Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
III. Goodreads Readers
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Why don't more people read Self-published authors?
Joss Whedon talks about getting the same question from interviewers over and over: "Why do you write strong female characters?" He answered with something different every time, sometimes talking about his mom, sometimes talking about his dad, but finally and with some exasperation, he said he writes strong female characters because people like the interviewers keep asking him that question.So yes, different questions would be nice, but even if we don't get different questions, I suppose we can vary our answers to keep it interesting.
On the blog interviews:Even on the ones where the questions were not tailored to me, I made the answers interesting by highlighting different aspects.
As to the author-specific interviews:
Lynda already mentioned Raymond's blog Writing in a Dead World. Raymond read one of my reviews and mentioned in the comments of my blog that he'd be interested to interview me about info dumps. I had an article on exposition and the info dump on my blog, but that wasn't 'in-depth', so I gladly agreed to an interview.
I also did a blog interview about the many 'disabled' characters in my books, in particular my blind protagonist Bram, which turned into an interesting interview that I also posted in the review section of Reprobate: A Katla Novel.
So, an interview can still be about writing or your book, without boring someone to tears.
Mary wrote: "I think (if there isn't one already that I don't know about) I would like to see a discussion board restricted to "indie only" writers. I'd like to know how various others became successful, what methods are good, what prices are realistic, and what to expect. Everyone wants to write the next "50 Shades" but 99.9% won't have a title take off like that. " Do they? I wouldn't, the money would be nice but I would forever be publicly connected to that text. Brrr. Makes me shudder.Anyhow, I think your decimals are a bit off. In view of the PISA results that came out recently, let's try and round up correctly: 100.0% will not write a massive seller like 50shades. 99.9% would mean 0.01% write a blockbuster like that - 1/1000? Even if it is rounded up, the actual number must be a lot, lot lower. More like 1/1 000 000.
I think eLPy has a point, many SPAs have a primary job which isn't writing so time for interaction can be limited - do you spend the evening writing or networking? Whichever you do the other aspect will lose out for that evening. There is still an attitude about SPAs producing substandard work, and indeed I ran a blog post on Mythic Scribes recently discussing free books and the attitude of readers towards them.
Tura wrote: "Mary wrote: "I think (if there isn't one already that I don't know about) I would like to see a discussion board restricted to "indie only" writers. I'd like to know how various others became succe..."I agree...I wasn't being technical. I've never even read it...just heard the hype. Some here (tongue in cheek) would maintain I write as poorly. Maybe I'll have to do a "Look Inside" that infamous trilogy one day and see what the flap is about.
A.L. wrote: "I think eLPy has a point, many SPAs have a primary job which isn't writing so time for interaction can be limited - do you spend the evening writing or networking? Whichever you do the other aspect..."When's part 2 of this article due to be posted?
I just have one thing to say about the 50 Shades trilogy. Porn sells. People having sex with rich people sells. Sex sells. Okay, that was three things. They have one basic premise. Now about traditional authors I have noticed that a couple I have found on Goodreads, Rick Riordan for one, post about their new book is coming out or here is my christmas list from when I was a kid. They throw it out there people comment on it but they never respond once? I find that odd and downright rude.
You have quite a few SPAs on this particular thread. We interact with readers. We listen to their input and RESPOND. It is not always a good one, sometimes people take it the wrong way. We respond though.
Just my little rant.
J.T.
J.T. wrote: "Now about traditional authors I have noticed that a couple I have found on Goodreads, Rick Riordan for one, post about their new book is coming out or here is my christmas list from when I was a kid. They throw it out there people comment on it but they never respond once? I find that odd and downright rude."I agree with J.T. on this one. I'm not so needy that I need an author or blogger to respond every time I comment on his/her post, but when they never respond to anyone's comments at all, it feels uncomfortably similar to Twitter, where people talk and don't necessarily listen or interact. That's fine for Twitter (I use it, also) but in my opinion, it's not polite behavior for bloggers.
Why not disable comments on a blog if you don't want to bother with the interaction? I do understand there are some cases in which there are simply too many comments to respond to each one, but this is not the situation for most bloggers or author postings here on GR.
I also might be simplifying the issue too much, since my blog doesn't get all that many comments and is therefore easy to keep up with, but I want to make sure people know I've seen their posts and I appreciate the time they took to comment.
