Andy Peloquin's Blog, page 43

How Much of Writing is “Fun”?

When I started writing, I believed it was a fairly glamorous life.

In my head, I pictured that scene from Love Actually where Colin Firth is writing in a gorgeous little house in the French countryside. I also saw my life as the sort of rockstar lifestyle led by Richard Castle in the Castle TV show. I could sit and hammer out glorious stories at my leisure, take a day off to galavant around the world, and do glamorous things.

I’m sure all writers have that sort of daydream of what they think like will be like as they write. Of course, very soon, you come to realize that real life is ABSOLUTELY nothing like your daydream! In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite.

Let me tell you the truth of what life is like for many writers:

Sitting at a desk for 5 hours straight, trying to make the final rounds of edits just so the book will be ready by the deadline you have set for yourself, or to have it published before that author event you’ve signed up for.

Spending hours writing blog posts and author interviews so that there will be traction for your book when it is finally launched.

Putting in two or three hours every day, come Hell or high water, just to keep making slow progress on that book you’re trying to complete.

Skipping vacations or rarely getting a full day to rest because that “time off” is really the only time you get to write. If your friends and family come to visit, the best you can do it LIMIT the time you spend writing–you can never afford to stop altogether.

Staring at the computer screen and re-reading that same passagefor the fifteenth time! Over the course of rough draft, first draft, second draft, and multiple rounds of editing before the final draft, you’ve read the same words far too many times.

And that’s just a fraction of what we, as authors, have to put up with! How much of that actually sounds like fun?

Yes, there is DEFINITELY an element of “fun” to writing. After all, you get to see a creation spring forth from your mind and slowly come to life. It’s like watching a child grow into a man or woman. But how many times did that child make you weep or want to pull out your hair in frustration?

That, my friends, is the true life of a writer. And by God, I wouldn’t give it up for anything!

 

Book Review: Angels to Ashes by Drew Foote

It’s Book Review Wednesday again, and boy do I have a treat for you! This is probably one of the best books I have read since the last installment of the Gentlemen Bastards by Scott Lynch. Definitely worth your time!

 

Angels to Ashes

Barnabas, a Demon of Pride with the predatory heart of a salesman, defies the will of the Inferno.

Kalyndriel, an Avenging Angel, staggers beneath the weight of her own sin.

Walter, a damned human, witnesses the impossible, both on Earth and below.

Three unlikely allies unite against a terror beyond good and evil. Threads of desperation bind their worlds together: Hell, Heaven, and Earth. The emptiness before time gives birth to an abomination … one who dreams of unraveling the tapestry of the God who abandoned His children.

Angels and Demons, alike, dance in the darkness as the world of man trembles beneath them. A mystery is born of a simple professor’s death: a trail that unveils the depravity in the souls of God’s firstborn.

All reap the wages of sin. All betrayals become inevitable over the course of eternity.

All is ashes.

 

My Review: 5 Stars

Let’s get the bad over with:

1. Too many adverbs. It makes the narrative a bit clunky, overdone, and contrived. I feel like the author could have cut 10 to 20% of the narrative and still had a solid book.

2. A few things were odd. For example, Adam said he refused to be “a puppet”. I didn’t know there were puppets in the Garden of Eden.

3. The “villain” was introduced a bit too early on. The Void is introduced in the third chapter or so, which sort of gives it all away. There’s a point at roughly the half-way mark where it would have made the PERFECT reveal. Up until that point, it’s all angels versus demons. It would have been amazing to reveal that the ultimate villain was the Void at that point.

4. The interludes were a bit unnecessary.

5. Head hopping issues. When it’s from the demon’s POV, it talks about the angel’s feelings, and vice versa.

Now for the good:

I love anything that takes a different approach to “common belief”. This concept of Heaven vs. Hell, good vs. bad was brilliant! The way some of the demons are actually “good” or “doing right” and the angels are “bad” or “doing wrong” was very well done, and I loved how the author wasn’t afraid to turn Christian beliefs upside down or inside out and look at it from another angle.

I cannot say how much I LOVED the descriptions of demons and angels. The depiction of Heaven was a bit iffy, but Hell was VERY well done. I loved how the different angels and demons were portrayed.

The perspective on the Fall of Man was highly intriguing. I won’t say more to give it away, but it was definitely food for thought.

