Saturday, May 5, 2012

Ranting, Raving, Reviews!


Ranting, Raving, Reviews!


Readers, do you leave reviews for the books you read?
There’s no way around it; your reviews can make or break the success of an independent author’s novel.  Getting reviews is a major hurdle for a new novel.
            I don’t believe readers realize how important they are in a novel’s fate. All the advertising in the world, even expensive reviews by professionals, cannot replace the value of good reviews by the readers themselves.
            So readers, get busy and support your favorite reads!
Where to leave reviews:
            Amazon, Smashwords, or any site where the book is sold. They all have places to leave a review. Goodreads is an excellent place to leave a review, as are any of the many sites that promote books.
Don’t know what to say?
1.     You don’t have to write an entire synopsis of the story. A few sentences say it all: How much you enjoyed the book, the characters, the ending.
2.     Don’t worry about being or not being a wordsmith. Say it simply, and in your own words as if telling a friend about the book.
3.     Be careful not to reveal too much of the story line. If you absolutely hated the ending, don’t explain why! But if you find you have to talk about the storyline or ending, I've just learned that some reviewers add a large "SPOILER ALERT" notice above the review. Something to keep in mind when reviewing, especially if your reviews tend to be lengthy.
4.     If there was something you didn’t like, explain why. Not everyone has problems with the same things, e.g. endings that close with a question.

Dear Readers,
            Reviews are precious gems to authors. If you get in the habit of leaving them, you will be making authors very happy, which will encourage them to write more books for you. Keep reading!
Have a happy and healthy week,
Marla




43 comments:

  1. Great post, Marla! Couldn't agree with you more. One thing I would add though? Be careful to not leave SPOILERS! It's worse than someone telling you the end of the movie when you're standing in line to get tickets. Might as well forget the pop corn and go home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to look up "spoiler." Please tell me how that's different than what I said in #3? Let me know if I need to change it.

      Thanks for reading, Donna, nice to see you here.
      Marla

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Donna. Now that I know what a SPOILER ALERT is, I've added it to #3. Great idea.

      Delete
  2. You've left an important message. It takes only a minute or so to leave a review--a thank you of sorts for the hours of entertainment an author has provided. Well said, Marla.

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    Replies
    1. Now if it would only get through to readers how important their comments are. I know it took me a while to get into the habit, but
      now every time I read a book, I leave a review on GR. Now I must get in the habit of leaving them on AZ too! I always review on AZ the ones I buy there, though.
      Thanks for commenting, Marjorie.

      Delete
  3. Writer Dave here.
    I know how important even a small amount of praise is, in the form of a review.
    I also know how hard it is to get people to respond with comments. Many people read my Blog, but only a few respond.
    When my first ebook is published, I'll realise even more how important a review is. If a person is just going to put a completely negative review, don't bother, just move on to the next book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm with you Dave. A book I couldn't leave at least some praise for, is a book I wouldn't finish reading. And Amazon makes eBooks easily returnable, so there is no excuse for a hideous review. Not fair to leave a review anyway, without reading the entire book.
    Thanks for your input,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny that considering this review

      http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/222177869

      Why not take your own advice before dishing it out to others.

      Delete
    2. Sorry Archer, I disagree with your take. I don't think Marla was being inconsistent at all with her review you pointed out and what she said here on her blog. She explained that it just wasn't her cup of tea, but didn't tear apart the author or the book, just explained why it didn't work for her.

      And why would you go to all the trouble to seek out one of her reviews to try to tear her down? Out of line, in my opinion.

      Delete
  5. Wonderful post. I hope all book readers read this. It can be frustrating to sell books and no one leaves a review. I think it is worse than a bad review. It makes you wonder if your book was so bad no one wants to let you know. I agree with you wondering if the book was so bad to leave a scathing review why did they read it. Perplexing.

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    1. I don't finish books that I dislike so much I'd give them a one or two star review. Hard to figure out why others do. On AZ-UK someone left me a real nasty one and it has hurt my sales in the UK because I only have two reviews there. Ouch!
      Thanks for visiting, Marianne!

