On Writing, RITAs, and Reader Reviews
Wow...there've been some fabulous posts this past week, and I've loved reading all of them! I've sort of been incommunicado for the past few days, as we headed north for the long weekend for three days of skiing. It was nice to get away and the scenery was stunning, but it was so bitter cold that we didn't actually spend much time on the slopes. Well, at least the girls and I didn't. My husband did, but he's one of those guys who enjoys extreme elements and there was no way he was going to sit around a cozy fire, drinking hot chocolate and reading, when there were black diamond runs to be conquered.
For me, however, it was sheer heaven to curl up indoors. Just before we left, I received a packet of seven books to judge for the RITA, and tucked them into my suitcase. (The RITA award is sponsored by the Romance Writers of America; it is the romance-publishing industry's highest award of distinction. RITA awards are presented annually to the best published romance novels of the year). I devoured three of the seven books in two days. One of them was so fabulous that I can't wait to pick up more books from the author's backlist. It also got me thinking about all the other RITA judges who will spend the next few weeks reading through the books they've been sent. How many will discover authors they love? How many will see a book that they judged receive an award?
While I was happily immersed in my reading, my 14-year old daughter spent her time writing fan fiction. She's a huge fan of the Twilight series by Stephenie Myer, about an everyday, average girl who finds herself torn between a fantastically beautiful vampire and a werewolf. Using the premise from the series, my daughter wrote her own continuation of the author's story and posted it to the fan fiction website for others to enjoy. She started writing this story just after Christmas, and I was amazed to learn she has nineteen chapters. She finished the story last night, but refused to post the epilogue until she received at least three reader reviews. She was adamant about it, which sort of amused me. If I refused to write another book until I had a certain number of reviews, well...I wouldn't be doing much writing! But she said those reviews are what motivate her to keep writing. To date, she's received more than 130 reviews for her story. While I was happy for her, I also felt a little sad that at fourteen, she's already worried about her reader reception. But as I thought more about it, I realized that there's little difference between her and the authors who are vying for the coveted RITA award. As writers, we all need validation, whether it's through on-line reviews or nationally recognized awards. Personally, I love receiving emails from readers; it’s an instant connection with a reader that leaves me feeling all warm and tingly inside.
How do you feel about reader reviews? Are you a reader who will post a review if you love a particular book, or are you more apt to just tell a friend about a great book you just read? And if you're a writer, how important are reader reviews to you?
Reviews
I love reader reviews, and that could be because I don't think I've ever had anyone say anything really nasty or negative to me about my books -- most readers email when they enjoy a book, and I personally appreciate the "if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all" mindset with reading. I will almost always send an email to an author whose books I love, or make sure I mention them on boards, etc, if not write outright reviews (though I have joined an author website called Writers are Readers, where I will be posting some formal reviews, one upcoming in Feb).
And, like your daughter, hearing from readers can really get my writing spark ignited, because ultimately this is why I write, it's for readers, for them to enjoy a story. Knowing that they do, it keeps me going a lot of the time. I think what your daughter is doing on that note is perfectly natural -- why write if no one reads it? LOL This way, she knows...
As for formal reviews, the ones we find in magazines or on review sites, I can take them or leave them, personally, and usually don't look at them unless one of my friends tells me there's something good out there, but they are a necessity. We need review quotes for promotion, for book covers, etc -- my editor asked me to send her a bunch of review quotes the other day, for the summer anthology, I think, and I was fortunate to have a stock of them to draw from, though I don't send to as many sites as I used to -- I actually only send 1 or maybe 2 books out each time for reviews.
I've come to think that if someone wants to review my book on a professional basis, they should get the book through their host site or magazine, ideally. I don't send electronic format anymore, except to RT for advance reviews, but other than that, if I do send a book, it's only in hardcopy.
One thing that does rankle is when a ranking on a review doesn't match the comments -- so on Amazon, for instance, someone will write a really great review, they loved your book, and then they only give you three or four on the stars... why be stingy with the stars? LOL
I haven't gotten my RITA books yet, though I see them listed on my account at the RWA site, so I guess they are on their way...