ETA: Author Diana Gabaldon is one I respect because of the time she takes to interact with her readers on a regular basis. She is very approachable, and her readers thrive on it.
Lynda wrote: "I also might be simplifying the issue too much, since my blog doesn't get all that many comments and is therefore easy to keep up with, but I want to make sure people know I've seen their posts and I appreciate the time they took to comment."A little or a lot of comments, I'm sure your readers appreciate the time you take. :)
I know quite a few busy authors who have lots of comments on their blog articles and manage to find the time to answer each comment. I think it can be done. Even when people are busy with their writing, they can find the time to comment in return. So I don't think the lack of time can be an excuse. One friend of mine in particular may not answer immediately each comment made on her blog, but she does take 10 minutes nightly to read each and comment back. It's impressive since she blogs daily!
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Lynda wrote: "J.T. wrote: "Now about traditional authors I have noticed that a couple I have found on Goodreads, Rick Riordan for one, post about their new book is coming out or here is my christma..."Okay so your saying that his time is more valuable? I, for an example, work 40 hrs per week at my full time job, working on 2 masters degrees, write, contact bookstores and libraries to stock my books, make calls to schedule author events, and communicate with agents. I still find time to respond to posts on Goodreads.
So the fact they don't have time is pure unadulterated BS. It is pure rudeness. But of course, they are famous authors and are too busy to communicate with the people that buy their books.
But of course I am a SPA whose time is worthless.
Sorry for the rant AGAIN.
J.T.
Gregor wrote: "A.L. wrote: "I think eLPy has a point, many SPAs have a primary job which isn't writing so time for interaction can be limited - do you spend the evening writing or networking? Whichever you do the..."December 22nd ish. I will link it.
A.L. wrote: "Gregor wrote: "A.L. wrote: "I think eLPy has a point, many SPAs have a primary job which isn't writing so time for interaction can be limited - do you spend the evening writing or networking? Which..."Cool. Thanks.
J.T. wrote: "Okay so your saying that his time is more valuable?"That's exactly why I mentioned Diana Gabaldon in my post. She's a published author, has had a popular series going for 20 years now with other books published between the "main" ones, tours, has a real life with her family, is currently consulting on a TV series to be made, based on the Outlander books, and STILL makes time for her fans, with quick responses on Twitter, replies on her blog, and advice on a variety of writers' forums.
Everyone is busy. Just because I'm not famous doesn't mean my time isn't as valuable as someone else's. One author may only find time to respond once or twice per week, and only on a couple posts, and another might faithfully answer each email, tweet, or comment, but at least they DO take the time to answer at least once in awhile.
I don't necessarily feel the need to rant about it—and in fact am not even angry at all—but it always bothers me when someone uses the excuse of being "too busy" to do what others manage to make time for. We make time for what we feel is important to us.
...and now I'm laughing at the thought of Rick Riordan stumbling across this thread and wondering why everyone's ticked at him for no good reason...
lolI find it rude that people don't take the time to respond to their fans. I have been using him as an example only because he is the most recent. Most celebrities don't take time for the people that made them celebrities. It is like they think they are better than the people who buy their books or records, watch their TV shows, or their movies. I just ask them to interact a little. I want them to show a little respect to the people that buy their thousands of millions of books.
Lynda, that rant wasn't directed at you or at Grimlock. I guess I was just ranting at the universe and trying to remind everyone to remember the people that put them where they are.
J.T.
On the other hand, you don't have to take everything personal.
Martyn wrote: "On the other hand, you don't have to take everything personal."I don't. I could actually care less. What I am trying to do is make a point differentiating between many (not all Lynda) celebrities including trad pubbed authors and SPAs. More SPAs are willing to interact with the general public on a day to day basis where others are not. It is not from a lack of time it is an unwillingness. maybe they are shy or something else but an occassional response is not unreasonable. Again using RR as an example (only because it is recent) When the post with his name on it (maybe it was a moron publicist that didn't realize this was an interactive site) hit showing he had a new series starting next fall there were probably a massive number of posts within the first couple of days. If I was a publicist or RR for that matter, I would have posted at least once recognizing that large amount of recognition. By making people think you like them they make a connection and think that post was focused directly at them. That will sell more books than treating it like a commercial.
Ok to make a group of posts rolled into one simple sentence.
