What do you do about reviews? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:51:21Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:122782?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A124130&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFrom by blog of 5 Mar 2007
My…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-16:537324:Comment:1245442008-02-16T23:49:18.843ZNewt Lovehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/newtlove
From by blog of 5 Mar 2007<br />
My funny bone twanged, and I wrote a set of replies to any critics or reviewers who hate my book(s):<br />
* I'm sorry. The sound of your mind closing distracted me from your comments.<br />
* I guess we won't be discussing my book over drinks later then?<br />
* Did you skip seeing your therapist this week?<br />
* Do you have me confused with your ex-wife / ex-husband?<br />
* Your review was witty, biting, and visceral, but was it about my book?<br />
* I like your reviews. You don't use big words.<br />
*…
From by blog of 5 Mar 2007<br />
My funny bone twanged, and I wrote a set of replies to any critics or reviewers who hate my book(s):<br />
* I'm sorry. The sound of your mind closing distracted me from your comments.<br />
* I guess we won't be discussing my book over drinks later then?<br />
* Did you skip seeing your therapist this week?<br />
* Do you have me confused with your ex-wife / ex-husband?<br />
* Your review was witty, biting, and visceral, but was it about my book?<br />
* I like your reviews. You don't use big words.<br />
* Do you need soap and water to clean your glasses?<br />
* Your prejudices must be such a help! You know what you think of a book before you've read it.<br />
* Was it good for you, too?<br />
* Anybody have any matches to light to clear the air?<br />
* It's amazing how much you and my ex-wife agree. Are you dating her?<br />
* It's a good thing you and I are such close friends, otherwise I might be offended.<br />
* Did you forget that book reviews are supposed to be more than ad hominem remarks?<br />
* Your review was so thorough, I canceled my annual proctologist's exam.<br />
* It's nice to know that I can count on you when I need a kind word.<br />
* I guess dating your sister is out.<br />
* For your birthday, I'm getting you a new tongue sharpening stone.<br />
* I thought your Tourette syndrome was under control. Remember when Maria gave the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-16:537324:Comment:1242692008-02-16T00:00:28.139ZMark Hailehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/circuitmouse
Remember when Maria gave the blessing at her first dinner at the von Trapp home? Sometimes a 'thank you' will make a more suitable response than getting upset (like when it's obvious that they didn't even really read the book).<br />
<br />
The best thank you I ever got was a postcard from David Sedaris; it had the entire staff in stitches --and somebody promptly purloined it! It'll probably show up on eBay someday...
Remember when Maria gave the blessing at her first dinner at the von Trapp home? Sometimes a 'thank you' will make a more suitable response than getting upset (like when it's obvious that they didn't even really read the book).<br />
<br />
The best thank you I ever got was a postcard from David Sedaris; it had the entire staff in stitches --and somebody promptly purloined it! It'll probably show up on eBay someday... Hey Liz,
Ever see the Wizard…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-15:537324:Comment:1242662008-02-15T23:51:49.749ZRosemary Harrishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/rovideo
Hey Liz,<br />
Ever see the Wizard of Oz? The scarecrow tells Dorothy, some people go this way, then again some people do go that way...
Hey Liz,<br />
Ever see the Wizard of Oz? The scarecrow tells Dorothy, some people go this way, then again some people do go that way... I'm always quite careful to t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-14:537324:Comment:1241322008-02-14T21:51:38.141ZMarilyn Meredithhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarilynMeredith
I'm always quite careful to thank the reviewer no matter what they might have said about my book. After all, he or she took the time to read it. I'm smart enough to know not everyone has the same tastes. There are plenty of books people recommend to me that I find I don't really like--so why should I expect a reviewer to be any different?<br />
<br />
Reviews come in very handy for promotion.
