Making Connections discussion
ARCHIVES
>
What are Your Experiences on Goodreads?
That's horrid! That's so sad
I've heard there are several groups that have issues with authors. Personally, I haven't had any issues or seen any issues in any of the groups I have joined.I do think it's terrible that anyone would gang up on any author, but I am sure it does happen. So far, I've been lucky in all the groups I've experienced have been great.
I had to leave a Poetry group on here once because some of the people were bashing my poems and saying I couldn't write, so I just left the group. Its unfortunate that there are people like that
Mod
There is a general trend of distrust of self published authors on most forums. I can understand the root causes of it, and I'm an indie author myself. But internet forums also bring out that kind of behavior in some people. Of all the internet sites I've been involved with, this one is the best. There are a lot of places where writers can go, and writers seems to respect the self-promotion rules once they know them.
As a writer (though unpublished), I really am sad that there are people who'd go berserk on authors who were brave enough to publish their work and ask for an honest opinion. It shouldn't be like that, there must be respect. After all, we read books only because there are people to write them. If we attack them and make them feel all bad, then what are we going to read?Besides, if you don't like someone's book, there's always a polite way to say it, and to provide constructive critique. After all, this is what the Goodreads community is for.
I haven't any trouble, then again I just published. That being said, I've been in many GR groups, and, in general people are pretty cool here toward authors especially compared to what I've seen on other sites.
As a reader and a GR participant I beseech anyone who does have trouble with someone to please approach a moderator. The groups are there for all to enjoy...I would hate to see a writer leave the site when there is so much to do/learn and chat about here on GR. Thanks for asking this question Tana.
As an indie author I've had nothing but a warm welcome here, but I've spent most of my time in this excellent group. I'm shocked to hear of this behavior elsewhere on GR.
My experiences have been terrific. Obviously, I take my 'writer' hat off when I go into a forum that is pretty clearly for readers to interact, but other than that slight adjustment I have felt welcomed everywhere. One thing that is great is that there are groups like this where fellow writers can interact without such worries.
My experience with Goodreads has been very nice. I like to discuss ideas more than promote, so I'm pretty much at home with discussions on various topics that the groups I belong to engage in. I haven't been witness to any visceral exchanges and did not know about the issue with the author in question.
Wow that is really, really sad. I've never had a bad experience here. Everyone is so welcoming and as an author, I've never had a problem. I like chatting with people more than promoting as well.
Wow. Nothing I've seen like that here, altho, I've seen plenty of it on many other sites.
I am not an author, but anyone who has the bravery to ask for a second opinion has my respect, regardless of whether I like the writing or not.
There was some 'ganging up' on a blogger awhile ago (December?) that I heard about. She was plagarizing others reviews and posting them as her own honest opinion. They were practically verbatim with some tiny changes where she added a few words here and there.I think that is rehensible. And the 'ganging up' was GR people pulling together to alert others of what she was doing.
Not sure if this is the same instance or not.
I have to add to the general voice that is saying that Goodreads is a great experience, both as a writer and reader. Even in reader discussions where opinions have been diametrically opposed there has not been any hostility against those of differing opinions.I spend time in forums of all kinds and can honestly say these are about the most civil I hang out in.
As a new indie author, I've been blown away by the help I've received and the enthusiasm of those here, whether they be writers, readers or bloggers.
I know of one case where an author didn't like the review they were given and chased this person into other groups bashing her-the reviewer. All he wanted to do was argue points with the reviewer. This author ended up rewriting the ending to his book and stating that it was poor reviewer comments that helped him to see the light. No one should be harassed or mistreated by anyone. Sometimes opinions and comments can come across in a totally different way then intended but we should all be careful before we say anything.
One thing I've seen happen several times is when an author engages a reviewer in a public forum it ends in tears. Don't. Just don't. It ends up with people picking sides and someone who thought he/she was "just explaining something" turns it into a free-for-all. If the book doesn't explain the point within itself, that's a problem, but when an author comes back and says, "but you should reread Chaps 14-20 and you'll understand" that's a bigger problem. I just watched a near blow up, averted from becoming an internet spectacle only because some commenters had seen this before and backed away slowly, and then the blogger closed the thread. But that author cost herself readers with the attitude.Don't engage publicly beyond "thank you for taking the time to read and review" if you absolutely have to, and better not to do that much. Once the readers know the author is monitoring the thread, the tone will change, and usually not for the better. Some really engaging personalities can take a bad review and make a lifelong friend out of it, but most can't.
This is not fan fiction. Expectations in a wider reader community are different.