If you make it big, don't turn into a douche bag.
Okay I am done with this line. Time for a new one.
J.T. wrote: "If you make it big, don't turn into a douche bag.Okay I am done with this line. Time for a new one."
Sage advice, that.
I'm wondering what would happen if we tried addressing the original post again...or maybe it's just time for a new thread.
And for what it's worth, I don't take anyone's posts here as a personal attack unless they address me by name. I don't take offense where there's none intended, mostly because I don't think I'm being inflammatory anywhere here; I just consider it all to be good conversation. When people get nasty, I back off until it settles down again.
J.T. wrote: "Martyn wrote: "On the other hand, you don't have to take everything personal."I don't. I could actually care less. What I am trying to do is make a point differentiating between many (not all Lyn..."
Why do you assume I'm referring to you? I didn't prefix my statement with @J.T., did I?
By the way, it's 'I couldn't care less' not 'I could care less'. If you could care less, you're still caring too much.
J.T. wrote: "I could actually care less.Actually, it's 'I couldn't care less.' Sorry had to pick. I'm just playing. :)
J.T. wrote: "I'm wondering what would happen if we tried addressing the original post again...or maybe it's just time for a new thread."
I've been wondering that too. Maybe a new post would be good. This one is quite lengthy and has strayed off topic numerous times. I'm just as guilty as anyone else.
I do think many of the reasons why people don't read SPAs more often have been touched on however. I'm not sure a new thread of the exact topic would work? Or maybe it would. I mean, there are always more people who can chime in later. And those who might do so when they don't feel as obligated to scan or daunted by the sheer number of comments thus far.
Maybe the new topic question should be 'What can we do to get more people to read SPAs?"
Martyn wrote: "B.C. wrote: "Martyn J.T. wrote: "I could actually care less.Actually, it's 'I couldn't care less.'
Check back. I didn't write that. J.T. did."
Sorry. I glanced incorrectly. :/ I'll edit it now.
@Grimlock, we have discussed enough together here for you to know I truly respect your opinions and have no desire to vilify (is it really only one "l" when villain has 2?) you or anyone else. The time excuse really strikes a chord with me. If it seemed I was attacking you I am very, very sorry and apologize. I was not trying to throw him under the bus either. His lack of response was just fresh. I am sure he isn't a douche bag. I guess I didn't do a good job getting my point across. @Martyn Thanks for that correction. I missed that error. I try to fix then as I see them. But, It does make me feel good you only noticed that one and not ten or fifteen more.
Richard wrote: "I think don't turn into a douche bag should be a basic rule of polite social interaction in all circumstances, not just for artists who make it big. :-)People tend to highly prioritize activities..."
I was just trying to say. These posts are supposed to be from him. Unlike twitter and all the other social media, Goodreads is not supposed to allow people to assume the identity of authors without that author's permission. (notice I said supposed to)
So anything posted by the RR account is supposed to be from him or his duly appointed rep. I am not talking about reponding to things like TMZ or the tabloids.
Anyway, lets move this thread back to where it should be.
I saw on amazon last night, the first 10 ebooks listed from a general search for "vampire" were from either a publisher with the author's name or none at all. They ranged from 400 pages ETP (equivalent to print)to 20 pages ETP. HAs anyone else noticed this phenomenon.
J.T. wrote: "I saw on amazon last night, the first 10 ebooks listed from a general search for "vampire" were from either a publisher with the author's name or none at all. They ranged from 400 pages ETP (equivalent to print)to 20 pages ETP. HAs anyone else noticed this phenomenon. "I'm not sure that I follow you here, JT.
J.T. wrote: "I saw on amazon last night, the first 10 ebooks listed from a general search for "vampire" were from either a publisher with the author's name or none at all. They ranged from 400 pages ETP (equivalent to print)to 20 pages ETP. HAs anyone else noticed this phenomenon."I'll say this and I'm sure I'll get bopped for it but I stop reading anything - blurb, synopsis, preview - if I see the word 'vampire' anymore. I do the same with 'werewolf' or 'witch' or 'demon'. The saturation is viscous.
I'm sure some of these writers are phenomenal. I still can't get past the premise. I'm sure others feel that way when they hear 'mystery' too.
