Setting the record straight
Setting the record straight: Response to an author’s criticisms of my review
When I first started reviewing books on Goodreads, I wasn’t aware of the trouble indie authors have finding good editors, and I blamed the authors for publishing badly edited books. I reviewed a book and gave it a low rating partly on the basis of its slipshod editing. Afterward, in the course of interacting on threads in various groups, I found out that it’s not necessarily that indies don’t care. They face unscrupulous “editors” and tight budgets, and many of them are therefore rightfully leery about hiring someone to edit their work. The book I’d given a low rating to was one of the first indie books I’d reviewed since joining Goodreads. On the basis of what I’d discovered after posting the review, and in the spirit of trying to be fair to the author, I decided to upgrade my rating and included my reasoning in the revised version, clearly stating why I’d done it.
Other people whose books I’ve reviewed have appreciated my honesty and asked me to recommend editors. I didn’t know any and have no interest in freelancing for indies, so I decided to offer a test. No applicants passed, and I received an abusive response from one respondent; I’m no longer offering the test as a result. I did find one editor I’m planning to promote on my website when she’s ready so that when people ask me to recommend a good editor, I actually can. It doesn’t help authors if I fault their books for bad grammar and can’t refer them to an editor if they ask. (Notice that they have to ask me and that they must then take the initiative and contact the editor. Any dealings after that are strictly between the author and editor; I assure you that I won’t be receiving any kickbacks.)
I’m not out to get your business, indie authors, nor will I ever solicit it, conspire to solicit it, or sic anyone on you to solicit it for themselves. If you don’t ask me for a recommendation for an editor, you won’t get one, period. Any editors who have approached you and tried to sell their services are not affiliated with me, nor have they ever been, nor will they ever be. Clear enough?
My reviews are for books’ potential readers, not for their authors, who are free to use what I point out or ignore it. Some people find it irritating to read books that are riddled with mistakes, and I happen to be one of them; any grammatical criticisms I make are in the interest of those readers.
When I first started reviewing books on Goodreads, I wasn’t aware of the trouble indie authors have finding good editors, and I blamed the authors for publishing badly edited books. I reviewed a book and gave it a low rating partly on the basis of its slipshod editing. Afterward, in the course of interacting on threads in various groups, I found out that it’s not necessarily that indies don’t care. They face unscrupulous “editors” and tight budgets, and many of them are therefore rightfully leery about hiring someone to edit their work. The book I’d given a low rating to was one of the first indie books I’d reviewed since joining Goodreads. On the basis of what I’d discovered after posting the review, and in the spirit of trying to be fair to the author, I decided to upgrade my rating and included my reasoning in the revised version, clearly stating why I’d done it.
Other people whose books I’ve reviewed have appreciated my honesty and asked me to recommend editors. I didn’t know any and have no interest in freelancing for indies, so I decided to offer a test. No applicants passed, and I received an abusive response from one respondent; I’m no longer offering the test as a result. I did find one editor I’m planning to promote on my website when she’s ready so that when people ask me to recommend a good editor, I actually can. It doesn’t help authors if I fault their books for bad grammar and can’t refer them to an editor if they ask. (Notice that they have to ask me and that they must then take the initiative and contact the editor. Any dealings after that are strictly between the author and editor; I assure you that I won’t be receiving any kickbacks.)
I’m not out to get your business, indie authors, nor will I ever solicit it, conspire to solicit it, or sic anyone on you to solicit it for themselves. If you don’t ask me for a recommendation for an editor, you won’t get one, period. Any editors who have approached you and tried to sell their services are not affiliated with me, nor have they ever been, nor will they ever be. Clear enough?
My reviews are for books’ potential readers, not for their authors, who are free to use what I point out or ignore it. Some people find it irritating to read books that are riddled with mistakes, and I happen to be one of them; any grammatical criticisms I make are in the interest of those readers.
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Good points, Debbie, and thanks for reminding reviewers that beta manuscripts are private.I also should have said that in my reviews I provide examples of authors' mistakes no matter whether the books are indie or traditionally published--and that in the review in question I listed very few of the total in the book. The only 1-star review I've ever given was for a traditionally published novel. The most interesting thing about it is that more people have liked that review than any other I've done.
I have no intention of changing the way I do reviews, no matter who thinks a complimentary review with 3 stars constitutes bullying; in case the author is unaware of this, it means the reviewer liked the book. In fact, several indies have told me that they've used the editorial criticisms in my reviews to help improve their own writing. That's the idea.