I'm always quite careful to thank the reviewer no matter what they might have said about my book. After all, he or she took the time to read it. I'm smart enough to know not everyone has the same tastes. There are plenty of books people recommend to me that I find I don't really like--so why should I expect a reviewer to be any different?<br />
<br />
Reviews come in very handy for promotion. I, too, have been on the othe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-14:537324:Comment:1241302008-02-14T21:29:36.551ZMark Hailehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/circuitmouse
I, too, have been on the other side of the fence. I had a review in the last century that I bent over backwards to be fair about and tried my damndest to find <i>something</i> positive to say about a book that was perhaps one of the most poorly written I'd ever read --and by a Columbia graduate, no less!<br />
<br />
The author thought he was along the lines of the second coming, and wrote the editor of the magazine a scathing novella response, and attacked me quite personally (never addressing the issues…
I, too, have been on the other side of the fence. I had a review in the last century that I bent over backwards to be fair about and tried my damndest to find <i>something</i> positive to say about a book that was perhaps one of the most poorly written I'd ever read --and by a Columbia graduate, no less!<br />
<br />
The author thought he was along the lines of the second coming, and wrote the editor of the magazine a scathing novella response, and attacked me quite personally (never addressing the issues I brought up in the original review). There is an inherent responsibility in the entire editorial process of assigning, writing and editing the review to be as fair and professional as possible. In the end, it will help the writer, and the public at large. >the more vitriol, the mor…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-14:537324:Comment:1240152008-02-14T03:01:43.737ZJoy Calderwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
>the more vitriol, the more bitter the author of the review probably is cuz you did what they can't.<<br />
<br />
It would be nice to think that, but having been a reviewer myself, I know that to understand it you have to pay attention to the reviewer's reasons for hating the book. I have written a few slasher reviews, and they were all for books that I would never have accepted for publication -- for reasons that were explained in detail in the review.
>the more vitriol, the more bitter the author of the review probably is cuz you did what they can't.<<br />
<br />
It would be nice to think that, but having been a reviewer myself, I know that to understand it you have to pay attention to the reviewer's reasons for hating the book. I have written a few slasher reviews, and they were all for books that I would never have accepted for publication -- for reasons that were explained in detail in the review. The most troublesome review I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-14:537324:Comment:1239942008-02-14T00:37:54.803ZMarilyn Meredithhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MarilynMeredith
The most troublesome review I got was on Amazon and gave away the end of the story. I wrote and asked the reviewer if she'd please change the review--and she did.<br />
<br />
With any review, you'll be able to get something out of it you can use in promotion, put on your webpage, use on the back cover of your next book.<br />
<br />
I don't keep them in a scrapbook--but I do keep them in a file on my computyer.<br />
<br />
Marilyn<br />
<a href="http://fictionforyou.com">http://fictionforyou.com</a>
The most troublesome review I got was on Amazon and gave away the end of the story. I wrote and asked the reviewer if she'd please change the review--and she did.<br />
<br />
With any review, you'll be able to get something out of it you can use in promotion, put on your webpage, use on the back cover of your next book.<br />
<br />
I don't keep them in a scrapbook--but I do keep them in a file on my computyer.<br />
<br />
Marilyn<br />
<a href="http://fictionforyou.com">http://fictionforyou.com</a> Some authors I know put revie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-13:537324:Comment:1239532008-02-13T21:59:10.133ZMark Hailehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/circuitmouse
Some authors I know put reviews immediatedly in the shredder without reading them (if they're good, you'll hear about it soon enough). Others have papered their rooms with them. Most laugh all the way to the bank with the bad ones in hand. Anyone who is <i>anyone</i> has had a few wrist-slashing reviews come their way-- the more vitriol, the more bitter the author of the review probably is cuz you did what they can't.<br />
<br />
I'm still trying to master the art of the poker face, the ironclad smile,…
Some authors I know put reviews immediatedly in the shredder without reading them (if they're good, you'll hear about it soon enough). Others have papered their rooms with them. Most laugh all the way to the bank with the bad ones in hand. Anyone who is <i>anyone</i> has had a few wrist-slashing reviews come their way-- the more vitriol, the more bitter the author of the review probably is cuz you did what they can't.<br />