In this book, Armageddon is presented as the Christian version of the Viking Ragnarok. A unique twist I found enjoyable. No “end of the world”, just the “end of an age”.

All of the characters in this book were well written, with no cutout or two-dimensional characters. Even the demons–the ones you encounter randomly throughout–have depth to them.

DEFINITELY a book worth reading!

 

Here’s a Taste:

I watched him consider my words. His past, his dreams, and his future collided on a troubled face. I witnessed the weight of his monumental pride struggle against the fears and doubts. He trudged toward the wet bar in his office in a firm that had no future for him or his pathetic regrets. The inevitability of his damnation built in the atmosphere like a thunderstorm.

Humans were always the same.

George poured himself a drink and shambled back to the desk that was too large for him. He sipped in silent contemplation. While each moment in the office was heavy with portent, the outside world barely moved. George’s secretary had barely taken three breaths during our discussion; time on Earth moved differently once Demons or Angels got involved.

George finally raised his gaze. There was resignation, and desperate need, in his haunted stare. He knew he was already damned, and now I all had to do was make it official.

“What are your terms?”

I smiled widely — the smile of the prowling shark, the last flash of white before everything became darkness: the hungry grin of a predator. Abyssal wings snapped open with a crack.

“You shall have: a partnership at this firm, worldly success, good health, monetary wealth, and wonderful relationships with your children and loved ones. I’ll even throw in a pretty young thing to go with your renewed success. I shall have: one eternal soul, originally belonging to George Clarence McCoy, payable upon your death.”

I leaned forward, hand outstretched. The lights in the office dimmed. Daylight died.

George McCoy exhaled a tremulous breath. He steeled himself for damnation and a headlong plunge into the fiery pit. Heaven would not miss his soul, but it would be welcome in Hell. That was his destination before we even met. He raised his eyes, met mine bravely, and stood.

He grasped my hand.

The burn of my Demonic touch was momentary, but the inferno to come would never end. The bargain was struck.

He belonged to me.

 

 

About the Author:

Drew Foote is 32 years old and currently lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He works full-time as a defense contractor and served 14 years in the United States Air Force. For more information, visit www.drewfoote.com

Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Ashes-Drew-Foote-ebook/dp/B00UC7NIWS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Read Drew’s thoughts on his website: www.drewfoote.com

Connect with him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drewbfoote?ref=bookmarks

Writing Has Taught Me to Make Sacrifices

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could spend every moment of the day doing something we love? Whether you want to play music, write books, or fly kites for a living, there’s nothing like being able to live your passion.

But in order to live your passion, you often have to make sacrifices.

You have to sacrifice your time. You rarely have enough time to do everything you want to do, so something has to go. Only a few very lucky people can pay the bills by writing all day long, and most of us have to spend hours at our day job. What little time we do have available is occupied with writing. Say goodbye to video games, TV, and often time with friends and family.

You have to sacrifice your dreams. Perhaps you dreamed of being a professional skateboarder or escape artist. As you work toward that dream, you realize that it is a time-consuming passion. It takes up every minute of your day and all of your brain power. Every other “lesser” dream you had is put on hold or forgotten in order to chase that passion.

It’s not always fun, but it’s a necessary part of life!

I just spent almost my entire weekend working at my desk. I got the final edits on The Last Bucelarii (Book 1): Blade of the Destroyer back from my publisher, so I had to go over them. I also spent the weekend polishing up my manuscript, making sure it’s as good as it could be. I had to cram all that into two days in order to reach my publishing deadline.

What happened to my family during that time I was working? I don’t know, which sucks. They had to entertain themselves while I worked, rather than us being able to do stuff together. I have no doubt that I’m going to hear about it at some point, but it was a sacrifice I had to make.

To make things worse, I didn’t really get a day off. It’s Monday and I’m back and work, and I feel like I didn’t take a break at all.

But to me, it’s all worth it! It’s a sacrifice I am willing to make because it’s going to ensure that the final product that I put out is not just good, but AS GOOD AS I CAN MAKE IT.

Sacrifices may suck, but they are an important part of being the best you can be.

The Eternal Struggle to Be Better

Being a consummate professional is exhausting!