That's advice from Cryselle that I'll certainly be following. I've had the urge to thank kind reviews but it seems to me that, around a review, showing any author presence can skew the discussion and so, as stated, best left alone.
I disagree. I don't see anything wrong with thanking a reviewer for taking the time to post a review. I would imagine most authors monitor their reviews so I don't see how that would chill a discussion. But arguing with a reviewer--I think that's just crazy. Not everyone will like my books. Even my mom didn't like my first one. If you don't have a thick enough skin to take criticism then an author should keep his masterpiece in his sock drawer. Just my opinion :)
Hello, I am a new author to GR and judging by the welcoming responses I've had so far, think it's a great site. I think, as an author, we've all probably got like minds in that we should be open to all kinds of criticism - it's up to us whether we take notice or not, and it depends how confident you feel in your writing as to if you're going to change anything based on negativity. It all depends on how much you get. I wouldn't change a thing based on a minority opinion.
I've been cyberbullied on a different site, and spent about twenty minutes thinking about whether to reply or not. In the end, I decided not to, just to annoy them more, but kept thinking: 'I'm a writer. I could insult that person as a writer and they're probably so daft they wouldn't even know they'd been insulted.'
The main thing I learned though, and plan to apply on this site, is to report it to a moderator. I llke this site and am not going to go leave it if I get cyberbullied - the cyberbullies are.
Andy.
Theo Mallier: Growing Pains
Mod
Lol! I've read some of the things these 'bullies' have written, and you're probably right!
My experiences have been near perfect. The people, librarians and authors I've come across have all been lovely.It's a shame that your friend has had that experience, although there might have been some cause for it (depending on how she went about advertising her novel). I know that when I was new I crossed the line once or twice but learned quickly that you don't make fans trying to force your novel down their throats.
Although, bullying of any kind is not acceptable whether the author 'instigated' it or not. People have been nice enough to turn me in the right direction if I happened to step on someones' toes. Reporting bullying to an admin is definitely the right way to approach this. Toxic people like this could result in the destruction of good sites like Goodreads.
I learned a valuable lesson a long time ago when I first became familiar with internet forums: no matter how compelling, don't feed the trolls!If ignoring a bully doesn't work, then advising moderators of the problem is the very next step I would take. So far I have felt very welcome here. Thanks!
Stacey wrote: "I learned a valuable lesson a long time ago when I first became familiar with internet forums: no matter how compelling, don't feed the trolls!If ignoring a bully doesn't work, then advising mode..."
I'm my own bully on here. I find myself criticizing myself first so that way no one else does it and I won't feel upset or afraid to post something and get hurt over it.
Also, I have a post on another group called "Burned Out" it explains how I stopped coming on here because I just felt mentally burned out and could not work on or write anything including posts in groups on Goodreads. However now 6 months later I find that I am amped up and wanting to post stuff but I feel as though some threads I'm not into, other groups have people who don't pay attention or interact with you and others just a lot to keep up with. I don't what I'm saying..maybe I'm trying to establish a more viable connection on threads in groups or that I should really look into more ways to connect on Goodreads and I'm tired of the same old routine. Last I would like to say that this group is not one of those groups I have lost touch with but in fact is one I have found more appeal to since my blog tour. Not to mention the moderators are awesome people! So yeah If anyone else find themselves wanting to shake it up or let others know they want more of their goodreads experience let your thoughts be known.Thank You
Wow, this is awful! Bullying on GoodReads? This is supposed to be a place where folks meet up who love books! I've had only good experiences. Although, I find GR is just not as user friendly as other places like FB so I find I dont interact her as often as I should. It's hard to follow conversations that go back and forth amongst people at times and the ratings/reviews on my book. Nothing seems easy to navigate.
I am fairly new to Goodreads, and often find it hard to "break in" on an established group. Also, I feel like a blind man, feeling my way around the navigation, but I keep plugging away at it. I still find it hard to make contact, though, almost as if I'm on the outside, looking in. I read a lot more of the ongoing discussions than I contribute to with opinions of my own.
I was harrassed the other day during a conversation that just didnt seem to go in my favor. I had numerous people on my case and now I have people not only thinking im unprofessional but they marked my book to read in created folders with rude and inappropriate names like ''not in a million years'', ''when hell freezes over'', ''poor writing'', ''douchebag behavior'' just to name a few. I contacted GR about the matter hopefully they can do something about it.
L.F. wrote: "I am fairly new to Goodreads, and often find it hard to "break in" on an established group. Also, I feel like a blind man, feeling my way around the navigation, but I keep plugging away at it. I ..."L.F., yes I feel the same way at times. Navigating in GR groups is a choppy experience. As an author, I need to get to know this place better and have made some good connections that led to other networking outside of GR. I also enjoy reviewing books and starting a conversation with people from reviews. I hope you keep plugging away at it too!
