tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post7749913124940230768..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: Book Reviewers: the Good, the Bad, and Katie the Book-Eating DogAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23746994168969940542011-10-20T12:37:30.530-07:002011-10-20T12:37:30.530-07:00I really love your blog!
Mostly because I feel li...I really love your blog!<br /><br />Mostly because I feel like I can hear you through your words. It really makes me feel like I am sitting here and listening to you speak.<br /><br />One of your posts about agents really made me decide that self publishing was the way I wanted to go.<br /><br />If you're every looking for a great epic dark fiction read with a thrilling twist, I'd love it if you'd read The Shade and The Nine Lower Levels! <br /><br />Some honest feedback from a great writer is always appreciated. <br /><br />http://www.tannisskye.com<br />TannisSkye@gamil.comTannisSkyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16321410719306513259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-12333007063607942682011-07-16T10:14:34.791-07:002011-07-16T10:14:34.791-07:00J.M. You're right about children's picture...J.M. You're right about children's picture books. No agent seems to want them any more. No idea why. <br /><br />Jen--Love the barrel quote!<br /><br />Donna and Jo--That definitely belongs on a fridge magnet and/or a tee-shirt.<br /><br />Jeff-I went over and read those two one-star reviews and it's obvious they were written by the same person, who's trying to bring down your ratings.<br /><br />EVERYBODY--even if you haven't read the book, you can go over and see for yourself (click through the book cover on this post) If you're registered at Amazon, you can report the two one-star reviews for abuse. "The writing style was not to my liking" isn't something two people would coincidentally think up. It's sad how a one-sentence, pointless "review" can ruin an author's sales.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-14944856855657334812011-07-16T09:33:46.956-07:002011-07-16T09:33:46.956-07:00Thank you, Jo! Thanks everyone else, too.
And......Thank you, Jo! Thanks everyone else, too.<br /><br />And... speak of the devil. I've got a bads news comment for y'all today. ;)<br /><br />Another boner has come along and started posting one-star reviews of "The Frozen Sky," killing its average score. I'm sure the two ugly reviews posted so far were both written by the same guy because he uses similar phrasing, one of the main tell-tales of a saboteur. Also, one of his accounts has never reviewed anything else before, only his blasting of "Sky."<br /><br />If anyone here as read the novella and enjoyed it, please do sway "Sky" back to a positive trend. <br /><br />A short review takes about as long to compose as a FB post -- and as fellow writers, reviewing books is a great habit to develop in our brave new e-world.<br /><br />You guys rock.Jeff Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05750124388445987629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-8438378008528781812011-07-16T08:29:04.745-07:002011-07-16T08:29:04.745-07:00OMG, flat out hilarious! I'm posting "So...OMG, flat out hilarious! I'm posting "Sometimes the smallest minds make the biggest noise" on my frig.<br /><br />And I'm buying the book solely based on this article. WTG, Jeff!jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3334996812037978302011-07-16T06:32:11.669-07:002011-07-16T06:32:11.669-07:00This is an awesome post. And so why do we want to ...This is an awesome post. And so why do we want to be published? *shudders*<br /><br />"Sometimes the smallest minds make the biggest noise."<br /><br />Love that statement.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-52100683885365010032011-07-16T01:42:58.295-07:002011-07-16T01:42:58.295-07:00Anne & Jeff...
Wow. Makes me wonder if these ...Anne & Jeff...<br /><br />Wow. Makes me wonder if these nasty reviewers were contest judges in a previous life.<br /><br />After reading your post, my dad's <br />favorite Chinese quotes comes to mind.<br /><br />A barrel half-full makes more noise. <br /><br />Cheers!<br />JenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-89062539857957104122011-07-15T10:03:06.917-07:002011-07-15T10:03:06.917-07:00Thank you for sharing your insight, Anne.
I notic...Thank you for sharing your insight, Anne.<br /><br />I noticed in today's book news that authors and illustrators of children's books are having a rough time of it and thinking about letting agents go since they are doing the work themselves. Most have second jobs and other creative job markets are drying up. There is no substitute for a well done children's book with brilliant illustrations. There just isn't.Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-92038379425866915762011-07-15T09:53:48.628-07:002011-07-15T09:53:48.628-07:00bob--It's changing by the minute. Kinda makes ...bob--It's changing by the minute. Kinda makes your head hurt.<br /><br />And thanks to DONNA K. WEAVER, my 700th follower!! Thanks to you all. I remember when I thought if I could just make it to 42 followers, then I wouldn't look so lonely out here...Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-87933726836522795412011-07-15T08:49:24.741-07:002011-07-15T08:49:24.741-07:00A good and informative post, Jeff. The world of wr...A good and informative post, Jeff. The world of writing and publishing sure has changed in the last few years.bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03252812630062594174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-32155218418942094842011-07-14T18:50:28.113-07:002011-07-14T18:50:28.113-07:00Judy--Glad to hear you're getting reviews!
