Why do reviews of indie books look like graded term papers?
One thing that I have noticed and am curious about is why reviewers of independently published books focus microscopically on errors, typos, and formatting. I grant you that in the flood of books now available many will have been rushed out without the introspection that a traditionally published novel might have gone through (though I wonder if that is actually a canard). However, I have noticed in my limited time on earth that professional reviewers of traditionally published fiction very rarely, if ever, go through the exercise of counting errors as a way of deciding the merits of a work. It seems, however, that it is de rigueur for a reviewer of any independent book to make some comment about formatting and/or typos even if the book had none, e.g. “I found no typos or formatting errors in this novel.” Why is this?
This is not a screed to give independent authors a pass on this very important issue. After all, if a professional reviewer found a traditionally published work to be unreadable, I suspect that a comment to that point would be made, such as, “this novel was unreadable.” I doubt that the professional reviewer would count the dropped commas, grammatical mistakes, etc., as though the reviewer were grading a college essay. I just wonder uf this is a major distinction in the way independents are reviewed versus how traditionally published books are reviewed.
I suspect that many reviewers of independent books are themselves new at the game of reviewing. Perhaps, things will change as traditional book reviewers start taking notice of the many wonderfully written books now available through the marvels of the internet.
Just my two cents worth.
This is not a screed to give independent authors a pass on this very important issue. After all, if a professional reviewer found a traditionally published work to be unreadable, I suspect that a comment to that point would be made, such as, “this novel was unreadable.” I doubt that the professional reviewer would count the dropped commas, grammatical mistakes, etc., as though the reviewer were grading a college essay. I just wonder uf this is a major distinction in the way independents are reviewed versus how traditionally published books are reviewed.
I suspect that many reviewers of independent books are themselves new at the game of reviewing. Perhaps, things will change as traditional book reviewers start taking notice of the many wonderfully written books now available through the marvels of the internet.
Just my two cents worth.
Published on March 27, 2011 03:59
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The Eclectic
I've decided to call my Goodreads Author blog, "The Eclectic." As you get to know me, you will find that I have lived my life as an eclectic, enjoy a wide range of interests from Art to Zoology and ca
I've decided to call my Goodreads Author blog, "The Eclectic." As you get to know me, you will find that I have lived my life as an eclectic, enjoy a wide range of interests from Art to Zoology and can be found reading about Supreme Court decisions along with the latest theories of alien abduction.
How did I get this way? Most probably as the result of an insatiable appetite to understand what is happening around me.
Please join me for conversations on anything that comes to mind. One day I may write about the fallacy of "originalism" with respect to the United States Supreme Court. Another day, we'll talk about Sasquatch and other crytozoological wonders.
Occasionally, I will drop in a cartoon or two from my cartoon blog, There is Strangeness in the Universe.
Hope you'll chime in with your comments as well and we will have a delightful conversation exploring all that is great in this world.
...more
How did I get this way? Most probably as the result of an insatiable appetite to understand what is happening around me.
Please join me for conversations on anything that comes to mind. One day I may write about the fallacy of "originalism" with respect to the United States Supreme Court. Another day, we'll talk about Sasquatch and other crytozoological wonders.
Occasionally, I will drop in a cartoon or two from my cartoon blog, There is Strangeness in the Universe.
Hope you'll chime in with your comments as well and we will have a delightful conversation exploring all that is great in this world.
...more
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