Justin wrote: "I was harrassed the other day during a conversation that just didnt seem to go in my favor. I had numerous people on my case and now I have people not only thinking im unprofessional but they marke..."Sorry this happened to you! That can certainly persuade members not to be active. Quite unfair to mark your books based on a conversation. Keep us posted on whether you get that cleared up.
Cryselle wrote: "One thing I've seen happen several times is when an author engages a reviewer in a public forum it ends in tears. Don't. Just don't. It ends up with people picking sides and someone who thought he/..."I agree with this. Authors: Do NOT respond to reviews for all the reasons noted here by Cryselle. Look how many best selling authors get terrible, bashing reviews - they all do. I actually enjoy the mixed reviews I get, as they show readers really thought about my book. Also, every person brings their own unique experiences to reading a book - which makes it so unique to each person. I find it so interesting that something in my book one person just loved is reviled by another reader. :)
I´m not a writer, but I´d like to say that not only authors have problems here. There are just some people who find fun in attacking other members. My experiences on Goodreads groups were not all good. I´ve been attacked simply because I posted on particular thread. (I didn´t leave that group, I´m still member.)
And some authors (whose names I won´t write) are well known for their bully comments toward reviewers, both here on Goodreads and on Amazon.
If I really dislike the book, I mostly just won´t rate it, even thought I do like to let author know why I didn´t like it and rate it, not in poisonous way of course. but If I didn´t like the book (but it´s not too bad), I´ll give it 1 star and post an explanation.
I´m sorry for "jumping" in here.
Lára wrote: "I´m not a writer, but I´d like to say that not only authors have problems here. There are just some people who find fun in attacking other members. My experiences on Goodreads groups were not all g..."Lara, thanks for sharing your experiences here as a reader. I am sad to hear that behavior by some authors. I have had authors I didn't know read and review my book, then contact me to review theirs because they reviewed mine and badger me about it. This is why I no longer accept review requests. I can enjoy reading the books I want to read and I generally am inspired to write a review only if I completely enjoyed the book - or even had some mixed feelings about it. I think if everyone tries and handles interaction in public forums, and private communication, with professionalism and grace then there would be less of these problems. Let's hope so!
Donna wrote: "Lára wrote: "I´m not a writer, but I´d like to say that not only authors have problems here. There are just some people who find fun in attacking other members. My experiences on Goodreads groups w..."You are absolutely right, Donna. Professionalism and grace can go a long way, not only in the view others have of us but in our view of ourselves. If we adhere to a high standard of maturity and not let reactionary emotions guide us, all our interactions here will be much more enjoyable and productive.
Since I am notified when people comment on posts it told me that the particular thread to which I was writing in and got harassed in, I had stopped commenting two days ago yet one lady is still talking about me, its not apology but I don't know, just totally amazed that they keep going. I am yet to hear back from Goodreads on removing those rude and inappropriate folder names from here.
I mean I know I shouldn't let what a few people have to say about my book effect me but it really upset and offended me and I am hurt by it all, it gives my book a bad rep ;/
That is unfortunate Justin! As I tell my son when he gets mad as such kinds of people, "think of them as irrelevant and be glad you aren't like that" and move on to the next good review :) Hopefully this won't affect your new readership.
Wow! I just joined. I've only had one person comment on my books so far, and they loved it so that was easy. I read that it's best to hold our tongues (or keyboards) if we get negative reviews but I guess it's pretty painful. I have seen some reviewers say some pretty harsh stuff and others just express an honest opinion but not rip the book to shreds. I hope that in the most people are polite on reviews, but it looks like this may be an interesting, but bumpy, ride. I will hang onto my hat! Wheeeeeee, here I go, wish me luck! Nice that this group is against bullying, looks like I've joined the right one. Don't like bullying, not nice. Don't like to see people get hurt.
I've been here a few months now and I've only had positive experiences. I post regularly in a few groups and sporadically in some others. Most indie authors seem to be supportive of each other. Some groups can be a bit cliquey but that's just the way of the world.
I got really sad in hearing about the motive of this topic. Seems like some individuals are just waiting for the right opportunity to hurt others. However, I've always had a very positive experience here on GoodReads. I love the community and all the brilliant people we find here :)
I have enjoyed my time on Goodreads, too and met some great people. Maybe I have been lucky. But I suppose there are good and bad people everywhere you go.