J....Judy--Glad to hear you're getting reviews!<br /><br />J.M. "Sometimes it's just someone else's bad day spilling over onto your brilliant novel." Great advice!<br /><br />Mary--Actually, I sometimes read the 1-star reviews when I'm deciding whether to buy. If the reviewer misspells every other word and says it's got too many big words I tend to buy it.<br /><br />Lari--Yay for book review bloggers! You're the author's best friends. The huge majority of you are honest, kind and smart, and we love you to pieces. <br /><br />Thanks Annette! Even just a short comment means a lot.<br /><br />Alison--I think mean reviews are almost always about the reviewer, and not the book. Like Jeff's Nazi, who's going to see pathetic, victimized white guys everywhere he looks. I guess we need that diversity for some reason. As a contrast to good people, maybe.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64952773822169658772011-07-14T12:24:49.394-07:002011-07-14T12:24:49.394-07:00Great post. I know it sounds horrible to say it, ...Great post. I know it sounds horrible to say it, but I take solace in the fact that others get whacky reviews too. But like you said it's so subjective. A couple of my sucky reviews were total opposites of each other. One was because I used too much description and another was berating me for not using enough! ?? <br /><br />I have to admit to checking out the reviewers other reviews when I get a bad one. Most of the time you find out they rarely give a book more than 2 or 3 stars at the most, so they are obviously very hard to please in the first place. <br /><br />As much as you try, though. It's hard not to feel a little sting when someone is being downright mean. As a personal policy, I don't leave a review unless I like the book. I live by what my Mum used to say, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all".Alison Pensyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959829218826102175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-32160869918439293472011-07-14T09:51:29.709-07:002011-07-14T09:51:29.709-07:00After reading everyone's comments, I almost wa...After reading everyone's comments, I almost want to ask, what more can I add? But, I've got to at least say, thanks. Great article.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09284864196608303228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3840952296888087152011-07-13T22:20:56.828-07:002011-07-13T22:20:56.828-07:00This post is great. I recently started writing boo...This post is great. I recently started writing book reviews on my blog and I think it's working out fabulously. Of course, I tend to only write reviews on books I enjoy, so I hope I'm helping authors out in that regard. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16839590603609056979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-89418154503313490172011-07-13T20:31:58.860-07:002011-07-13T20:31:58.860-07:00Thank you, everyone!
As usual I'm late to m...Thank you, everyone! <br /><br />As usual I'm late to my own party. It's been especially busy this week, but I appreciate the encouragement and the in-the-trenches reports from other writers.<br /><br />As more than one commenter said, I've learned (well, I'm still trying to learn) that a good dose of perspective can be a very healthy thing. <br /><br />It's not a matter of being thick-skinned. For me, at least, it's more about being slow-skinned. Don't overreact to hideous reviews. Look for the subtext. A lot of the time, the nasty commentary isn't really even about the book. Fascinating, captain!<br /><br />:)<br /><br />JCJeff Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05750124388445987629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79226490051601540662011-07-13T15:38:17.605-07:002011-07-13T15:38:17.605-07:00Great insight as to what the "crazies" a...Great insight as to what the "crazies" are saying! I especially like the one about the dog. Talk about going to a lot of work over a book you hate!<br /><br />I tend to avoid the nutcase reviews when looking at who likes and hates a certain novel. There's a certain way of going about whether something was worth your time or not. Going on a hateful binge is not the way to do it!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-27830401875493288282011-07-13T13:59:28.171-07:002011-07-13T13:59:28.171-07:00When you get right down to it, reviews are as subj...When you get right down to it, reviews are as subjective as the publishing industry is. An editor or agent might reject your work not because it isn't good or even well written but because they had a fight with their spouse, are having problems with the kids, can't get a date, had a headache, hangover, etc., or just don't feel like working that day and reading anything when they've been denied vacation, raise, or whatever. <br /><br />Most people would like to be honorable, but life gets in the way. Add other people and it's chaos. Don't take it personally. Sometimes it's just someone else's bad day spilling over onto your brilliant novel.Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-82475226166253642432011-07-13T13:43:15.992-07:002011-07-13T13:43:15.992-07:00This is a *brilliant* post! My first reviews are j...This is a *brilliant* post! My first reviews are just starting to trickle in and this has put it all in perspective!! Katie the book eating dog will live on in my memory every time I get a sucky review. I really want honest reviews, but it's nice to know that I'll get some entertaining ones too!<br /><br />Thanks Jeff and Anne!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Judy-Croome/e/B00512MXM0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" rel="nofollow">Judy, South Africa</a>Judy Croome | @judy_croomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455755011354905278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-3916692292135627622011-07-13T13:23:57.375-07:002011-07-13T13:23:57.375-07:00Bonnie--I loved that too. Try telling people, &quo...Bonnie--I loved that too. Try telling people, "I sit alone in a room and listen to the voices in my head" at your next social event.