It’s nearly impossible to be “the best” at what you do, no matter what it is. There will always be better writers, better accountants, better athletes, better models, or better CEOs than you. It’s just the way of life.

Life is all about striving to be the best version of ourselves, to become the best we can be. We are constantly working toward self-improvement, growth, and change, all for the sake of finding that true “best” within ourselves.

But, damn, that’s hard work!

Think about it: you’re never able to just sit back and rest with the progress you’ve made. As soon as you reach one goal, you have to start working toward the next. You can never take a break, because if you do, you’ll lose the ground you have gained. All of your progress will be for naught.

I find this a bitter pill to swallow. It’s impossible to go from struggle to struggle without ever taking time to enjoy what you have achieved. If you’re always working toward the next goal, you totally miss out on the joy of the now. You are so focused on living in the future that you fail to keep your eyes fixed on the awesome that is “right now”.

People go through life always fixated on their next goal, their next promotion, their next big sale, their next book, that they miss out on the little things happening around them right now. I know that I’ve skipped events with friends and family so I could focus on making progress on my WIP, because it’s something I’m passionate about. I love the feeling of making progress in my work, as it will help me reach my “goal” of finishing another book.

But it’s taking a toll on me. I’m currently in the middle of writing two books, and waiting for another to be published. I’m working in five different directions at once, and it feels like I’m spinning my wheels. No matter how much progress I make as a writer, I’m never going to be as good as the people I strive to emulate. I’m just not good enough.

Don’t get so caught up in the eternal struggle to be better than you say that to yourself. You are absolutely “good enough”! Sure, you can be better, but so what? Life is all about making progress, but it’s also about enjoying life. You can’t live under the gloomy burden of “not good enough”, with your eyes always fixed on the ideal “better”.

Love the progress you’ve made, laugh at your mistakes, and be excited about all that is to come. That eternal struggle will swallow you alive, or it will make you stronger!

Book Review: The Fanatic by Cynthia D. Witherspoon

It’s Book Review Wednesday!

Today’s book is a Part 2 of a novel I reviewed a while ago. It’s a unique blend of ghost stories, Greek mythology, and modern life that I find quite intriguing.

 

The Fanatic

Allison Thomason had it all. Fame. Fans. A television show she loved like no other. Until Eva McRayne came along to push her out of the job she was born to do and into obscurity.

Determined to see her downfall avenged, Allison calls upon an ancient evil to help her destroy her enemy. One who understands all too well how easy it is to be pushed aside.

My Review: 3.5 Stars

This book continues the story of Eva McRayne, the ghost hunter/media journalist/spokesperson for the Greek god Apollo.

I enjoyed Book 1 enough to want to read this one, so I was thrilled when the author sent me a copy for review. It made for an interesting read. There was a lot of fascinating Greek mythology (the story of the Sibyl and her Protector, as well as the Three Fates, Athena, and other elements), which is always a plus for me.

However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book. This one focused a lot more on the main character’s broken heart than the actual story. Being a man, I found the emphasis on that relationship to be a bit overdone, but I’m sure it’s something other people will enjoy–so not a real flaw.

There were some flaws that needed a bit of polishing, including a number of punctuation and grammar mistakes. I found a lot of instances of writing that felt a bit amateur-ish, such as the author signaling what is going to happen. At one point, the MC is learning how to fight, and the narration says, “Little did she know that she was going to use those skills in the next twenty-four hours”. For me, that puts me off and irks me.

I’d have to say that I was pleased with the ending. The ending of Book 1 felt a bit bland, but this one had a much better, more solid ending. That being said, there was no “hook” to make me want to read Book 3. There’s no mystery left unsolved, no thread that I want to unravel. The strength of the character and story alone may not be enough to make readers pick up the next book. The author needs to give us a reason to continue…

 

Here’s a Taste:

Allison hesitated for much longer than I deemed necessary before she let up. She kept the blade within striking distance as I doubled over coughing while the air returned to my lungs.

“Get the mirror.” She grabbed my coat to jerk me to my feet. “Now.”

I staggered over to where Cyrus was waiting with a look of fury that scared me. I knew if he were ever given the opportunity, he would tear my opponent to pieces. He raised his hand up as if pressing it against an invisible wall between us as he examined my bloody face.

“Give me the mirror, Cyrus.” I extended my hand. “Please.”