I'm cringing today as some authors are sharing screenshots of goodreads new popups to authors. Have you seen? Seriously, if they have to add a popup about star ratings, maybe popup could explain the star ratings (like you said, 3-stars = "I liked the book" on goodreads versus meaning "it was ok" over on amazon) instead. Really, really, (really!) really.
Currently, the popup makes it sound like goodreads lets member rate a book "zero stars" and that that is a very negative thing instead of just saying that no star rating was given because goodreads does not require a reviewer to rate in order to review. (*sniff* smells like was written by someone used to a site that does require a star rating to review).
Good grief! Indies are taking a hard hit with all the reaction to Friday's ring and run; the only authors needing the current condescending, patronizing, handholding popups are not the ones that will pay attention to the attempted mollifying. Really, really, (really!) really.
Debbie R. wrote: "I'm cringing today as some authors are sharing screenshots of goodreads new popups to authors. Have you seen? Seriously, if they have to add a popup about star ratings, maybe popup could explai..."
I haven't seen that, and I tried to get a popup to show. Have you seen one, Debbie?
C.M.J. wrote: "Debbie R. wrote: "I'm cringing today as some authors are sharing screenshots of goodreads new popups to authors. Have you seen?...I haven't seen that, and I tried to get a popup to show. ..."
CMJ, not a screenshot but an author friend posted this status on Sept 21st (w/ full text):
http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/...
:(
Karma♥Bites wrote: "C.M.J. wrote: "Debbie R. wrote: "I'm cringing today as some authors are sharing screenshots of goodreads new popups to authors. Have you seen?...I haven't seen that, and I tried to get a popup t..."
Oh, you have to be kidding. Do they really think authors need to be babied through a bad review? Reviews are OPINION. Slough it off and suck it up!
Thanks for clarifying, KB!
It was my... erm, pleasure (not). :|(And to answer your (mostly) rhetorical question, apparently so. It's beyond FUBAR at this point.)
You're certainly right about that. And to use that other WWII acronym, what a snafu. Sheesh!
I think the popup shows only when an author goes to comment on a review.Seriously, despite all the catchy headlines, sometimes author comments are things like "thanks for the feedback," "in answer to your question it is going to be a series (or whatever reviewer actually asked or seemed to ask an author in the review), ... I know it's always a judgment call for authors whether to join in the conversation or stay out of it, to rate or not their own works, etc. (and don't envy them that as some members enjoy and others get ticked off) -- but seriously that popup just struck me as insulting. And I'm not even an author getting the popup.
*grumble* a better popup might be a reminder of how to flag or report a review if they think it's against TOS and a simple reminder of the suggested star rating scale here on goodreads because of the number of blowups from author's thinking the goodreads stars are the same as the 5-star system on amazon and most bookseller sites.
(Okay, that last a bit of a personal peeve because when I used to rate and review here and in amazon, I got virtually bitchslapped by an author I gave a 4-star rating in amazon ["liked the book"] -- apparently only a 5-star allowed and who then really went tasmanian devil on me when he saw my 3-star on goodreads [also "liked the book"]; I was his only reviewer so I just blocked him, removed my review and after that incident I grew to dislike the book so had to edit my rating go be a 1-star on both sites--all my personal choice and never involved a "bullying" shelf name. But a case in point of the popup about negative ratings because authors who don't go bat-crazy in public over reviews don't need the popup and the ones that do blowup over ratings will do so over any perception of not getting the ratings they want, popup or no popup, 0-2 stars or something higher--if they are going to blowup, they just are. Spend more effort on other author concerns and don't waste so much effort trying to calm down or mollycoddle the temper tantrum ones even if they do blast bad pr across the blogosphere when you are trying to push goodreads/kindle integration.)
Debbie - tell new policies to all; if = no author behavior content = delete both good/bad author behavior content - wrote: "...I got virtually bitchslapped by an author I gave a 4-star rating in amazon ["liked the book"] -- apparently only a 5-star allowed and who then really went tasmanian devil on me when he saw my 3-star on goodreads [also "liked the book"]..."(bold added for emphasis)
Ah, Debbie, my thanks. You just gave me an idea for a shelf. ;-)
Now, if an indie author asks someone to be a beta reader -- beta readers should not be reviewing the book other than in communication with the author. The point of beta reading is that book is in draft and not ready for publication.
Once being sold to the public, that implies the book is ready for publication. As a reader who buys it just like any other book -- I will judge it just like any other book.