Review Group discussion
Finished rounds
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Group 164. Out of this World - Mod Scott
Thanks, Lucretia! I have many other books of similar theme, so maybe we'll meet up again!
You are very welcome, Scott. I'm sure we will cross reading paths again. :)
James wrote: "and here are the Amazon ones:https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-......"
Thanks Jim. Much appreciated.
Round 3: Fun read.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1XX5...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R341VNI...
Thank you, Lucretia! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Round 4:https://www.amazon.com/review/R3KYND9...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1DTE...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks for sharing your books with me. I hope to see you all again in more rounds.
Thank you Lucretia, you're the first one to finish. Any future round would have lucky to have you.
Scott wrote: "Thanks, Alex. Good on ya that you loved the politics and economics, when I had earlier versions of this book with loads of that stuff, some readers said it was too boring! Ha, can't please everyone..."*G* That's very true. And I suspect that I'm looking for weird things in my reading. I'm a definite outlier.
Thanks for letting me know it's okay to do the books in the order they get to me. I've just finished number 3, so I should be fine for doing all four!
This is my third book, Scavenger Girl https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which is posted to Amazon uk and us as well, but with 4 stars because their rating system is slightly different from Goodreads.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Alex wrote: "This is my third book, Scavenger Girl https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which is posted to Amazon uk and us as well, but with 4 stars because their rating system is slightly differen..."Thank you so much for your review, Alex!
My review of Akrad's Childrenhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Will post the Amazon links, reviews already posted, when I get them.
Amazon links for Akrad's Childrenhttps://www.amazon.com/review/RK2NGME...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3BIN...
Remember, everyone, first round reviews due Dec. 17, which is on Sunday. Although many of you have already posted them!
Scott wrote: "My review of Akrad's Childrenhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Will post the Amazon links, reviews already posted, when I get them."
Thanks for the review Scot.
Here are the links for Akrad's Children. This was NOT my Round 1 but as this is my first time in a review group I didn't know the order mattered.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is the Amazon link
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Thanks everyone. Round One ended today. I think that's everyone except for David Tucker. David, can you get yours done soon? Thanks!
Scott... I believe I was sent a book with a different title and cover than the one you mentioned. I received "Wizard's Rising" but the title you mentioned is "The Deadly Wizard's Games" Is this the same book with a different cover? I'd like to read it next. I checked Amazon and do not find a "Wizard's Rising" listed.
It is the same book, but I just changed the title to Wizards Rising and I will make the changeover to the new cover and new title on Amazon and Goodreads. For now, if you beat me to it, just post your review under The Deadly Wizard Games. Thanks!
Here's my Round 1 reviews - on Curse of ScalesGoodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/review/RM07FA5...
Amazon.co.uk https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R37QJ...
Still waiting to get my round 2 book from David :)
Jeanette
Jeanette wrote: "Here's my Round 1 reviews - on Curse of ScalesGoodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/review/RM07FA5...
Amazon.co.uk https://www.amazon...."
Thank you Jeanette for the thoughtful, and quite helpful review! It confirms what I thought: still need to tighten some of my prose up more, for clarity.
I have David's book. I will send it to Jeanette. Anyone who needs it, just send me a private message with your email address.
Hey hey S.D, not sure why you make the editor comment (I sent through a very professional and trusted service) but thanks all the same for the time it took you to write the review.
Also I have both my round one and two reviews to be posted today. Very sorry for the delay, have had a crazy end to the year ....
PS: Scott has mentioned I have not replied to some messages, I am not sure who I have missed but I have replied to all the messages in my inbox and I sent out my book to reviewers??? If I have missed you or it is you I have not replied to, can you let me know please and I will reply or send any files. Again sorry for the delay, have been in and out of hospital more than usual for the past month.
David wrote: "PS: Scott has mentioned I have not replied to some messages, I am not sure who I have missed but I have replied to all the messages in my inbox and I sent out my book to reviewers??? If I have miss..."Thanks David. Got it now. Hope you are on the mend.
Jeanette
My first reviews are up, just waiting for the links ... and I will pop the second round up a little later today :)
David wrote: "Hey hey S.D, not sure why you make the editor comment (I sent through a very professional and trusted service) but thanks all the same for the time it took you to write the review."A development editor is a bit different than a standard editor, they help discover problems with plot, flow, and what not. There were grammar issues, other mistakes , but the main problems dealt with the substance as previously mentioned. I am sorry the review wasn't a positive one.
Thank you for your opinion ... however I do feel a little miffed you posted your opinion in the comments section here as well. I would prefer in future to see those remarks in your review and not in the general forum ... as I feel it might influence other readers.
Hey guys, this forum is for comments about books; comments that are constructive and well-intentioned and aimed at improving writing, not personal, and I don't think anyone's erred here in this forum. We're authors; we may read others' comments, but ultimately we judge books on our own. That's why we have reviews, and that's why we have comments; we use both forums to discuss books. That's what this group is all about.For some books I've read I do recommend developmental editors in some cases, and proofreaders in other cases. This helps the authors decide what to do next.
David wrote: "Thank you for your opinion ... however I do feel a little miffed you posted your opinion in the comments section here as well. I would prefer in future to see those remarks in your review and not i..."It is unlikely that anyone reads the commentary here to make their decisions. Good or bad. It is no more likely, than others dipping into the reviews and becoming biased thereupon. Else, based on that, my review would have been a three-to-four star per your average.