“Eva, no.” Cyrus narrowed his eyes at Allison. “You will regret this day dearly, girl. Apollo will ensure your soul suffers for the trespasses you have committed.”

“The mirror or I slit her throat within inches from you.” Allison pressed the tip into my skin. When Cyrus didn’t respond, she pressed harder until I whimpered. “I’m waiting.”

“Take it.” Cyrus pulled Apollo’s mirror from Joey’s camera bag. He tossed it over to her feet. “Release the girl, Thomason. She will be unable to help you now.”

“No. I need that chant.” Allison gestured for me to pick up the mirror. “Tell me what to say.”

“We must be facing each other.” I wrapped my hand around the carved gold. I had spent the past eight months avoiding the relic at all costs. Now, it gave me a renewed sense of purpose. Of strength. I whispered my thanks to Apollo as I stiffened beneath the knife. “You must have both hands free to hold onto the mirror with me.”

Allison dropped Athena’s blade into the snow, dismissing her own goddess in an instant at the promise of more power. She may have been considered an obsessive fanatic in life, but her dedication in the afterlife was pathetic.

“Poor little damsel in distress. I told you I was better in every way. Under the terms of your trial, you have lost.” Allison sneered as we faced each other. “You must relinquish your title and your soul. Tell me the words I need to say to claim my victory.”

I don’t know what came over me, but as I looked down at the golden mirror in my hand, I realized how much being the Sibyl had become a part of me. Yeah, not being able to look into a mirror without the fear of seeing the dead was annoying. And not knowing which Greek monster would come after me next was nothing less than unsettling. But I was the Sibyl whether I liked it or not.

I planned on keeping it that way.

I swung the mirror upwards, slamming the glass against the side of Alison’s face. She cried out as she dropped to her knees. The glass cracked, so I smacked it against the edge of a gravestone to ensure it was completely broken. One hit was all it took.

I threw the remains of the ancient mirror down amongst the weeds.

“I’m no damsel.”

 

 

About the Author:

Cynthia D. Witherspoon is an award winning writer of Southern Gothic, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy. She has been published in numerous anthologies since 2009. Her work has appeared in several award winning collections including Dark Tales of Ancient  Civilizations (2012) and PellucidLunacy (2010).

Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fanatic-Oracle-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00QYI7S84/

Hit up her website: http://www.cynthiadwitherspoon.com

Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cynthia-D-Witherspoon/315516345297331

 

Writing Has Taught Me to Keep At It

There are days when the last thing I want to do is work!

I’m sure it’s something all writers have to deal with. It’s so exhilarating to be creative and write novels that the last thing we want to do is crunch numbers, haul boxes, oversee annoying employees, drive a truck, and all those other mundane tasks that make up our day job.

Even writing is a lot more hard work than most people realize! There’s the thrill of creating, but that’s less than 25% of the actual work. You have to spend so much time polishing, editing, rewriting, fixing, changing, and finding mistakes. By the time your book is published, it’s 25% fun and 75% plain old-fashioned hard work.

But, like anything great, it’s worth fighting for. It’s worth waking up one more day to go to your boring day job and put in a solid 8 to 10 hours at the grindstone, all so that you can come home and put your 30 to 90 minutes a day into the work that makes you happy.

Most of the great writers started out writing in their spare time, and they had to find ways to work around their day job. They had to excel at their day job, too, as that was the only way to stay hired while trying to work their second job (write their novels). It’s like having two full-time jobs, and having to excel at both. A lot of hard work!

Thankfully, I’ve learned to keep at it.

Yes, my day job sometimes gets boring. Sitting and writing all day long can take its toll, both on my mind and body. But when I find myself complaining because I have to write another article, I remember what I’m doing it for. Thanks to the regular work that I have, I’m able to put in those hours of “free time” writing novels.

If you keep at it–both your “boring” money-making job and the “exhilarating” job of creating–you’ll find yourself a much better person in the long run. You’ll have the dedication needed for all the hard work of writing (remember 25% fun, 75% work), but you’ll also have that desire to create and the NEED for an outlet. It’s a beautiful balance, and one that can help you be a better, more professional writer and person overall!

 

Book Review: Goddess’s Choice by Jamie Marchant

It’s Bonus Book Review Saturday, and I’m glad to be getting back to traditional fantasy after the last few books!