<br />
I'm still trying to master the art of the poker face, the ironclad smile, and the prompt thank you note-- the last being the most important (as appropriate)<br />
<br />
Mark. I made a scrapbook of reviews…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-13:537324:Comment:1238632008-02-13T15:35:04.973ZHarley L. Sachshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HarleySachs
I made a scrapbook of reviews and posted them on my web side <a href="http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~hlsachs">www.hu.mtu.edu/~hlsachs</a> so people could see what others thought of my work. It is important for the covers of books to include brfief excerpts from reviews, but the ones that matter are reviews that appeared in major places like the NY Times. My daughter who worked at Coffee House Press for about ten years says only those major reviewers have any clout when it comes to reviews quoted on…
I made a scrapbook of reviews and posted them on my web side <a href="http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~hlsachs">www.hu.mtu.edu/~hlsachs</a> so people could see what others thought of my work. It is important for the covers of books to include brfief excerpts from reviews, but the ones that matter are reviews that appeared in major places like the NY Times. My daughter who worked at Coffee House Press for about ten years says only those major reviewers have any clout when it comes to reviews quoted on book covers or just inside the covers.<br />
<br />
My own experience is that reviews have not generated sales. I have sent out review copies with poor results. My book of Jewish short stories, "Threads of the Covenant: the JEws of red Jacket" which is available from lulu.com got a swell rfeview in the National Jewish Post and Opinion weekly newspaper but the reviewer failed to indicate where the book could be found. Since it's not in bookstores, only a determined potential reader would find it. Other reviews that appeared in the Marquette Mining Journal did not generate enough sales to offset the cost of providing the free copy to the reviewer. Some so-called reviewers are scam artists who don't review the books but sell them on eBay. I used to review children's books on the radio, did three per broadcast and was careful to write the publishers indicating when the review was b roadcast. I don't know if anyone bought the books as a result. I, however, gradually accumulated about 800 wonderful books for my kids. the Oregonian gets 200 review copies a month yet reviews no more than a dozen. TGhe books then are sold, the proceeds going to charity. but of course the authors and publishers get nothing. That's tgfhe nature of this business. You can send out a thousand copies as the publishers of the DaVinci Code did and generate a bvuzz, but that was an exception to the rule. Congrats on the book and the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-02-13:537324:Comment:1238482008-02-13T15:07:16.476ZAngela Wilsonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/awilson400
Congrats on the book and the reviews! I actually work as a reviewer for Pop Syndicate, and work in marketing/PR. (I'm a bit of a GenX Gal Friday, if you can't tell!) Here is some advice from both the reviewer & PR perspective:<br />
<br />
- Don't get mad at the reviewer and sound off in a snarky email. I've had authors who pursued me hard do this after I gave a less-than-thrilling review.<br />
- Don't tell a reviewer that you don't want the review to publish via the Internet if it's bad. (I've had those…
Congrats on the book and the reviews! I actually work as a reviewer for Pop Syndicate, and work in marketing/PR. (I'm a bit of a GenX Gal Friday, if you can't tell!) Here is some advice from both the reviewer & PR perspective:<br />
<br />
- Don't get mad at the reviewer and sound off in a snarky email. I've had authors who pursued me hard do this after I gave a less-than-thrilling review.<br />
- Don't tell a reviewer that you don't want the review to publish via the Internet if it's bad. (I've had those emails, too.)<br />
- Take the good with the bad. Your style might appeal to some more than others, and some people might just be having an off reading time and just won't like anything. It happens.<br />
- Take the good reviews and list them on your Web site, MySpace, blog, Author's Den, and everywhere else you have a media area. Post maybe the first few words with a link to the entire review, if you can. If not, do the good ones with credits. (If you don't have a media area, GET ONE! I just wrote an article on Mike's Writing Newsletter about this. It's a Yahoo group for writers and I am happy to share if you like.)<br />
- Use one sheet of paper and paste the best, most recent reviews for your media kit. (If you don't have a media kit, get one. I talk about this, too, in that article. Not to pitch; this is just what I do for a living.)<br />
<br />
Above all, know that critic reviews aren't everything. Read what the people have to say on sites like Amazon. If the paying public likes your work, then you are doing great. And besides, YOU GOT PUBLISHED! That means you have talent and an audience who will totally embrace you. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right audience to submit to.<br />
<br />
Hope this helps!<br />
<br />
ang