Review Group discussion
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Group 164. Out of this World - Mod Scott
message 151:
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David
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Dec 20, 2017 01:46PM
Thanks Scott appreciate it!
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Chris if you think I am arguing a review you are mistaken ... I was responding to a comment not a review. Sorry if this has offended you. In regards to reviewing my own work ... I have given myself a star rating not a review, and those stars are for my own reward. Hey I'm a teacher I'm allowed to give gold stars 😅😅😅
Mary wrote: "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 fir..."
I can't say I agree with that. What you described is more in line with a beta read, or critique. Reviews should be honest, negative if need be. They are more for the reader than for the author.
Jennifer wrote: "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 Arnst..."
Shoot, sorry about that. I will get it corrected.
And you are quite welcome
My review for Genesishttps://www.amazon.com/review/R2W5W9H...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RXIPN...
Chris wrote: "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..."I didn't realize making my own stars would have a negative effect. I saw others doing it so I felt. Monkey see, monkey do. It's good to know. Perhaps I should go remove them
S.D. wrote: "Mary wrote: "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 wha..."
Sorry S.D. nasty is just nasty in my book, and not necessary. Brutal reviews IMHO come off like trolling and are just not necessary or valuable. I've never left a negative review especially with the reader in mind.
Being an author doesn't necessarily make me fit to judge other authors. I want to tactfully explain what the reader will encounter, then let that reader decide if they want to buy the book.
I consider myself no authority. If I don't like a book I immediately look at other reviews because I usually think there's something wrong with ME as a reader.
Mary wrote: "S.D. wrote: "Mary wrote: "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 revie..."I can understand your opinion. But breaking down books, the good bits and the bad, is part of doing a standard professional review. Readers, writers, are all qualified to do so - heck, I get paid by Universities presses, and a well-respected/sought after review site to do just that. I'm a nobody.
If you are not comfortable doing so, then that is fine, and I seriously doubt anyone here will complain. And it is a very sweet thought what you stated there. However, I can't say that such is the standard.
Still, I am not terribly used to interacting directly with the author, as an author. Different expectations.
Okay everyone, let's get back to reviewing the sets of four books each of us have! The basic standards here are: honest reviews, reviews must be posted, and reviews cannot be personal upon the author of the book reviewed, but rather must be based on the book.
Thank you for the review, Jennifer. High praise, and I very much appreciate it.
Mary I think if someone was turned off by adding stars to your own book (which you deserve for just being brave enough and publishing your work) that is their problem ... personally I added mine as a reward to myself for publishing something to the best of my ability. If someone was that critical and pedantic I would be happy they were not reading my book ☺ When I review I follow your format, that is how I was taught at Uni to do it, and I read to enjoy, not that interested in taking notes. I look for the good and if it is not perfect I still may give four or five stars if I enjoyed a cracking tale. Story telling is what I like most about reading ... it is what I look for in my reads 😊
David wrote: "Mary I think if someone was turned off by adding stars to your own book (which you deserve for just being brave enough and publishing your work) that is their problem ... personally I added mine as..."David, darling,
I see you posting on the feed...are you planning on answering my private message??? I need your email address :)
Sorry I had no idea!!! I will check and fix straight away 🤔🤔🤔
Blessings of the season to you and yours.May the Star of Light brighten your night
and strengthen all your days.
Be the season of joy and renewal to you & yours.
Mary R. Woldering,
Author Children of Stone
Just finished Scott's book!3-stars on GR
4-Amazon
Same review on both sites, but here's the GR one (Zon says it needs to process it...whatever, lol)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
James - I just posted your Zon review for Tales. I've also recommended it about 15 times over the holiday break!
Thanks Jennifer! Glad you found it refreshing!
Thanks again Jennifer! Greatly appreciated. :)
My reviews for Curses of Scale:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
James wrote: "My reviews for Curses of Scale:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Hey James! Thanks for the review!
https://..."