Omg how sad that this needs to be discussed because of bullying, there are always those that have to spoil it! In reviews readers are honest but usually the criticism is constructive. I'd be ashamed to offend anyone on purpose :( I love Goodreads it's my favourite app! the discussion groups are amazing It allows readers to discuss books, get others opinions & recommendations of what to read next. I also love how active the Authors are on GR it gives us the opportunity to interact with them, find out what they like to read & ask questions :)
I am not an author, indie or otherwise. I absolutely love to read and I joined GR to make friends and talk about books and other common interest things. When I first joined I had a "friend" who outright challenged me in open discussion, an area where others were reading & engaging in, as to why I gave a certain title 3 stars, he felt it deserved no less than 4 stars. This "friend" was rude and obnoxious, and being new & not knowing my way around GR yet I was embarrassed and really put off by the behavior. The difference between 3 and 4 stars? Really? Pretty darn shallow. I left it at that and did not say anything else, that is until today, as I write this. It took me quite awhile to award "stars" to books or say much in general, as I did not know if I would be treated the same way again. The kicker of it all...I had not even read the book. It was a "to read" book that I had mistakenly given 3 stars. So, it's best to watch what and how we say *print* things as emotion does not translate too well with the written word. Oh, & don't hesitate to un-friend someone or leave a group if you are not being treated the way you yourself would want to be treated. Life is too short to have to deal with shallow people.
Aww Brian that's terrible your ratings are your opinions and others should respect that, I'm not an author or writer but I love reading and have loads of brill friends on GR's were not all bad honest :)
I haven't been on GR more than a few months myself, and while I haven't had any negative experiences I wonder sometimes what exactly I've joined. I'm always looking forward to meeting new people, but I can't say I've really done so in my time here. I suppose it's my fault on that end for not posting a lot, but it's my natural habit to only speak when I feel I have something to add. And "breaking in" to established groups isn't easy; in some cases it's like trying to pass yourself off as a member of a longstanding tribe! But many forum sites are like that so I don't feel bad about it.
What I have noticed more is the life cycle of groups. I thought I could join, get my feet under me, have some great discussions about writing, really get to the meat of it so to speak, and genres I enjoy reading with others. Mostly what I've actually seen has been posts about breakfast foods, favorite music, opinions on news articles, etc. etc. Also, activity tends to wane quickly bar a few constantly active groups down to nothing in weeks or days. That happens in many forum communities too, but it wasn't what I was expecting here I guess. Sometimes it seems more like Reddit than GR. That isn't all bad, of course, just not my thing.
Thankfully I've seen no instances of bullying, myself!
Just to add a bit about reviews, an author far more experienced than myself told me to be careful when reading reviews. You could get 999 glowing reviews of your work, but it can take just one bad review to make you want to quit writing.
What I have noticed more is the life cycle of groups. I thought I could join, get my feet under me, have some great discussions about writing, really get to the meat of it so to speak, and genres I enjoy reading with others. Mostly what I've actually seen has been posts about breakfast foods, favorite music, opinions on news articles, etc. etc. Also, activity tends to wane quickly bar a few constantly active groups down to nothing in weeks or days. That happens in many forum communities too, but it wasn't what I was expecting here I guess. Sometimes it seems more like Reddit than GR. That isn't all bad, of course, just not my thing.
Thankfully I've seen no instances of bullying, myself!
Just to add a bit about reviews, an author far more experienced than myself told me to be careful when reading reviews. You could get 999 glowing reviews of your work, but it can take just one bad review to make you want to quit writing.
I'm so saddened to read about some of the difficult experiences the good people of this group have gone through. It's just awful the way that some people abuse anonymity to be cruel.As someone who is also fairly new to GR, I empathize wholeheartedly with those who've mentioned feeling a bit lost! Like I'm standing on a street corner with my hands in the air yelling, "Please be my friend!" Ahem. Not embarrassing at all. But I'm happy to say that everyone with whom I've had the good fortune to connect? Well, they've been nothing but kind -- shining examples of how there are more good people than bullies in the world. It may be some time before I get this whole thing figured out, but I'm enjoying the process.
To anyone having a hard time dealing with negative reviews, it helps to remember that reviews are for readers, not writers. They're none of our business. (Unless they're all saying the same thing, which could indicate a problem in the work.) And to any reader who hesitates to be honest for fear of reprisal, your opinion matters. Don't let the schmucky folk silence your voice.
Hugs to all. :)
Bullying and comments deliberately intended to hurt or demean someone can never be justified and must never be tolerated.That said; I have witnessed a few instances in which some group members resented impartial, constructive criticism and interpreted it a a personal attack even when the comment was obviously part of a general discussion and not aimed at any one individual.
Tana