an author, I will give you a piece of inside advice. The best thing you can do for us if you like our work is TELL it! Two methods are really helpful.
First, you can tell the author herself, in person or online or whatever. (We'd even love a singing telegram if they still had those.) Every author wants to hear someone say, "I loved your book." It never gets old. Yesterday in church, two people said that to me, and I can't tell you how much it lifted my spirits. It's book #5, and some of my friends are starting to think it's old hat that I write mystery novels. But on a day when life is getting me down, on a day where the things stacking up in front of me are overwhelming and not-fun, those two people in church were golden. They didn't make a big deal out of it, just said, "I read the new book. It's really good." One added the often-heard, "When's the next one coming?"
The other thing readers can do, so valuable that it can't be measured, is tell others about a book they like. Word of mouth is better than anything a publicist can come up with. A former coworker liked THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY, so she took it to her sister, who was recuperating from surgery. She liked it too and is going to present it to her local library and recommend that they look into my work. Another acquaintaince was disgusted that a local bookstore isn't carrying my books. She asked them why and said she'd come there specifically to buy one. See how those ripples move outward and get bigger?
Don't be shy about writing reviews on Amazon. They don't have to be scholarly or in-depth. A simple "I liked this book because..." is great. Readers unfamiliar with an author want to know that someone liked the book, and often another "plain old" reader has as much influence as a professional reviewer.
So when you like a book, say so. I'm going to take my own advice now and write to Michael Orenduff, whose book, THE POT THIEF WHO STUDIED PYTHAGORUS, is both well-written and fresh. I recommend it.
