Is it time to stop "being nice?"

[Christine]

I have enjoyed this discussion and the varied opinions and information that surfaced. I have one last thought...

Sometimes I feel like I'm missing some really great books by new writers because I'm not able to trust the reviews. I believe that someday those exceptional writers that have self-published, will rise to the top and the hacks will disappear.

Be honest and review with your fellow readers in mind. Without honest reviews that day may be a lot farther in the future than it needs to be.

[Stan]

I have a wacky (some might say) theory about this, and it stems from recent anthropological discussions about when our inner voice evolved, that conversation we have in our minds with ourselves during the day. I wonder if the reason some people have difficulty writing, what to most of us would be, coherent sentences is that this is how their inner voice speaks. Perhaps when they read what they have written it makes perfect sense, because of that inner voice.

I'm not speaking here of spelling and grammatical errors, but of how sentences are structured. In some people this might be a disability similar to speech disabilities.

[Sarah (Presto agitato)]

Stan wrote: "I have a wacky (some might say) theory about this, and it stems from recent anthropological discussions about when our inner voice evolved, that conversation we have in our minds with ourselves during the day. I wonder if the reason some people have difficulty writing, what to most of us would be, coherent sentences is that this is how their inner voice speaks. Perhaps when they read what they have written it makes perfect sense, because of that inner voice.

I'm not speaking here of spelling and grammatical errors, but of how sentences are structured. In some people this might be a disability similar to speech disabilities."

I'd buy that as a possibility. I could see where someone's "natural syntax" could misfire, maybe a combination of cognitive problems and how he learned the language.

I do think that many problems could be fixed if people read passages out loud. I have seen a lot of samples that just make no sense at all if read as written. Punctuation, for example, is meant to help make things easier to understand, but some writers seem to be befuddled by it. Maybe it goes back to your point about the inner voice. It could be that if those things aren't learned young they are hard to get right later because they aren't internalized.

[Figgy]

Sarah (Warning: Potentially Off-Topic) wrote: "I do think that many problems could be fixed if people read passages out loud. I have seen a lot of samples that just make no sense at all if read as written. Punctuation, for example, is meant to help make things easier to understand, but some writers seem to be befuddled by it. Maybe it goes back to your point about the inner voice. It could be that if those things aren't learned young they are hard to get right later because they aren't internalized. "

I have to agree completely with this (and with Stan). I do think that the way some people hear things in their heads makes sense, but I also feel that reading passages aloud makes it much more likely they will see where the issue is, because something will register in SOME part of their brain that says "that doesn't sounds like the way someone would speak".

[Kate]

I think that if you've written something that you've totally put your heart into, that you're absolutely committed to and believe in - and there is no point in writing unless you do otherwise - then a couple of 1 or 2 star reviews really shouldn't send you scurrying for cover.
In fact, as some people on here suggest, they can be seen as constructive, and if they are genuinely unfair they're not worth worrying about. Writers tend to have paper-thin egos but they need to learn to toughen up a bit and take a few hits on the chin from time to time.

[Martyn]

It's also a question of trusting readers.

I trust that people who check out my books will read negative reviews, but ignore/disregard bad reviews, like I do. If I check out a book and someone lists why the book didn't live up to expectations I'd read it. If a review urges the author to disembowel themselves with a fountain pen, I might laugh, but I wouldn't take the reviewer's comments as serious as I would with the negative reviewer.

To put yourself in a conflict by responding to a bad review only validates the review.

[David]

Martyn (a.k.a. M'sieur Sang Froid) wrote: "It's also a question of trusting readers.

I trust that people who check out my books will read negative reviews, but ignore/disregard bad reviews, like I do. If I check out a book and someone list..."

And honestly certain "bad" reviews can actually help you. In my novel The Reflections of Queen Snow White for example I got a one-star review on Amazon from a reader who had no problem with my writing or characterization, but rather ranted about my having included adult content in [gasp!] a fairy tale of all things! I actually had several readers and reviewers contact me afterwards who said what convinced them to give my novel a chance was that review and the fact that it was NOT a story for kids. So again, even some negative reviews can help you too with the right audience.

[Stephen]

I ignore all the one star reviews and all the five star reviews. It helps.

[Stuart]

Karl wrote: "Sherri wrote: "I haven't read all the comments here, but I've skimmed a few and didn't see much from an author perspective. I'm one of the few authors out there that write reviews on the books I re..."

True. There's a difference between honest criticism (or constructive depending on the point of view) and plain, outright nastiness. I tend to ignore the latter.

In any case, I always enjoy a review that slates your writing ability but was clearly written by someone who never attended school. They make me chuckle.

[TinaNicole ☠ Le Book Nikita ☠]

Karl wrote: "Sherri wrote: "I haven't read all the comments here, but I've skimmed a few and didn't see much from an author perspective. I'm one of the few authors out there that write reviews on the books I re..."

Frankly, those both sound like valid criticisms to me. And JFTR....

twad·dle
ˈtwädl/
informal
noun
1.
trivial or foolish speech or writing; nonsense.
"he dismissed the novel as self-indulgent twaddle"

verb archaic
1.
talk or write in a trivial or foolish way.
"what is that old fellow twaddling about?"

Just b/c you don't understand what it means doesn't mean it's invalid, unnecessary or nasty.

[G.]

The question is: Is a bad review better than no review at all?

[David]

@Eldon
It can be. It depends on why it was "bad".

If the review details how little time and effort the author put into plotting, characterization, or editing, if it notes that the novel is loaded with misspellings and grammar errors, it probably doesn't help.

However, if the reviewer didn't like the book because of graphic content (sexual or violent), didn't like the genre, or otherwise complains about qualities of the book more related to personal taste than any problem with the actual writing, other people who actually like those things when they read might be more persuaded to read it.

[Jacqueline]

I once got a one star complaining about XXX sex and foul language. My sales spiked the next day!
Unfortunately, the buyers were probably disappointed. There were a few moderate sex scenes and the swearing wasn't over the top. lol

[David]

Jacqueline wrote: "I once got a one star complaining about XXX sex and foul language. My sales spiked the next day!
Unfortunately, the buyers were probably disappointed. There were a few moderate sex scenes and the s..."

I've had that experience too.