<br /><br />J.M.--That's a very good point. I think sometimes a really nasty review will prompt people to write good ones. If they loved the book, the nasty reviewer is attacking your fans,too. So they want to defend you (and themselves.)<br /><br />E.J. You're right that the main thing is to remember to leave reviews for the authors you like. They don't have to be long. And it makes so much difference.<br /><br />Alex--So good to remember there can be positive effects of negative reviews.<br /><br />Mark--I see that a lot. In fact Jeff's novella has some one star reviews--all by people who said it was too short for a novel. Um. Right. (BTW Mark is guest posting his great success story over at Kristen Lamb's blog today.)<br /><br />Rick--I'm lucky in my guest posters. So happy you'll be guesting for me in October about your new MG book.<br /><br />Ranae--that "expert" who only liked his own stuff: I suppose he wouldn't think being called a "narcissist" would be a bad thing.<br /><br />Christopher--I'll check out your blog. So glad to hear you've had good ones.<br /><br />Ann--Thanks a bunch for the mention of my story in Notes. I'm so glad you liked it. And you're right that the overwhelming majority of book people you meet online are smart and honorable.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34250037111838311812011-07-13T12:37:08.678-07:002011-07-13T12:37:08.678-07:00p.s. Anne: I enjoy your story in Notes from Underg...p.s. Anne: I enjoy your story in Notes from Underground. You're a GOOD writer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-6528509847677908182011-07-13T12:34:56.953-07:002011-07-13T12:34:56.953-07:00This was a most informative and enlightening post,...This was a most informative and enlightening post, Anne. Thanks for inviting Jeff to be your guest. A blogger friend a while back warned me about Amazon forums and how nasty some people can be. So I decided I wasn't going to get into any of them. I haven't had a bad review yet, but if I get one I hope I can discern how to take it. Not everyone will like what we write. When I read a book, I try to honestly assess what bothered me, and to give good feedback if I feel there are flaws in the writing, i.e. style, structure, mechanical problems, etc. Unfortunately, as Jeff says, not everyone in cyberspace is honest and reasonable. The rest of us are simply doing the best we can; trying to BE the best possible writer, AND person. In my 16 months of blogger, I've met many of these great writers and people!!<br /><a href="http://anncarbinebest.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Ann Best, Memoir Author</i></a><br /><a href="http://anncarbinebest.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Ann Best, Memoir Author</i></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-87767294888112669322011-07-13T12:33:59.445-07:002011-07-13T12:33:59.445-07:00Jeff, Frozen Sky is often linked with my story Pro...Jeff, Frozen Sky is often linked with my story Progenitor on amazon. Now I'm scared lol. Great post. My last blog was on getting reviewed and so far I've had a great experience. Can't wait until I'm selling as well as you are...I think.Christopher John Chaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05142647178585900592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-46855829270858569132011-07-13T12:00:39.171-07:002011-07-13T12:00:39.171-07:00Wow, what a bunch of nuts! This article was pretty...Wow, what a bunch of nuts! This article was pretty funny for me to read, but understandably not so funny for Jeff to have to endure. I've seen some crazy reviews before... Sometimes the internet seems to be a virtual dumping-ground for crazy. In an online forum I once saw a guy claim that he'd read over 10K books in his young life, and now only read his own (unpublished) manuscripts because every other book in the world was trash in comparison. I don't think any book has much hope for a good review from such a person! LOLAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01025900107236429624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-33545661206920095472011-07-13T11:25:22.184-07:002011-07-13T11:25:22.184-07:00That was a great post, thanks!That was a great post, thanks!Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-91026395394300271232011-07-13T11:03:24.742-07:002011-07-13T11:03:24.742-07:00Great post, Jeff. We've not yet had any photos...Great post, Jeff. We've not yet had any photos of dogs eating our book, but maybe that's because it's only available in e-format.<br /><br />Familiar with all the rest, though, especially the Monday lunch-time trolls who make us pay for their being back at the day job they hate. <br /><br />Occasionally we get one-star reviews where we can accept the reader honestly just didn't get it, but some are just downright malicious and clearly they've never read a word.<br /><br />The funniest one-star I've seen is that given to fellow writer Prue Batten. Prue has a lovely fantasy novel entitled The Stumpwork Robe. Someone mistakenly bought it thinking it was a non-fiction book about embroidery. And gave the author a one-star neg' because of the reader's mistake!mark williams internationalhttp://www.markwilliamsinternational.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-38068688439687113602011-07-13T10:22:26.359-07:002011-07-13T10:22:26.359-07:00I took what some reviewers said about th first boo...I took what some reviewers said about th first book and used it to (hopefully) improve the second.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com