Sam
Yes, Sam, I agree with you;
Yes, Sam, I agree with you; I don't typically look at reviews unless somebody alerts me that there's a good one out there. I do sometimes send emails to authors that I really like, and have to say that when somebody writes to me or posts a comment that they liked my book, it definitely puts some rev in my writing engines! I know what you mean about the contradictory reviews; one reviewer for Flyboy posted identical reviews on two different sites, but rated each review differently! My daughter has received a couple of not-so-nice reviews and she's handled it really well (her expressions and gestures when she gets these just crack me up) and the positive reviews have been enough to keep her upbeat about the whole thing.
Neat question, Karen!
First, congrats to your daughter on getting an early start in following in her mom's footsteps!
When I'm thinking about buying a book I check out the reviews on amazon.com, but I take anything out of the norm with a big grain of salt. I don't post reviews but will talk up books I love to people I know. I'm just not convinced the world needs to know what I think about a book...silly, I guess, when I use other people's comments to validate my own purchase! ;)
I write but haven't been published yet, so I can't comment on how important reader reviews are. I can say I've read some amazon comments about books written by people I know and like, and some of them are horrifically mean. Unnecessarily mean. As an aspiring author, I'm learning that you'll get good reviews and bad ones, and you have to keep doing the work you feel called to do.
Margaret
Hi Margaret! Yes, I've read
Hi Margaret! Yes, I've read some pretty nasty reviews, too, and remember in one case thinking that the reviewer obviously had a personal issue with the author and was taking it out on her by posting these really negative reviews. I just totally discount those kinds of reviews. Before I was pubbed, I entered a lot of contests and some of the critiques I received were just downright hurtful. I guess you just have to tell yourself it's one person's opinion and, like you said, continue to write the stories that call to you.
I tend not to write reviews often
at least not for posting anywhere... Laziness, I suppose! If I love a writer's book, I've started trying to contact them directly to let know, and have tried to be at least a little specific in what struck me and why. And I'll talk it up with other friends who love to read.
I do tend to at least check reviews before getting a new book--like you've said, I take them with a grain of salt. Some reviewers don't seem to understand that writing a review (like writing just about anything else!) is an art! I guess that's one reason I don't often write them--it's hard to do it well, and I don't often have the time to do that!
I don't write reviews for
I don't write reviews for books good or bad. A review is one person's opinion and a lot of the time I don't agree with that person. I do sometimes send an email to an author if I have enjoyed their book (probably should do more of it) but if I didn't like it I don't. If I read a review on Amazon it is to see what a book is about and I ignore their ratings.
I very seldom post a review
I very seldom post a review for a book I have read. I do recommend books to family and friends. I also email the author if I have particularly enjoyed a book.
I agree that reviews are all
I agree that reviews are all relative. My biggest problem is knowing that some people give great reviews just to get more books or they know the author etc. I guess I'd rather depend on friends and family and that's only because I know what kind writing they like. If it's anything like movie reviews, I usually like the opposite lol. I will write an author though if I've really enjoyed their book.
Absolutely! I may check out
Absolutely! I may check out a synopsis write-up for a book I'm considering buying, but I don't put too, too much stock in the reviews. I don't typically write reviews, but will send an email to a favorite author.
I don't generally do reviews...
I don't generally write reviews, unless I am specifically asked or a book just wows me to the point of speechlessness (which I admit makes writing a review more difficult!) I will read them occasionally, with a few grains of salt. Many times some of the negative reviews offer more information about what a book is like than the positive ones - and it is those negative ones that may persuade me to read a book I was wishy-washy on. Yeah, I'm weird. :-)
Until being directed to LIAEC, it never occurred to me to contact the authors. Nor did I realize how easy it really was!!
Cathy, there was a time when
Cathy, there was a time when I wouldn't have dared to contact an author, but personally, I love to hear from readers and my guess is that other authors do, too! Like Sam said...we're writing for them.