Reviews for Fateful Attractions:GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3DET...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2SHXIO...
Jessica wrote: "Reviews for Fateful Attractions:"Thank you for the detailed review. I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy the story more. This has been a humbling experience this go around. I certainly appreciate you taking the time to read, sending me such helpful notes, and leaving a review. Thank you, again.
Lucretia wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Reviews for Fateful Attractions:"Thank you for the detailed review. I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy the story more. This has been a humbling experience this go around. I certainly a..."
I think we've all been a little humbled by the feedback gained from this group. Hopefully we've gotten a lot of positives too and notes for what we can improve going forward.
A review group is a beautiful thing but does have its pitfalls. Fantasy/Sci Fi is such a wide and varied genre. From the books I've read in this group and the research on others that I didn't get to read, I haven't seen two that I'd dare to call similar. Because we're all so diverse in our writing/reading interests, the chances of loving the books we were assigned is slim. Still, I think that we were all able to find some merit in each story and even truly enjoy certain parts.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bummed each time I got a less than glowing review. If I'm being truly honest, there has been more than one occasion when I attempted to rage-quit my writing career. But on my more rational days, I tell myself that each review (good or bad) is progress. They tell the reader what your book is - and what it is not - so that you can appeal to the right audience. Also, so that your book will stay out of the hands of potential haters that won't write reviews as respectful as those by fellow authors.
I've blathered on long enough. My meaning by this little speech was just to say that I feel your pain and don't want you to get discouraged by any opinion of your work that came from my uber-picky brain. I think you're a rock star, even if you're not playing my favorite kind of music.
Thank you. My hope is that David will enjoy the book... otherwise I'll be 0/4. I seriously don't expect my work to suit every reader and take comfort that most of my negative feedback comes from peers and not readers. I think what I've learned from peer review groups is that I need to be more patient and let my reviews come organically from readers who seem to enjoy my books a whole lot. I do wonder if that is because as writers some of us tend to read with an editorial eye? On the other hand, always looking for a positive side, I also have some wonderful advice now to make the experience even more enjoyable for readers - I hope.Big creative hugs and good juju to everyone who has felt the sting from this round. <3
OK, I think this is my fourth and last. Voices in Crystal, part 1 of Children of StoneGoodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Please see my private comments via Facebook. I was pretty upset at some of the interpretations stated publicly all things considered. The star rating, by the way, was not the problem. I am in the process of editing for a later edition.When depicting history, I am faithful to what I read in research, not to how I feel about it.
I never sugar-coat or moralize, but try to get into the heads of a character in the same way an actor might.
Mary wrote: "Please see my private comments via Facebook. I was pretty upset at some of the interpretations stated publicly all things considered. The star rating, by the way, was not the problem. I am in the p..."Hi Mary,
I agreed to provide an honest review and I gave an honest review that stated what I liked and what I did not like.
I am in fact an author of historicals myself, so I know about the balancing act that has to be done between historical realism and modern sensibilities. You as the author still choose what goes into the book and how. I as the reader am still allowed not to like it if I don't like that kind of thing.
I'm not going to read your comments on Facebook because (a) I still can't figure out how Facebook works and (b) it's not going to make any difference. I stand by what I said.
If it's possible to delete the review, I am willing to delete it if that's what you want. I am not willing to change it.
Jessica wrote: "Posting two reviews. To be honest, I read my second round book first because it was available on KU, and my subscription was ending soon. I wanted at least one of my assigned authors to get page re..."What a fantastic review of Lioness of Cygnus 5! Thank you so much, Jessica! And sorry it took me so long to reply. Christmas has put a spoke in my productivity, and also I'm often reluctant to even look at reviews of my stuff in case they depress me. I'm glad I finally looked at this one. Thank you!
It is not possible to delete a review in this review group family. Honest reviews must be provided.
Alex does not have to change his review. It does not go beyond the boundaries of fair comment.
Thanks.
