A New Series on Dissecting Reviews—Think this Will Work?

So I’ve been knee-deep in conversations and debates with other authors recently. I like to think we’re learning, but I think it’s a by-product of the fact we just like debating.

 

Something that has come up a lot lately is reviewer ethics. It’s such a strange concept to me—why should reviewers need a code of ethics? Doesn’t that whole “be nice” mentality apply by default? Then again, I can be naïve at times.

 

When I review, I just try to be nice and honest at the same time. I admit, though, that’s been hard for a few books. If I can’t say anything nice, I typically don’t review those. It obviously wasn’t for me, so I don’t need to go around leaving one-star reviews for books that didn’t work out for me or which I didn’t finish. I’ve seen those same books with 50% 5-star ratings. Someone obviously likes them.

 

This got me into reading other books’ reviews. Dude! There are some mean reviews out there, reviews that attack the writer instead of discussing the book. What is up with that? A review talks about the book. That’s all a review is supposed to do—give the reader a safe place to discuss what they liked (or didn’t like) about a book.

 

…right?

 

While that sucks, there is a silver lining to my review hunt.

 

What’s so cool about reviews is that they are a prime chance for writers to learn how to improve their understanding of the craft. As with anything, a writer shouldn’t take all the advice that’s given. However, there are some diamonds in these reviews, some great chances for writers to learn, and I wanted to start a series teaching authors to see through the “hurt” associated with negative reviews to get to that juicy center of self-improvement.

 

So keep an eye out for my new “Dissecting Reviews” blog series. Each post will have a different topic that I see cropping up in reviews time and time again. Maybe it can help you! Maybe not. Either way, I think we can get a good discussion rolling from these dissections, so hop into the pot with me and let’s get cooking!

 

That was a weird metaphor. I know. But deep down, you liked it a little.

 

I have a post ready about comments on editing in reviews. That goes up next week. However, I would love to hear what you’ve learned from reviews, or what you wish you could learn from reviews. What ideas do you have for posts? I’m also open to guest posts once I get the series going a little bit.

 

So throw your opinions in! Can’t wait to hear them.

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