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. As a book blogger I'm gonna have to disagree with you completely about the 1 or 2 star review. I think most people can read a review and tell if the person is out to lunch with their comments. I want balanced feedback. If I see a book and the ratings are are all 5 star reviews I am suspicious. A 1 or 2 star review does not hold me back from purchasing a book unless I completely am turned off by what the reviewing has indicated as their negative.
    I am passionate about books and if I start a book, I will finish it. I never give up on a book.

    Take a look at the best selling books ever written. They too received 1 or 2 star reviews. It is a matter of opinion which of course you are allowed to have. But please don't publish a book and then frown if you receive negative comments.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sorry it posted before I was ready.

    Don't publish a book and then frown if you receive negative comments. Instead look at the feedback and see if there is anything in the comment that you can learn from it.
    In my real life job I write documents and requirements. If I never elicited feedback on my documents and learned from them, I would never have grown in my profession. You cannot shy away from feedback.

    Additionally, I sometimes read authors say something similar like, "how dare people leave a DNF negative comment when you didn't finish the book"
    Well if someone doesn't finish a book they started, I want to know why.

    Honestly you can't put a book out there and everyone will like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand that not everyone will like a book. I have bad reviews too, as everyone does. My intent here was to encourage people to leave reviews, so many don't.
      I think reviews should tell the author what a person liked or didn't like. The one and two star reviews for the most part, just trash the book and give no helpful criticism.
      I personally don't leave reviews when I didn't finish a book. Doesn't seem real fair, but that's me.

      Delete
  9. As a writer, I know how hard critique can be, but the fact of the matter is that reviews are not for authors. They are for other readers to make judgments to purchase a book. Sometimes a negative review has swayed me TO buy a look, not ditch it.

    As a reviewer, I want people to be honest. What you are saying is that bloggers shouldn't be honest, that they should hide critical remarks under a table because it hurts feelings. Critique is part of your job description, especially the ability to take criticism from people you don't know and will never meet. I know how it is to have hurt feelings, but this isn't about you - people have varying opinions about books, taste, etc. To tell them that their dislike of their novel should be forgotten is wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My intent was not to tell people to hide their opinions, but to encourage people TO leave reviews. I apologize if you felt I did not portray that correctly.

      Delete
  10. So, now we have to lie about what we think when we read a book? To be blunt, I will say what I think. I'll keep on giving out 1 and 2 star reviews like hard candy until I die.

    http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/222177869 That's very funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm. I believe I only referred to the "white lie" thing if you had to leave a review for a friend. I'm sorry if that's been misconstrued.

      Delete
  11. It's really disappointing to hear an author/writer say this about leaving reviews. Ms. Madison, with all due respect, I'm sure you've read many a book that you've disliked and wanted to vent about to your friends, family, and or colleagues. What justification do you have telling other people not to leave any reviews at all if they're not positive? You're pretty much stifling free-thinking opinions and the expression of those opinions. It's not right, nor is it fair, to tell readers what they should/shouldn't read or even how they should feel about a book. No one knows how a book is going to turn out unless they try reading it for themselves and going through the experience. Even those that aren't able to finish books are warranted to say what they think about what they've read and to be honest about it. What you're really promoting, whether you realize it or not, is censorship.

    I think there are others who said it best above me when they say reviews are for readers and consumers of the book. We all have the right to take in the larger mediums in our society and express our opinions about them. But one negative opinion is not the end of the world, nor are several. I think it's important to know that there are people who will be on either end of the like/dislike scale (or even somewhere between) when reading a book for themselves. It's still no reason to tell people who have strong sentiments about a work either way to not leave a review (or goodness forbid, tell white lies).

