Would it be inappropriate - I'm genuinely asking and don't want to upset anyone

[M.J.]

I am very new at this and have very little fan base, I am however beginning to get some new readers / outside my circle. A couple have recently left ok reviews, not great. I would genuinely like to know more about what their thoughts were. I want to improve my story telling and would like to factor in other opinions besides friends and family which tends to be probably more supportive than strangers. I don't however want to offend anyone or seem like I'm spamming them I just would genuinely like to get a better idea of where they are coming from. There is a second book in the series as well so I would like to improve on that. I could also just be being too sensitive and should leave it alone because not all reviews are going to be amazing and that's ok. Just a newbie looking for a bit of guidance from those that have been doing this for longer than me. Thank you in advance I really do appreciate it.

[Peter]

Contacting people who review books on their blogs is a good path to take. Once you read a couple critical reviews, maybe you’ll agree with what they say, maybe you won’t. But book are at the end of the day subjective. I’ve had one reviewer criticize something about my book only to have another reviewer say they loved that same thing.

[M.J.]

Peter wrote: "Contacting people who review books on their blogs is a good path to take. Once you read a couple critical reviews, maybe you’ll agree with what they say, maybe you won’t. But book are at the end of..."
Thank you!

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Reviews are meant for readers to communicate to other readers what they thought of your book. They aren't there to teach you how to write. Contacting readers is rarely a good idea. If you feel your writing is not up to par and you need instruction, you can take classes, you can join a writer's group, you can read books that instruct how to write. Publishing a book and then expecting readers to tell you how to improve is putting the cart before the horse.

[Ian]

Dwayne wrote: "Reviews are meant for readers to communicate to other readers what they thought of your book. They aren't there to teach you how to write. Contacting readers is rarely a good idea. If you feel your..."

*Searches frantically for "LIKE" button*

[Terence]

M.J. wrote: "I am very new at this and have very little fan base, I am however beginning to get some new readers / outside my circle. A couple have recently left ok reviews, not great. I would genuinely like to..."

Do you have a literary background? That's a useful leg-up into writing. If not, find a writing group that offers feedback to works-in-progress. Reading your pieces out loud focuses the mind tremendously and you are as likely to spot what doesn't work well as a listener. I went through that loop between 2010 and 2017. It's not easy - they have their own lives to lead. I also listen to what my editor says. Editors aren't cheap, examine your budget - you'll need the best part of $1,000. An editor won't tell you if your book is 'any good' but if their comments / suggestions seem off-piste, that's a pretty good indicator of what your piece conveys. I use SfEP (Society for Proofreaders and Editors). Shop around.

[M.L.]

They already put their thoughts in the review. For additional input, you might reach out to a beta reader for feedback. Joining a readers group can be helpful.

[Kelly]

I agree with Dwayne - a good policy to adopt is to be grateful for every review (good and bad) but then let it go. Contacting reviewers is not a good idea. Feedback is best found in reader groups, from beta readers, and critique partners. You can find them on Facebook, groups here, through Twitter, etc. But, you can also find them at local writer's groups, through your Library message board, writer's associations/clubs that meet in your area . . .

There's also a website called Scribophile that you can look into that offers feedback swaps.

[M.J.]

Thank you all for your suggestions and advice I appreciate the support and will look into some additional writers groups both locally and online! Happy writing!

[Micah]

Kelly wrote: "I agree with Dwayne"

Ditto. I'd feel pretty creeped out if an author contacted me about a review I'd written. It would feel very unprofessional and almost like stalking. I'd strongly suggest not contacting reviewers.

[Addison]

Also, if you check the Good Reads' policy, they adamantly state not to contact reviewers. Like several have said previously, publishing isn't where you learn to write, it's to produce what you've already learned. If you need writing and storytelling instruction and have already taken years of classes and just need audience feedback to whether it's marketable, put your story on Wattpad. They're an excellent source.

[M.J.]

Thank you all .... I’m more curious than anything but agree with all of your comments and suggestions, I truly appreciate the supportive and engaged community this board in particular seems to have and I am looking forward to being more active in it.

[Phyllis]

M.J. wrote: "I am very new at this and have very little fan base, I am however beginning to get some new readers / outside my circle. A couple have recently left ok reviews, not great. I would genuinely like to..."As others have said here, I would not follow up with reviewers, the have already given you their feedback. I would instead hire a professional, developmental editor who can really get to the heart of the weak/strong parts of your book. I am doing this right now and it has been a very good experience.

[W.]

Phyllis wrote: "M.J. wrote: ". A couple have recently left ok reviews, not great. I would genu..."
I don't try to be controversial, but it happens. For example, calling a hypothetical 21st-century country "The Democratic Unity" netted me some irony-challenged 1-star reviews, ignoring the fact that every other odious regime in the world also calls itself "democratic." Readers are not necessarily fair nor objective. TRY as well as you may (I have not learned the trick, myself) to ignore reviews except those from real reviewers, other authors or editors. You will sleep better and your work will improve.

[[deleted user]]

A third of the reviews I have were solicited to reviewers. Reviews are extremely hard to get unless you sell a whole lot of books, or your subject matter is one that has historically already received much press, or you are famous. Go to Amazon-find books in your genre, click on the reviewers names and see if they share their email address. Probably only one in twenty will give you the time of day, but you have to hustle to get reviews if you're new.

[[deleted user]]

BTW, use any honest criticism of your work to improve your craft. Embrace criticism. Be honest. if the criticism is valid, then change. If it is not, shake it off. Any author that isn't improving should quit.

[DJ]

I use all mediums to get ideas and work on my dialogue, pacing, events, cast etc. Be it movies, games, or other books. I even read books that show you tricks to write better.

[B.A.]

DJ, you have a good idea there. For Dialogue...plays/movies are great. It's what will move the script along. Games, are mostly action with minimal speech. If you want to know what good pacing is, watch the most popular TV shows (not reality though) and movies.
Characters, if you look at them as real people and make them rounded like real people, you got it.

There are multiple tricks to writing better but you have to use them for them to work, right? There is so much information out there, you need to limit it to prevent information overload which is where I am right now.

The key is to find what works for you. No two people write the same so take what works for you and run with it. On the second draft you an add, subtract and move things around to make a better story. Everything you mention would come into play in the revision process.