Someone has rated a book of mine that isn't even released yet (or even pre-released)

[Noël]

A listing was created for a book of mine that isn't yet published or even in pre-release. I haven't even registered an ISBN for it or compiled the final manuscript. It's on Radish, but does not yet exist as a "book", only a serial.

And someone has already rated it (their account is brand new - they have also rated another unreleased book).

This post has been edited by a moderator to remove specific account information.

[Steven]

Oh dear...more proof of what I too have experienced to some degree... there is most assuredly an "audience" for one's books that one may never have considered, and one that considers itself to have every right to rate, review, and otherwise express its opinions as any book lover buying books in a brick and mortar bookstore or shopping online. For lack of a better descriptor of this audience I shall call them the "Book-Plundering Blood Suckers" or perhaps the "Freebie Brigade". One need not be a John Grisham or Ann Rice to experience this odd insect-like infestation. These are the coupon-cutters of the literary world who, having no apparent consideration or understanding of the time, effort, and discipline it takes to write a book, have turned their interest in reading into a wormish hobby, a thoughtless sport of taking without giving, consuming without paying, and sometimes going so far as to act as if they are pretentiously sophisticated reviewers for the New York Times. It's a bit like children playing dress-up, as most are simply casual readers who are most interested in saving a few bucks than showing any respect or consideration for for writers. They are with us, like it or not; they come with the software and the hardware of our tech-savvy world. One may flail in frustration at their cheap thrills, or simply accept them in the same way we accept spam. assorted malware, and the suspicion that there are more than a few beady eyes snooping around our online activities and so-called "secure" computer homes. Sorry for this brandishing of claws; I just happen to believe that those who create artistic efforts we benefit from or are entertained by deserve to be paid for their efforts, not just those who create purely utilitarian products like printer ink and toilet paper. I'm sure there will be those who remind me this is the "modern world" and get used to it, but sorry: expecting something for nothing sucks, demeans the creative process, and diminishes rather than enhances the arts.

[[deleted user]]

Did you tell goodreads?

[Emily]

Noël wrote: "A listing was created for a book of mine that isn't yet published or even in pre-release. I haven't even registered an ISBN for it or compiled the final manuscript. It's on Radish, but does not yet..."

We do not allow links to specific user profiles in the group. Instead, please flag their content to bring it to our team's attention.

[K]

Is there a concrete answer to this question?

The exact same thing has happened to me - on a book I've sold but for which I haven't even delivered the MS yet.

I'm not sure how the author page even got set up since it lists only an English edition and I didn't sell the book in english...

[Noël]

Karin wrote: "Is there a concrete answer to this question?

The exact same thing has happened to me - on a book I've sold but for which I haven't even delivered the MS yet.

I'm not sure how the author page even..."

If you create an Amazon listing for pre-sale, Goodreads might suck it up from there. But in my case, at the time of posting, I hadn't even done that.

[K]

So strange - as far as I know the book is not on amazon, pre-listed or anything else. It's not even coming out in English!

May I ask if you ever resolved your issue and how?

[Noël]

Karin wrote: "So strange - as far as I know the book is not on amazon, pre-listed or anything else. It's not even coming out in English!

May I ask if you ever resolved your issue and how?"

No, I didn't get notified of the responses by moderators here either, weirdly, only your comment now. The book is now up on Amazon, for pre-release this month.

The person also listed another one of my books as "Want to read" (I sincerely hope she doesn't) which just makes it all the more odd.

[Paula]

Anyone can add a book to GR, they are not all auto imported. People add them as placeholders/reminders and then update with details as the details are known

It is common practice

[K]

I didn't realise that - so as the author, is my only option to claim that page?

Or can I set up my own with the correct details once I'm actually ready to do that?

This current page is for an English version of a book that's not scheduled to come out in english at all at the moment - which is why I'd like for it to not be there.

[Paula]

You can claim the page but that would not allow you to delete the book, it would be better to update the book with the correct details, they can be added piecemeal.

GR Librarians group is the place to ask for help doing that

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/220

[K]

Great! Thanks so much for your help.

K

[J.B.]

I ended up with a totally separate author page with books listed because a few people set up books under JB when I'm listed as J.B. on goodreads. I ended up having to ask a librarian to merge the profiles so that all my books and reviews are under one profile.