I'm not sure about the overabundance of SPAs who write specifically 'vampire' plots (I'm sure just as many write basic 'erotica' as well) and why that is. My only theory is (and I'll get bopped for it too) that bored housewives enjoy romanticizing vampires (or werewolves or 'bad boy' demons) and think they can write.
Some can; others can not.
Should they? Maybe. People keep snapping them up, don't they?
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: " If a certain author said something to the effect of 'I don't answer anything online because it's not worth my time,' then you'd have an argument that they were being dismissive of their fans...."Or they are uncomfortable responding in the public arena and prefer to communicate with their fans through email and snail mail. Online messages can be misread or misquoted.
Gregor wrote: "J.T. wrote: "I saw on amazon last night, the first 10 ebooks listed from a general search for "vampire" were from either a publisher with the author's name or none at all. They ranged from 400 page..."Sorry, I was pointing out the saturation issue and most of the first page were what appeared to be SPAs with differing numbers of pages in a single popular keyword.
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "J.T. wrote: "@Grimlock, we have discussed enough together here for you to know I truly respect your opinions and have no desire to vilify (is it really only one "l" when villain has 2?) you or anyo..."Point taken
Martyn wrote: "eLPy wrote: "When do you most see and hear of Brad Pitt or Beyonce? They make appearances, give interviews mostly when they have a new movie/show or record/show coming out or supporting a charity o..."Good point Martyn however I must ask, do these stars entertain us first because they're really entertaining by themselves or is it because we're so easily entertained learning about these "elite" people? Might it be fair to say that we are easily entertained by listening to them talk like real people? A thought...
But I still do hear your point and those of others about interviews being so copy and paste. I guess I can say that as a new author wanting to reach my audience it's hard not to talk about your book because you do want people to be interested in it, as well as yourself, the author. I think in this respect too that sometimes, especially as in my case with poetry, so much of what the book is about is integral to even knowing about me. And maybe this is where so many of us Indie authors fall off because when we might not be able to play the right part when called for: be the book, be the author, be them both. I know I've tailored my more recent blog posts around my experiences writing because I've not wanted to just go on about myself, although in the end we almost always do indirectly.
Thanks for reply ! :-)
eLPy
to answer this threads question ....I don't know, do u?
I just have to say before I reply again, keeping up with this thread is like homework, you can't let it go too long before you have a whole weekend worth of reading! LOL! (Or cleaning for that matter...or bills...or reading...or writing...ok, ok)So, I read through the latest posts - man my eyesight is going to be crap after staring at this screen! - and did my best to take notes (yup, homework) so I can respond appropriately. Bear with me now...Then I'm going away! LOL!
In response to Page 19s earlier comments about generic interviews:
I think that it can be easier for the person creating the interview to just have a generic list, that way you can swoop up more interviews in less time. Learning about your subject takes time and not everyone is in to that part. I think just like writing, conducting interviews and publishing them is anybody's game now.
On LT there's a group called Author Chat, I was happy to have found it but disappointed to discover that it wasn't active. People were requesting to be interviewed but no one was stepping up. I found another poet on there a few days later who was looking for a chat. After I looked into a sample of their work on Amazon I contacted them and said I'd be interested in chatting although I don't think the group is really alive anymore. So he and I are working on conducting interviews for each other after checking out our books, which makes sense. How can you ask someone anything more than generic questions without knowing something about their work or themselves?
Shaun & Lynda- that's a good idea, an e-mail conversation. At the same time that there are all these generic questions I second Lynda in saying I do want to know about the author's writing process, experience, etc., although I may be biased as I'm a writer and a reader. But Martyn makes a good point about this too.
Another thing to do might be to find one of these generic interviews an author has already done and then conduct your own interview with them based on what you learn from that one. In that way this generic copy and paste method can actually become a sort of "pre-interview" if you will.
Oh, here's another idea, IF it's possible to look up a person by their comments on discussions throughout a group you could probably come up with a lot of different questions to ask, but okay I'm getting pretty far off topic aren't I…? (And I'm editing here to say this last part is a bit stalkerish, hm maybe not such a great idea but I think you all get my point.)
eLPy
wait...I'm coming back...