Though I can understand why you might be upset. I am making the attempt (and possibly failing) to use in-thread short messages, and commentary for the author. While, leaving the review largely focused on the reader. This is something I am only doing for the forum, and since this is my first go around here, I am not sure if I will continue it or not in future rounds.
Scott and S.D I think it depends on why you are on here as to why or what you want to receive in the commentary of a thread. I am here to receive reviews and meet other passionate writers. I am happy with what I have written so don't intend to go back and change my story again ... as I know I have many fans with how it is written in its current form and have spent years already editing, revising and working how I prefer to structure it. To receive a personal message in the thread, for me, in the vein of making significant changes is a large pill to swollow and is giving advice where not really wanted. I don't mean this to sound rude but I don't do these rounds for shaping my writing at all ... and many might be on here to do just that, but not all of us. Again I thank S.D for the opinion it's just unecessary for me, outside of the review. PS: S.D Now that you have my attention and to go against everything I just expressed 😃😂😃 I would be interested in an example of a spelling mistake or grammatical error if you have the time, as I spent an exhaustive amount of time checking and sending through to editors to iron out what I missed. I really don't normally ask but this is certainly something that interests me.
Thanks David. We all have the impression that advice is wanted. We cannot on this forum call for between what kind of advice we get, whether it be suggestions on how to publish, on grammar, on plot, on story flow, on fitting in a genre or crossing genres, on punctuation, and so on. In other words we can't ask for exemptions to certain kinds of advice or critiques. Maybe you are looking for something specific from this review group, but this is a big group with a very flexible mandate. You could try critique circles on creative writing websites that allow you to seek only certain input, or go to the beta reader thread where authors do request very specific feedback, such as how to properly portray a scene in Nigeria in the 1930's, or how to portray a rodeo woman.Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/list_...
The important rule here though is that criticism cannot be personal or reflect on the author as a person. It must all be geared toward the craft of writing or marketing books.
Of course we'll keep going as we are and finish all reviews and also have fun doing it!
I have been in many groups on this forum now Scott ... I think I will stick with what I know, and continue on joining reading rounds. I have only received commentary once before in the thread on my writing so it's a rarety I can put up with 😊
Round 1https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just waiting for the links for round 2
Thanks, that's all the Round One reviews done. Humming along. Next due date is Jan. 7.
Looking at my review David, I don't think I singled out spelling mistakes, but grammar issues. I'm not sure if I have the time to take another look and pull out specific instances, as the next book requires time.I mostly only made notes pertaining to the prose I found confusing. That's because, as the way I saw it, grammar mistakes are much easier to correct (and heavens, none of us have perfect grammar), and prose is not something that writers can easily spot in their own works. We are picturing it, because we created it, while a reader doesn't have that convenience for clarity. It is something of a personal boogeyman in my own writing, and I have to constantly watch out for clarity.
No worries ... just thought if you had one off the top of your head you might be able to give an example. But if not, please do not give it a second thought. Cheers
David wrote: "No worries ... just thought if you had one off the top of your head you might be able to give an example. But if not, please do not give it a second thought. Cheers"I'm always looking to improve my reviews, and tighten my writing in general. I will take better notes on the next go around. Good luck with your further reviews.
Reading Genesis... there is one incident of "amour"when it should be "armour". I saw some other spelling issues, but ignored them... not many at all! I'll keep my eyes open, now that I'm aware that this is important to you.
I'm going to jump in here. These lists are public so anyone can read them. David, a good response to feedback is thanks. You can take what you want and forget the rest. Your work is not perfect and you have plenty of reviews that will attest to that. So you can improve it or move on. Also, if you don't want critical reviews maybe don't ask a bunch of writers to give you reviews. They will see things that the average reader might only chock up to 'I just didn't like it' or they'll read over them without an issue. But fighting like this draws a negative attention to you. I was intrigued so I looked your book up and that's when I noticed you reviewed your own book. As a reader, that will drive me away more than mediocre reviews would.
You are in the public eye, so put your best foot forward because you don't know who might be watching.
I am a bit all over the place with the order I am doing these. I will do better next time, the last will will be coming before the end of the year, however.This is for Jennifer Arnston's, Scavenger Girl. Solid book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RWWG...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/review/R2...
So This is EXACTLY why I stayed away from Goodreads for 2 years and have only made a tentative re-entry. Reviewers need big lessons in the social graces; the tactful review. State what is GOOD first. Try HARD to find something you liked. Leave critique only if you have emailed the author in advance and always offer gentle suggestions.
I'm still licking my wounds from 2013 Goodreads. This now has me worried if nearly 4 years later is too soon.
Also: Some of us KNOW what our mistakes are but may wish to keep up the momentum and not "stop the presses" to fix an older flawed version.
S.D. wrote: "I am a bit all over the place with the order I am doing these. I will do better next time, the last will will be coming before the end of the year, however.This is for Jennifer Arnston's, Scaveng..."
Might I say, I love your last line! Haha! Thank your for such a thoughtful review :)
As a side note...would you mind correcting the spelling of my last name? It's a odd one that gets the T and S switched all the time, lol!
I finished my review on Nuisance Man. I'll post on Amazon next. Seriously, people...you need to read this book.
And James, get to work on that next book, will ya?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Genesis (other topics)Voices in Crystal (other topics)
Scavenger Girl: Season of Atchem (other topics)
Fateful Attractions (other topics)
Stolen (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary R. Woldering (other topics)Jennifer Arntson (other topics)
Lucretia Stanhope (other topics)
Alex Beecroft (other topics)
Jessica Titone (other topics)
More...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2DNOIS...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RT3XD...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...