As far as reviews go, I haven't had any show up under books that haven't gone live yet, but I did have someone leave me a one star on a book that was already live because it had gotten added to her "to read" list by accident and she didn't remember doing it. Instead of just removing it, she left a 1 star that it was added to her list, she never read it, and this is not her genre. I still haven't figured that one out

[Noël]

I really abhor people who one-star a book to "tag" it or whatever. It does immense damage to an author's chances, particularly us self-published authors who don't have a publishing company with a vast pool of reviewers to tap. A single star can drag a rating right down - and ratings do affect reader perception and buying intention.

The problem is we have a scale of 1-5 where 4 and 5 are considered good/great, and the rest are considered poor/mediocre. So mathematically, you have three chances of being dragged down, and only two of being dragged up.

I'd prefer to see Goodreads and Amazon and others take the median or the mode, at least for books and products under a certain number of reviews.

[Mellie]

Noël wrote: "I really abhor people who one-star a book to "tag" it or whatever.."

My pet peeve is authors who 5-star their books to inflate the rankings, I think Goodreads should remove the ability for authors to rate their own book. Funny how authors always complain about the lower star ratings but I've yet to see an author want 5-star ratings removed...?

[Noël]

If they've got a random, completely unfair 1-star as I have, from a book that wasn't even released (wasn't even finished at the time of ranking) then all power to them.

[Patricia]

If you always remember that when you are on Goodreads you are at a private bookclub that is for readers, it will help stay sane.

They are each in the privacy of their own domain giving their personal reactions that don't have to make sense. Not all bookclubs are thoughtful. Some are people with wine and goodies and if somebody says, "I rate this book one star because the guy on the cover looks like my ex and I just couldn't read it," some members may be annoyed with them, others may laugh because they think it's funny, but nobody will question their right to do it.

If people have their own star-rating code that is nothing like what we think it should be, they will wonder who the heck we think we are, trying to dictate to them how to rate books.

In fact, the reason why some authors have bad experiences here is because they try to defend, to explain, to make people be fair. To make people play by the rules.

There are no rules here. Each reader can do or say whatever they want. It is a site that was created for people who read books. Not for authors to promote books. Not to be curated and patrolled.

So consider that you are observing dozens of small bookclub discussions that may or may not make any sense at all--just as if you really were eavesdropping on people sitting around a coffee table, a bar table, or a tea table doing the same.

And never speak up. Because honestly, how horrified would you be if you were talking about a book with friends and the author suddenly showed up in your living room to correct you? The odds that you would be horrified, embarrassed, and then angry? Are as great or greater than the odds that you will be thrilled.

Especially if their goal is to correct you or defend themselves against a comment you made, which you may have not even made particularly thoughtfully, because it's your living room. You're with friends. You're casual.

Again, not all will approach goodreads that way. Some are as serious about their reviews and 'rules' as if they were turning in their papers to be graded. But nobody is required to be.

[Will]

Patricia - very well put. I couldn't agree more.

My one and only 2 star review on Amazon came with this comment: Awesome - I couldn't put this down! A really unusual storyline, very entertaining, highly recommended.

2 stars for an Awesome? What gives? You wonder if the reviewer's hand slipped and they meant to give the full five. Or maybe they have very high standards. Or maybe they rate from 1 being the top down to five being the worst.

There's nothing I can do and so I didn't do anything about it. You shrug and move on.

[Alexandra]

Noël wrote: "I really abhor people who one-star a book to "tag" it or whatever. It does immense damage to an author's chances, "

And yet, the user ratings are there for the user's own purposes, whatever they may be, and not in any way shape or form for "an author's chances."

You'd do better to complain about people who take GR user ratings, average them, and then act like that average has some promotional value.

If it makes you feel better, I don't know any book consumer that makes purchasing decisions based upon averaged ratings from strangers.

[Alexandra]

A.W. wrote: "Noël wrote: "Funny how authors always complain about the lower star ratings but I've yet to see an author want 5-star ratings removed...? "

That fascinates me, it's so transparent. They should at least be consistent and also hate it when users 5 star a book to "tag" it, which improves "an author's chances". ;)

But I don't think any sort of parity in the system is the goal.

[Alexandra]

Patricia wrote: "They are each in the privacy of their own domain giving their personal reactions that don't have to make sense. "

Well said, thank you :D

[Alexandra]

Will wrote: "2 stars for an Awesome? What gives? "

Users are allowed to apply whatever meaning to the 1 - 5 star ratings they please. Perhaps for that user's personal system 2 stars counts for the "Awesome" category.

Some users use 1 star for the best rating and 5 stars for the worst rating. I'm guessing that is what this user is doing.

[James]

I would just love to have readers give me any star ratings. I have one 5 star rating on Amazon. I think readers give what they want. It is not up to us as authors to complain about the why's or what's behind readers decisions.