A.L. wrote: "I think eLPy has a point, many SPAs have a primary job which isn't writing so time for interaction can be limited - do you spend the evening writing or networking? Whichever you do the other aspect..."In response to A.L. - The option to network can be really, really distracting. For instance, I'm working on my website, technical stuff for my book sale, and should be...oh wait I should check on Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing and see new replies! Dani Shapiro's book I'm reading right now "Still Writing: The Pleasures & Perils of a Creative Life" she shares how distracting all our other life tasks can be from our writing and advises the writer to do their best to avoid these nagging desires...go do laundry, take a walk, check the news, check your e-mail...no no stop and write! By the time you get done replying to discussions some nights you've got carpel tunnel or go blind from staring at the screen! LOL. ;-)
Also in response to A.L. And the original post - I have to say it is really irritating to come across some of the stuff being self-published. None of us are perfect, sure, but some people are putting out work that's like serving dinner without ever tasting it first and then asking for payment. I keep thinking of one person in particular who irked me and still is beyond my daily limit. They put poetry out there on sale and described how it was written in one night. To them I think they thought this was honorable to, I think I can say, the rest of us that's insulting (even if you don't write poetry or read it). This same person is always publishing short stories and offering them for free then for $0.99. If I didn't know any better I would think that offering your book free and/or for $0.99 is a sure sign of crap. Do any of the big guys offer their work for this? Then I'd be even more mad if I actually paid even a dollar, that's a hamburger, fry or pop at McDonald's or I could get a cookie, or I could get a scratch card from the gas station...okay...
eLPy
Thanks J.T. for saying what so many of us are thinking about 50 Shades: Sex sells all the time. All I've heard about that book is it's a best seller, it's about sex, they're making a movie, it's about sex, it's very poorly written, it's about sex, it was originally self-published, and it's about sex. She didn't write well, she wrote about sex. Okay...I'm not going to reply after this for a few days...I'm just covering all the bases here...LOLLynda wrote: "J.T. wrote: "Now about traditional authors I have noticed that a couple I have found on Goodreads, Rick Riordan for one, post about their new book is coming out or here is my christmas list from wh..."
Lynda - You're right that we all do like to at least be acknowledged, even if very simply. I made the mistake of letting too much time pass from when someone commented on my blog and getting back to them personally. I replied to their comment on my site but if they aren't following they won't know this. With regards to this I would definitely say that if you have a site of your own and comment on someone else's leave your info in your signature. I don't know if people take offense to this but I learned far too late that this woman had her own site. I've since visited and sent contact but again feel bad I didn't sooner. But yeah, if people take time to say hi, say hi back...unless they're creepy or oh wait...they're some wonderful trackback from a RayBan or fake Louis Vuitton site. Such spamming can cause us to overlook the genuine comments.
J.T. - Your "rant" as you put it, about your time being worthless is parallel to what I was saying about traditional authors being given more leeway in terms of when you hear from them and how it's tied in to their marketing. SPAs are more "normal" people. And yet to play the devil's advocate, who are we to say that these people aren't super active on their other sites and just try to maintain some kind of presence on GR?
Lynda - to your response to J.T. talking about his time being less valuable - I agree with you again here, we all have different priorities and that's what it comes down to. In this day and age we're attached to the internet through our phones at all times. I do think however that e-mails and comments on personal sites can be a bit easier to respond to then some of these threads...wink, wink...but that's not to take credit from the people you reference, like Diana, she's a good example then of how it's done.
I think a lot of what we're talking about here should be used to improve this site and others because for me a major part of knowing to reply is getting the notification. Goodreads is pretty good about sending out notifications but I wish there was a way for me to see a list of all the discussions I've replied to so I can keep track of them when a great deal of time has passed. (Maybe this is already out there and I just don't know it, otherwise listen up Goodreads people behind the curtain! :-))
I think I've said this before, but yes Lynda & B.C. there is a point where I wonder too, should we start a new thread with some of these topics or just keep going until we've got 100 pages of comments? That does seem fitting B.C., how can we work this discussion in a constructive way and ask as you said, "What do we do to get more SPA readers?" And there's another point from Richard that could be a new thread to keep this going without keeping THIS going: why do we turn to SPAs? BUT Richard I gotta stop you on saying that Indie authors are less likely to be in it for the money, again I think about the person I mentioned earlier publishing every story or poem or thought or whatever they get down on paper or word doc. I think this comes back around to why SPAs while so common these days are still stigmatized: there are A LOT of people now in the INDIE movement for the money. Once upon a time we would have said the same for Indie musicians but um now everyone has a studio in their house or just go pay $4,000 to get your own music video...