 

Goddess’s Choice

Samantha’s ability enables her to discern a person’s character through their multi-colored aura, and Robrek’s makes him the strongest healer the kingdom has seen in centuries. But their gifts also endanger their lives. Royals scheme to usurp the throne by marrying or killing Samantha, and priests plot to burn Robrek at the stake.

Robrek escapes the priests only to be captured by Samantha’s arch-enemy, Duke Argblutal; Argblutal intends to force the princess to marry him by exploiting Robrek’s powers. To save their own lives and stop the realm from sinking into civil war, Robrek and Samantha must consolidate their powers and unite the people behind them.

 

My Review: 4 Stars

I have to say that I enjoyed this book! It was a solid read, and though I can’t give it five stars (a few too many problems), it was one that made me want to read the sequel.

About the problems:

The book was VERY long! Something like 900 kindle pages. Ain’t nobody got time for that! It was hard for me to sit through it all.

There were a few issues with head-hopping–switching POV improperly. There were also a few typos and grammar mistakes. Not too bad, but enough to make me take notice.

The flashbacks were done a bit poorly. They didn’t make a lot of sense, and were a bit unclear.

The ending was fairly predictable–this is typical high fantasy, after all–but I enjoyed it. I was genuinely glad to see the villain get what was coming to them, and felt relieved that the pair of heroes saved the day.

 

I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read, and who has A LOT of time on their hands.

As a bonus, Book 2 just came out this week.

 

The Soul Stone

Crown Princess Samantha and Sir Robrek struggle to solidify their rule in the aftermath of the king’s murder and Duke Argblutal’s attempt to usurp the throne. They are thwarted at every turn by those who seek power for themselves and desire to prevent their marriage. Just when they think their problems are solved, a deadly curse begins to spread throughout Korthlundia and Samantha becomes pregnant.

Samantha must fight off priests, enemies, and her closest advisors while Robrek discovers the reason the goddess chose him as king, to defeat the Soul Stone, a stone capable of sucking the soul out of its victims, which threatens to obliterate all life in the joined kingdoms. Their archenemy, the Bard Alvabane, awakens the Soul Stone and plans to use its power to reclaim Korthlundia for her people (a people driven out over a thousand years ago by the hero Armunn). Armunn had to sacrifice his life and soul to contain the Soul Stone. Will Robrek have to do the same? Will the young couple have only a few short months to love each other?

 

Here’s a Taste:

Robrek led the princess through the corridors toward her quarters, the princess leaning against him, giggling, and singing a verse from one of the ballads:

“But who will bake my bridal bread,

Or brew my bridal ale?

And who will welcome my brisk bride,

That I bring over the dale?”

Her bodyguards had to show him the way; she was in no condition to do so. The two men Captain Hawk had appointed were still following him. Both they and Bearach and Conroy stopped at the door to Samantha’s quarters. Robrek followed Samantha in.

When they were alone in her bedroom, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Gently, he pushed her away. “You’re drunk, Sam.”

She clung to his shirt. “Please, Robbie, make love to me. Touch me like you did last night in my tent.”

Despite himself, his body responded, and he wanted nothing so badly as to give in. But it wouldn’t be right. “Sam, I can’t take advantage of you when you’re like this.”

Abruptly, she collapsed sobbing against his shirt. “Robbie, I feel so alone. They’re gone! Both of my fathers are gone!”

He led her to the bed. He lay down beside her and let her soak his shirt with her tears. Holy Sulis, she’s lost so much. At least she was crying now. It seemed inhuman to withstand so much loss with dry eyes. He wouldn’t have been able to.

After a long while the sobs subsided and were replaced by a soft snore. She’d fallen asleep on his chest. He gently extricated himself and stood. For the first time, he looked around her room. One entire wall was covered by a painting of a princess, resembling Samantha, riding a Horsetad. Horsetads ran free on the Reidhlean plains, and people said they could never be tamed. Robrek had never known anyone other than himself who had ridden one. He thought of Wild Thing, his Horsetad mare, down in the palace stables, and he reached out to her with his magic. She was sleeping contentedly in the paddock and didn’t want to be disturbed.

