Adri Sinclair's Blog - Posts Tagged "thoughts"
My Take on Writing Reviews.
About writing reviews:I know many of us are authors,and we support one another with reviews when we finally get to that point. Personally, I do not think reviews hold much water for me - it is like watching the adverts on Tellie. Unless you actually need something, you're not really going to pay attention.
BUT - the BIG BUT.
If you are going to write a review, let it be from the person, not the Author. Let it come from your gut, your chest, your heart ... not from your mind. Some people will hate my reviews, others may love it, but I always try to make sure that
a) I do not give the whole damn story away - I HATE spoilers. If it is not mentioned in the write-up, DO NOT mention it in the review. Because of this, I REFUSE to read reviews.
b) That I write from a PERSON's perspective, not a marketing agent, or an editorial communicator, or a journalistic interview. I read the book, it made me think and feel one way or another.. that is what I write about.
I am not saying throw it all out the window either... I'm just saying:
INJECT THE PERSON into it.
Think for yourself, if you read a article in the newspaper, you expect it to have a certain style to it - but if you speak to your friend, you have a very different expectation.
You are not going to tell your bestie [terribly assumption on my part - I apologise to the exceptions on the rule] "It was a marvel, written with a concise structure and evidence of..." No. You are more than likely going to say something along the lines of:
"You should read this book, it was bloody well written and I loved xyz - though that and that really frustrated me." THAT is a REVIEW from a spokes person who's read the book.
Perhaps I am a little idealistic, perhaps I am a lot naive. I am fairly new to all this stuff and I am learning a lot.
These are just MY thoughts on the subject though. I always think: What would make me stop and pay attention? And that is my approach. Grammatically incorrect, person's perspective.
Connect with your book, and share the connection - not the intellect.
Think about the responses to some of the bigger names. A majority of those, good or bad, are based in emotional foundations. I am yet to hear a bunch of author's picketing a Movie house because 50 shades was poorly written [not my opinion of course, I am an advocate!] but the EMOTIONAL responses came from the corners of people who FELT things. THEY were the ones picketing...
I am rambling again... as I do when I get passionate about something.. I hope you will find at least one nugget of sense in my assertion... If not... Thanks for reading anyway, leave a comment and I'll be happy to engage to gain further understanding! xx Adri.
BUT - the BIG BUT.
If you are going to write a review, let it be from the person, not the Author. Let it come from your gut, your chest, your heart ... not from your mind. Some people will hate my reviews, others may love it, but I always try to make sure that
a) I do not give the whole damn story away - I HATE spoilers. If it is not mentioned in the write-up, DO NOT mention it in the review. Because of this, I REFUSE to read reviews.
b) That I write from a PERSON's perspective, not a marketing agent, or an editorial communicator, or a journalistic interview. I read the book, it made me think and feel one way or another.. that is what I write about.
I am not saying throw it all out the window either... I'm just saying:
INJECT THE PERSON into it.
Think for yourself, if you read a article in the newspaper, you expect it to have a certain style to it - but if you speak to your friend, you have a very different expectation.
You are not going to tell your bestie [terribly assumption on my part - I apologise to the exceptions on the rule] "It was a marvel, written with a concise structure and evidence of..." No. You are more than likely going to say something along the lines of:
"You should read this book, it was bloody well written and I loved xyz - though that and that really frustrated me." THAT is a REVIEW from a spokes person who's read the book.
Perhaps I am a little idealistic, perhaps I am a lot naive. I am fairly new to all this stuff and I am learning a lot.
These are just MY thoughts on the subject though. I always think: What would make me stop and pay attention? And that is my approach. Grammatically incorrect, person's perspective.
Connect with your book, and share the connection - not the intellect.
Think about the responses to some of the bigger names. A majority of those, good or bad, are based in emotional foundations. I am yet to hear a bunch of author's picketing a Movie house because 50 shades was poorly written [not my opinion of course, I am an advocate!] but the EMOTIONAL responses came from the corners of people who FELT things. THEY were the ones picketing...
I am rambling again... as I do when I get passionate about something.. I hope you will find at least one nugget of sense in my assertion... If not... Thanks for reading anyway, leave a comment and I'll be happy to engage to gain further understanding! xx Adri.