Alright, I've said enough. Cheers to you all, Good morning to many.
Take care,
eLPy
author of "That Which Lives Within"
www.littlefacepublications.com
P.S. Seeing as so many of us are such willing "communicators" perhaps we can work on conducting our own author chats like LibraryThing members tried to do. The idea being that a thread be opened for an author and we talk like e-mail conversations or live chats or hey like this VERY SHORT thread! He he he...
I hope this thread hasn't died, as I have an anecdote to relate on the topic. I just received a review on my self published book, where the reviewer didn't even read the book because as they stated:They found the blurb and author bio too riddled with errors and thus couldn't be bothered to use the look inside feature.
Now, perhaps that is my fault for not using a professional to write the blurb and my bio, as I did use an editor for the book itself. Be that as it may, why leave a review at all since they clearly stated they didn't read the book? What reader will pick up on that distinction?
The upshot is, yes it made me mad, but I will pass my blurb and bio onto a professional and get a second opinion.
Richard wrote: "...Maybe they're jealous because you finished your novels and they're still struggling for what to write after Once upon a time..."Oh, please, could we stop w/ the jealousy schtick? How about the fact the some readers actually care and notice such pesky little details. And based on my quick skim of the blurb for Immortalibus Bella, it's more than a missing apostrophe or comma.
Frex, WTH does the following mean?
Tales and legends have been handed down from the long ago future for over 2,500 years.
Tales and legends from the future? So the storytellers are psychics/seers?
@ S.L., no offense but one doesn't need a professional editor for basic things usually covered by the time one enters HS (and definitely by HS graduation). Your blurb and bio don't consist of highly complicated and taxing info.
ETA: Just in case... No, S.L. wasn't talking about me. But I *am* a reader who passes on a book based on errors and poor writing of blurbs. I figure that if the author can't manage a few paragraphs w/o errors or inconsistencies, then it doesn't bode well for the entirety of a book.
etc: typos/HTML
@ Richard, thank you for the information about the formatting for the excerpt, I'll look into it again.@Karma Bites, thank you for your analysis. "from the long ago future" was my way of saying today is no more, and is in the far past. That is what the tales and legends are from.
S.L. wrote: "@Karma Bites, thank you for your analysis. "from the long ago future" was my way of saying today is no more, and is in the far past. That is what the tales and legends are from."Sorry, S.L., but that is utterly nonsensical. I can guess at your intended meaning but the way you attempted to convey it fails, as does your explanation. But that's just my impression. *shrug*
S.L. wrote: "@Karma Bites, thank you for your analysis. "from the long ago future" was my way of sayin today is no more, and is in the far past. That is what the tales and legends are from..."lol...whut?
Sorry, S.L. I'm gonna have to agree with KB here. On just about everything. None of that makes sense and an author who can't manage a blurb and bio without mistakes does not inspire much confidence.
Switching slightly away from the bandwagon (and coming out of lurkmode), one hit against self-published authors is the lack of marketing power. I really only see a self-published author's book getting buzz on certain indie-friendly blogs (and unless it happens at least twice, or is a memorable concept/blurb, it just goes in one ear and out the other for me). It could be the greatest novel in the history of ever, but if there's no brand recognition, it's only going to be found by those who know of its existence.
Marketing clout is a problem. I'm pretty sure about half the sales I have had came about off the back of my acting profile in a very small corner of London.
B.C. wrote: "J.T. wrote: "I saw on amazon last night, the first 10 ebooks listed from a general search for "vampire" were from either a publisher with the author's name or none at all. They ranged from 400 page..."Exactly...
S.L. wrote: "I hope this thread hasn't died, as I have an anecdote to relate on the topic. I just received a review on my self published book, where the reviewer didn't even read the book because as they state..."The exact same thing happened to me. I could say more, but I'll get mad all over again. Mine was a rating of 1 star which will now be figured into the average. It shouldn't be allowed. I can't think of any POSITIVE reason why another author would do that to someone who has every hope and dream riding on getting into print. I can think of several negative or pathological reasons why. Most writers join groups for constructive help. They do not join to have every hope burned at the stake for having the "nerve" to try.