Besides the painting, the room held two huge wardrobes, carved with horses and stars in intricate detail. He opened them and found them full to bursting with dresses in silk and satin, lace and velvet, so many she could wear a different one every day for an entire year. Robrek shook his head. Although his father had been considered wealthy by those in the Valley, Robrek had never had more than a couple changes of clothes. Figurines of horses in gold, silver, jade, crystal, and precious stones arrayed themselves on the mantle. Ten years’ proceeds from his father’s crops couldn’t have afforded one of them.

Last night the princess had had him leave her tent before dawn—they’d been camped at the base of Gloine Torr waiting for today’s battle—so it wouldn’t be known they’d slept together. Tonight he didn’t know where to go. Robrek left the princess and walked into her reception room. A life-sized horse made of smoked crystal dominated one corner. It had a gold mane, tail, and hooves and wore a gold saddle studded with emeralds. On the wall was a huge tapestry of a white mare at the edge of the forest, helping her newborn foal stand. The mare reminded him of Roberta, the horse he’d helped Samantha choose at the horse fair where they first met. The mantle was covered with more horse figurines. There was enough wealth in this room to support the entire Valley for a hundred years.

What in Sulis’s name am I doing here?

Not wanting to wrinkle his bronze silks by sleeping in them, he removed them and placed them over a chair. Then he wrapped himself in a blanket and fell asleep on the rug in front of the fire.

 

About the Author:

Jamie Marchant lives in Auburn, Alabama, with her husband, son, and four cats, which (or so she’s been told) officially makes her a cat lady. She teaches writing and literature at Auburn University. Her first novel The Goddess’s Choice was released in April 2012 from Reliquary Press. She released Demons in the Big Easy in January 2013. The sequel to The Goddess’s Choice, titled The Soul Stone, will be released in June 2015 from Black Rose Writing. Her short fiction has been published in the anthologies–Urban Fantasy and Of Dragons & Magic: Tales of the Lost Worlds—and in Bards & Sages, The World of Myth, A Writer’s Haven, and Short-story.me.

Find Book 1 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Goddesss-Choice-Jamie-Marchant-ebook/dp/B007VPA9R6/

Find Book 2 on Black Rose Writing: http://www.blackrosewriting.com/sci-fifantasy/the-soul-stone

Read Jamie’s thoughts on her Website: http://jamie-marchant.com/

And Blog:  http://jamie-marchant.blogspot.com/

Chat her on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Marchant- Author/164706710298768

Tweet at her: @RobrekSamantha

The Power of a Bad Review

As writers, I think most of us have a natural fear of bad reviews. They feel like a criticism of our hard work and labor of love.

But that’s not always the case! In fact, I’m firmly of the opinion that a bad review is actually a good thing. Let me explain…

On Saturday, I gave a book a 2-star review, and posted that review to my blog–as well as Amazon and Goodreads. The author, of course, did NOT like that. This was the email I received:

I have just seen your review on Amazon. You know, I respect your honest opinion…

However, I came to you personally to ask you to review my book. You didn’t just pick it up. Basically, I expected some kind of courtesy, and if your opinion of it was so negative, to be supportive, especially as you are a fellow author, I would have expected you to not publish a review at all.  

I have never published a review that’s less than 3 stars for a fellow indie author. If I feel strongly that it’s bad writing or whatever, then I’ll tell them privately. I won’t hurt their reputation and their sales. That is common practice, seeing that when an author asks for a review, they expect some kind of support. With your 2-star review all you did is sabotage me. How do you help a fellow author by publicizing a 2-star review? 

I think the most preposterous thing about you, however, is that you had the gall to write to me and ask me to SHARE a 2-star review of my own book on your site!

Again, I have no problem with your honest opinion and if you were just a reader I wouldn’t give you a second thought. But because you’re a reviewer I contacted personally, and a fellow author at that, I am amazed by the way you treated my request.

Hopefully, one day, a careless reviewer just like you will help you realize how appalling and destructive your attitude is. Good luck reaping what you sow.

 

Clearly not a happy camper!

Here was what I wrote back:

If you read the review, you’ll notice that it’s not careless. In fact, I put a lot of thought into that review before I posted it. I didn’t want to smear you or your book, but I wanted two things: 

1) Readers to know what to expect. That’s what the review is all about. I understand that a bad review may not seem like a good thing, but when readers see all 4 and 5-star reviews, it looks a bit fishy. The occasional bad review is actually EXCELLENT, as it shows that you’re not just getting family or friends to review the book. 

