Reviews – the good, the
bad and the ugly!
Before setting out on the Indie publishing road I
read, loads. But I did not review.
After getting a
kindle I began to review books that I could download for free- payment of a
sort I thought.
I did not realise then that it was payment, even if it was not a 5 star.
I had no idea just how important reviews were to a newly
published author.
Getting close to my self-imposed date of publication,
my husband asked me I was fiddling with the cover. I explained to him how I found a book to buy
as a reader and as I did so I became aware of how many reviews I read before
reading the sample pages.
Reading the reviews helped me decide if the story was in a
style I'd like to read, more so than the blurb. The reviews were from people
who had read the book, not an author trying to suck me in by hinting at great
things.
Reviews, I realised, were golden.
My book was published in Dec 2013 and I offered it
for free over the Christmas week, knowing that people with a kindle under the
Christmas tree would be searching and downloading free books. 250 downloads – I
was so pleased and expected the reviews to start flooding in.......0 new
reviews
I was still not learning from my own experience as a
reader. I have free books on my kindle from 6 months ago – still unread.
BUT
They will arrive at some time, the good and the bad.
And I will be prepared for the good and the bad, for as
Oscar Wilde so aptly wrote -
'There is only one thing worse in the world than being
talked about
and that is
not being talked about'
Ok, here goes -
5 star reviews
- From
family and friends -They are probably slightly biased so I will take them
with a well meaning pinch of salt But there is that bubble of hope that
they did really enjoy the story and not just because they are proud of me
and want me to do well. It's not that they are not being honest, but they
had such a desire to enjoy the story. They know me, and possibly some of
the characters and places. So they have a different understanding of the
book.
- From
other authors- read for review -I will smile and feel an up welling of
happiness and pride. They are probably honest, but the cynic in me says
they want a 5 star review in exchange...hummm. So I will celebrate, be
pleased and note some of the things they liked so that I can ensure this
good practise continues in the next book.
- From
unknown readers – I will smile :) eat chocolate and be proud. But I won't
let it go to my head (well I might a little) they like everyone else are
just expressing their opinion. I know I have bought books and then looked
back at reviews afterwards and wondered if I'd read the same book as those
gushing 5 stars reviewers. I will some of the comments to brighten a bad hair
day.
4 star reviews
- From
family and friends - I have asked
some of them to read a book out of their normal reading genre. I am happy,
this is a great rating, and hopefully the words reflect why it was the
perfect story for them. I will think – are they my target audience?
- From
other authors- read for review -again it may not be their preferred genre.
They are being honest. I will welcome these and read carefully what they
write.
- From unknown readers – I will read what they write carefully, if they are my target audience I will be very pleased with 4 stars, but also think about what can I learn.
3 star reviews
- From
family and friends – make sure I don't ask them again ! No seriously, they
may be very helpful; maybe there are major editing problems. Be grateful,
but I will ask them to let me know in an email!
- From
other authors – read for review –I will look at what they say carefully,
they will probably recommend sites or books to read to improve my writing
style. I will write down their main points, wait a few days and then
decide whether I will act upon their views. After all it may be a case of
not liking my style of writing or the style that fits the genre I have
written.
- From unknown readers – I will be sad for a little while, then I will give my ego time to recover and then look at what they have written. What can I learn for the next book?
2 star reviews
- From
friends and family-I will disown them and remove them from my Christmas
list !
- From
other authors – read for review – I will probably cry, a little, feel
sorry for myself and indignant. Then I will read it again and see what I
can learn. I will remember that different people like different things –
reviews are a matter of opinion.
- From unknown readers – the tears will flow, but I won't remove the book from sale. They may have some very valid points, they may just have genuinely not liked the book, they may have downloaded it for free and hate the genre. I won't give up. Do you dismiss a book because it has one 2 star review?
1 star reviews
- From family and friends – not possible, they would talk to me.
- From
other authors – read for review- they will have probably sent me a private
message saying why they could not read or review. We are all
professionals- aren't we?
- From
unknown readers –I will laugh, because all famous and well-known authors
have had bad reviews, it keeps the balance. Even JK Rowling has been
slated. But then I will look at the comments, dismiss those that do not
feel useful and note others as a pause for thought when writing the next
book.
I will also remember that I as a reader and I do not take on
board everything that other reviews say.
A book with a range of reviews is normal.
What will you do with your
reviews?
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