Mary wrote: "The exact same thing happened to me. I could say more, but I'll get mad all over again. Mine was a rating of 1 star which will now be figured into the average. It shouldn't be allowed. I can't think of any POSITIVE reason why another author would do that to someone who has every hope and dream riding on getting into print. I can think of several negative or pathological reasons why. Most writers join groups for constructive help. They do not join to have every hope burned at the stake for having the "nerve" to try. "Mary, your only review on Amazon is a five-star and I didn't any reviews or ratings from any authors here either.
eta: You are aware, Mary, that not every poster here is an author, yeah? This group is for readers and authors. None of us, readers or authors, are under any obligation to 'help' you in any way.
I'm sorry but your comments do nothing but make you seem whiny and flakey. Frankly, in light of this last post I'm inclined to believe your previous gratitude over helpful advice given to you here was nothing but a load of bull.
Mary wrote: "...The exact same thing happened to me. I could say more, but I'll get mad all over again. Mine was a rating of 1 star which will now be figured into the average. It shouldn't be allowed. I can't think of any POSITIVE reason why another author would do that to someone who has every hope and dream riding on getting into print. I can think of several negative or pathological reasons why. Most writers join groups for constructive help. They do not join to have every hope burned at the stake for having the "nerve" to try."Fair warning: brutally honest reply incoming!
Mary, the same thing did NOT happen to you. S.L.'s comment addressed someone who posted a review about her book based solely on the blurb and author bio. OTOH, your book has a rating, which is NOT the same thing as a review (hence, the different words).
Everyone is entitled to their opinion as to GR's policy in permitting members to use ratings to express their interest (or disinterest, as the case may be) in a given book. But it is beyond the pale to use the word 'pathological' in connection with friggin' book ratings.
FFS, you want to be an author who is taken seriously? Then pay attention to the words you use. Otherwise, you come across as yet another whiny, illogical, thin-skinned dabbler―AGAIN, I might add.
ETA: And you shouldn't assume or misstate facts. What author 1-starred your book?
Oh lord, the soap opera continues! *grabs popcorn and bites nails*.
And stops... If you've already made the popcorn I'll be glad to share it with you!
I will bring the pop corn and you bring comedy ...I think we all could use a good laugh, especially at this time of year, its so cheerful it's depressing.
S.L. would you have updated your bio and blurb if the reader hadn't written what they did? The blurb and bio (and cover) are often the first things many a reader will see and they will choose whether or not to buy your book based on those things. That review may have just saved you from losing a few future sales. There are a ton of books out there to choose from and not many readers that I know would purchase a book with an unprofessional blurb and bio. I wouldn't. My free time is limited and that would scream out "not quite ready for publication" to me. You say you are getting a second opinion so don't stress over the review. If you fix the blurb/bio and the book is edited and awesome, then you find yourself some honest people (not sycophants) to review it and the reviews will eventually even things out and people will read that first one and think "WTF were they talking about?"
Beth wrote: "Switching slightly away from the bandwagon (and coming out of lurkmode), one hit against self-published authors is the lack of marketing power. I really only see a self-published author's book gett..."I've spoken to a few authors that are published through one of the traditional publishing houses and they've all told me one way or another that authors are being required to do a LOT of their own marketing. Unless you're a bestseller, you're going to be doing a lot of the things you do as a self published author. The name recognition will mostly come into play once someone has already located your book.
I'll admit candidly that the authors I spoke to do not accurately represent all authors, but it seemed interesting that one of the biggest positives of publishing with a traditional press isn't really even in play anymore.
Vanessa wrote: "Oh lord, the soap opera continues! *grabs popcorn and bites nails*."Yes, it's very dramatic and soap-opera-ish to tell people the truth instead of coddling and encouraging their whiny immaturity.
You two have fun with each other.
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Glad to hear you do yours differently, Shaun. I recently did one just like that on my blog: a few questions at a time, emailing back & forth, allowing the answers to dictate the next questions. I modeled it after two other blogs I like to follow (Writing in a Dead World/Raymond Esposito and Getting Personal/Massimo Marino) where the interviews have the feel of listening in on a conversation.
The "identical list of questions" model doesn't appeal to me as a reader, either. I don't want to hear the same facts spouted on different websites. I want to hear about the author & his/her writing, yes, but I'd also like to find out what else makes them tick.