2) For you to know what needs work. As a fellow professional writer, it’s often painful to see the quality of things that get posted on Amazon and sold as “books”. Self-published works have gotten a bad reputation because of low-quality writing. In the interest of improving things, I pointed out areas that needed work. Someone did give me a bad review on my previous book, and because of that, my current books have GREATLY improved. You’ll notice that I never attacked you personally, I just stated facts that stood out to me. If you can take this critique (which is what it is, and not a criticism) and use it to make your next book better, you’ll be a far better writer. And isn’t that what we all strive for?

In answer to your question, I’m helping you by forcing you to examine your writing skills and habits and see if they need work or improvement. I’ve been called out on my s**t way too many times to count, and I feel like it has made me a better writer. 

I’m sorry if you don’t like my review, but if you read the text on my website’s review page, it says that I will always be honest. I gave it serious thought before posting it, and I felt it needed to be done. It was not a careless act meant to sabotage, but it was meant to help. Perhaps in the future, you will consider posting a similar review for someone else, and they’ll eventually realize that you were trying to make them better at what they did.

 

Let’s examine the two points I made:

1. Readers NEED to know what to expect. If you were asked to review a blender and that blender exploded in your hand, would you keep that to yourself? Or, like a normal human being, would you post that information online?

Now, read over that review, and I didn’t bad-mouth or slam the author. I pointed out weaknesses in what (I think) was a pretty objective way, even giving the author the benefit of the doubt in some cases. It wasn’t a smear job–it was a thought-out, careful review of a product.

If I was a reader looking into a book, THAT would be the review I’d look for. Not the 5-star “This is AMAZING!” reviews, but the one that says, “These are the weak spots/flaws in this product”. That honest review is what makes readers decide whether or not your product is worth purchasing, and it’s an important part of the free market.

Without negative reviews, your book–or product–is way too suspicious. You can simply “buy” reviews, or ask people to only post good reviews. That’s “gaming” the system, and I don’t think that’s right.

I’m not saying it’s cool to troll Amazon with negative reviews. But if you have put thought and consideration into writing a comprehensive, clear review after testing a product (reading a book, in this case), it’s almost your obligation to post it and warn other people of what to expect. I wouldn’t want to drop $5 to $20 on a book that I’ll hate, all because someone was too afraid of offending others to tell me what was wrong with it. Would you?

2. You NEED to know what to work on. My first 3-star review was a heart-wrenching thing! Someone didn’t like the words I had spent months writing, re-writing, editing, and publishing. Woe is me!

And then I stopped to think about what that person said. I examined their review (a very well-written, concise, and clear one) to find the truth in what they said. I took the good with the bad, and used that to improve my writing. As a result, I KNOW my second book (Blade of the Destroyer) is far better than my first (In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent).

Now, every time I get a bad review, I look at it and mull over the reviewers’ words. There is always truth in what is said, and I use that to improve my writing. Thanks to a bad review, my writing is way better!

Let this be a lesson, folks! Bad reviews can be the kick in the ass you need to write better, but it can also help to improve your sales. After all, balanced reviews (with both the good and the bad) can be a far greater selling point than all the 5-star reviews in the world. I can’t think of a SINGLE novel–no matter how awesome–that has nothing wrong with it.

To all the people who will read my books now and in the future, if you have a genuine reason for disliking or not enjoying my books, I want you to tell me! Give me a 1-star or 2-star review if that’s what you think it deserves, but explain why. That way, I can look over your opinion and give it due consideration.

Your blasting of my work may be the key to my becoming a better writer!

Book Review: Into Trouble by Gordon Long

It’s Book Review Wednesday, and I have a treat for you! I posted a review about Book 1 of the “World of Change” series–titled Out of Mischief–and I’ve just finished reading Book 2…

 

Into Trouble

Just as Mito seems to be solving her problems, Aleria’s hopes for a solution to her own difficulties fade as the dreams increase and her dissatisfaction with her life deepens.

A mission to obtain information leads her to a more subtle danger; is Lord Fauvé a clever rebel, or is he a very tempting solution to her search for a place in life?