Alex wrote: "Mary wrote: "Please see my private comments via Facebook. I was pretty upset at some of the interpretations stated publicly all things considered. The star rating, by the way, was not the problem. ..."I appreciate your review, especially the part about the editing, which I knew. I felt you were judging my personal character and beliefs based on misinterpretations of the characters I presented when nothing could be further from the truth.
Harder to take would be other readers judging me in the same way.
Scott wrote: "It is not possible to delete a review in this review group family. Honest reviews must be provided.
Alex does not have to change his review. It does not go beyond the boundaries of fair comment...."
And Alex should not have to change a review. The wider effect of Alex comment is the concerning part
At the get-go I thought I was not emotionally ready for Goodreads reviews because they are usually "personal" under the guise of being "honest"
I may have been right. I'm too fragile for that kind of review. It's MY problem, not Alex' problem.
As I stated in other messages, I thought "honest review" was about tact and constructive criticism, not spreading misinterpretations of characters that might be prejudicial out on the internet.
When I do not like something, I automatically presume the problem is mine and that I must have misinterpreted something. Then I try to contact the author, or read other reviewers opinions.
Mary
Alex's review was of the book. Nowhere in his review does he refer to the author.Yes, books mean different things to us.
Mary wrote: I felt you were judging my personal character and beliefs based on misinterpretations of the characters I presented when nothing could be further from the truth.Harder to take would be other readers judging me in the same way.
I'm not judging your personal character, Mary. I don't know you at all. All I did was to write down how your book made me feel.
I'm sorry that upset you and that you feel that I misinterpreted your intentions. Unfortunately, as authors, we can't control the way readers understand and interact with our books, other than with the words on the page. People are different. Different people will - being completely honest and without bad intentions - interpret things differently, and there's nothing that can be done about that.
This is why I personally no longer even read my reviews. The slightest criticism depresses me for weeks and I find myself wanting to argue against it. So I do understand how you feel. But I don't believe that reviewers owe me anything other than honesty. So, to protect myself, I just don't even look any more.
As I said. The problem is mine. I thought after four years I would be ready for a review. This is evidence I am not. I am also likely not ready to GIVE an "honest" review, because I would never want to hurt someone's feelings. I always find myself grading high to avoid that.My intent was to have my characters (all of them - even the antagonists) loved or at least understood. That they weren't. bothers me more than poor editing.
Alex wrote: "Mary wrote: I felt you were judging my personal character and beliefs based on misinterpretations of the characters I presented when nothing could be further from the truth.Harder to take would be..."
Thank you. We understand each other. I wish I was more resilient. I wish I was capable of giving an honest review so forums like this are challenging for me as well. I find myself far to empathetic of the author to be truthful most of the time. I want to get better, not be the one people come to for easy 4's and 5's
Update, with four more days to go until the Round Two deadline on Sunday.- Two authors have finished all four rounds
- Three authors have time to post their Round Two reviews by Sunday
- The rest all finished Round Two or Three already, but not all four books (which is of course just fine and still ahead of schedule!)
Thanks.
I should have the review in by the appropriate time.
Here's the goodreads review of Stolen. I'll post the Amazon ones as soon as they clear.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nice work, Jessica.
Jim
And here are the Amazon ones:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
Reminder to three authors to do the second round review by tomorrow. Normally I don't post another reminder, but there haven't been any new second round reviews posted since my last reminder. Thanks and let's get hopping!
Doing it today. Also posting it in my blog which hits tomorrow. Then off to round 3
Hmm the three authors who are supposed to post second round reviews by today still haven't done so (I see your message, Mary).I'll send in personal reminders to all three now by private message. Usually I don't see this much catching up to do in a review group, so I'm hoping we can get back on track.
Here are the links for mine! Good Work Scott!https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Wizard-... (pending approval)
Thanks Mary you're all in on time and the second person outstanding has notified me she'll post a review soon!The third and last person I still have to hear from, but I'm confident.
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)
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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)
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