But again the world she has been so sheltered from reaches out and slaps her in the face. Suffused with rage at her ultimate degredation, Aleria goes about taking her revenge with methodical skill.

But in the aftermath she discovers that she is even farther from the old traditional life she had always avioded. And when the dictates of society threaten her friendship with Mito, Aleria decides it’s time to straighten out the whole lot of them.

 

My Review: 4 Stars

First off, let’s dish about the bad:

The book had a few structural flaws. If I hadn’t read Book 1, I wouldn’t have understood a thing. There was no basic explanation to remind me of who the characters were when I first met them. If someone picked it up without reading Book 1, they’d be lost.

Book 1 was all action and activity, but Book 2 was much slower. Very little tension, fear, or trouble. I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen. Once it did, it was just two or three chapters near the end.

There was no real climax to the book. The “villain” gets his deserved justice, but with no real build-up or tension. There was no fear of failure or loss. Nothing to make me bite my nails or sit on the edge of my seat.

The climax was also too far from the end. I like my climax to be one of the final chapters, but there was still a few chapters of additional story after the climax. They help to further the plot A LITTLE, but they don’t help the tension of the story.

There was also no “hook” to make me interested in reading Book 3. I was hoping there would be a hint as to the “mystery” of the next book, but it ends all wrapped up a neat little package–with no loose ends to lead me to Book 3.

However, I did enjoy the book. The character of Aleria was great, though I liked her better in Book 1. There was a lot to make the story interesting, solid dialogue, witty writing, and the plot–while a bit slow–is solid and well-written.

 

Here’s a Taste:

The bandit leader looked around. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do with you.”

Aleria shrugged. “I sort of figured you’d do what bandits usually do. When you’ve had enough fun, you turn me loose, I walk to the nearest farm, and you skedaddle the other way.”

She glanced at him from under lowered eyebrows. “Now, if you was to kill me, there’d be king’s soldiers and Dalmyn mercenaries bustin’ the bushes from here to breakfast time. You’re much better lettin’ me go. I c’n understand you boys wantin’ some fun. Must be lonely, on the run all the time.”

She slipped her hand up her sleeve to feel the comforting steel of her hideaway dagger. “But next time, let’s do it proper ‘n’ private. None of this skirt over my head and everybody standin’ round.”

She tried to smile at him. “I do much better with a soft bedroll under me.”

 

About the Author:

Brought up in a logging camp with no electricity, Gordon Long learned his storytelling in the traditional way: at his father’s knee. He spends his time editing, publishing, travelling, sailboat racing and writing fantasy and social commentary, although sometimes the boundaries blur.

Gordon lives in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, with his wife, Linda, and their Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Josh.

Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Trouble-World-Change-Book-ebook/dp/B00RDGFPO0/

Connect with Gordon via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gordonalongrenaissancewriter

Writing Has Taught Me to Look for Mistakes

One of the hardest things for me to realize was that I am a flawed person. I don’t mean when it comes to personality or temperament, but I mean more along the lines of professional skills. Let me explain…

When I first started out writing, I knew that I had a lot to learn, but I considered myself pretty skilled. By the time I completed my first novel, In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent, I thought I had the writing thing down pretty well.

Boy, was I in for a shock! A few reviews opened my eyes (I’ll be writing about this on Friday), and I came to realize that I had A LOT to learn.

My dad always said, “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” I always hated that saying, but it’s absolutely true! As I delve more and more into the world of writing, story-telling, and being an author, I realize that there is so much to learn.

Which has helped me tremendously! I’ve come to understand that I will make mistakes in my writing. With that understanding, I’ve started to actively SEARCH for those mistakes. If I can find them myself, it will improve the quality of the work by the time it gets to the people who are reading it–alpha readers, beta readers, editors, and finally the general public.

It’s amazing how often I end up correcting my writing. Take that sentence right there as an example. It started out as “correcting myself as I write“. I changed the structure of the sentence in order to improve it (or at least I think it’s better).

Any time I write, I look for mistakes. I’m comfortable with the fact that I will make them, so I can look for them to eliminate them.

The same with life! I’m going to make mistakes as a partner, a parent, and a professional, but that’s not a problem. It’s just part of being human. But if I can look for the mistakes I’m making, I can correct and eliminate them before they affect those around me.

Thanks to this simple habit, I’ve improved not only my writing, but also myself!