    Just as an author gives voice to their work, a reader/reviewer gives voice to their opinion of a work. Take it for what it is - an opinion, and certainly not the only one that's out there. You do not have jurisdiction to tell other people what they should think, feel, or how they should express that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've redone my list because of these comments. Apparently, I did a poor job of relaying what I really wanted to do and that was to encourage readers to leave reviews.

      Delete
  12. And look! This one is only two stars, and has a big spoiler in it!

    http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/249103962

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got me with that one, what can I say?
      My apologies.

      Delete
  13. Hypocrisy thy name is Marla Madison.

    "Leaving a review for a friend. Don’t leave one unless you liked the book. If you can’t find enough positive in the book to rate it well and make one or two positive statements, then abstain from leaving the review. (Or tell a white lie.)"

    Take your own advice... and welcome to the DNR pile

    ReplyDelete
  14. It may seem innocent enough to encourage people to write reviews who may otherwise not know what to do, but telling someone to not share their opinions on a book they dislike is in poor taste on your part. Telling a potential reviewer to tell a "white lie" is just ridiculous.

    If I receive a product that I do not enjoy after I took the time to acquire it with the idea that I would in fact enjoy it, there is not a single reason for me not to express those feelings to an audience. I read the freakin' book because I wanted to, that will always be the answer to that question no matter who is asked.

    Posting things like this has readers judging your abilities as an author to interact with your readership and that will effect your sales a lot more then a negative review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You make some good points, anonymous. I did not intend to tell people not to tell the truth, so I have changed the list do the concerns I've had pointed out. If it came across that way, I did not write it correctly.

      Delete
  15. Open Mouth, Insert Foot - you just did that, and that will lose you more readers than any negative review would have.

    Dear Authors everywhere: You do NOT get to tell your readers how to review your books.

    Put THAT on your fridge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra,
      I'm sorry, Sandra, that was not my intent.

      Delete
  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  17. I don't know what's going on. I keep trying to leave a comment, and I keep losing it. I was trying to tell about an ebook I read recently that had a beginning, but no middle or ending. It just ended abruptly. If I reviwed it, I think it would deserve a 2 1/2. 2for writing the book and self publishing, and 1/2 for the content. I'm not going to review it, but it's gotten an average of 4 1/2 star reviews. I admire the writer for getting as far as he did.
    That's how low star reviews happen. I am baffled by the high stars, and a little leery of the veracity of reviews.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting, Louise.
      I guess I failed with this blog at portraying what I was trying to say. I in no way wanted people to only give great reviews, but rather encourage them to say what it was they didn't like about a book so the author understood why the review was left.
      My apologies.

      Delete
  18. So, even if I hate a book, I should lie about it and write a positive review.

    That totally explains all your 5 star reviews on "She's Not There"...

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    Replies
    1. Sorry Lyndi,
      I didn't think that was what I said. Sorry if you were offended, that was not my intent. I've amended the list in response to these comments.

      Delete
    2. You said people should only write positive reviews and that they should lie if they didn't enjoy the book. Not only is it what you said, but I'm pretty sure it's what you meant. How else was that supposed to be taken?

      While it's pleasantly surprising to see you apologize, I'd rather you address the fact that you said readers shouldn't post reviews on books they didn't finish when you yourself left a 2 star review on a book you didn't finish. You're doubly a hypocrite as you've twice now done what you've told us not to do.

      If you honestly think that people shouldn't review books they didn't like, you obviously don't understand what reviews are for. It's not advertising for your book, it's my opinion.

      As for your changing the list above, there shouldn't even BE a list in the first place.

      Delete
  19. Lyndi,
    My intent was to encourage people to leave reviews because so many don't take the time and many are timid to do so.

    Yes, I did leave one review of a book I didn't finish and quite frankly, I'd forgotten I did that. You looked through my reviews, so you know this isn't something I do routinely and all my reviews are not glowing with praise. I try to take time to explain what I did or didn't like when I leave a review.

    You are entitled to your opinion of the intent of my words, so I am not going to argue with you about what I meant with each point. I obviously was not clear enough, so I changed it when I saw how people were reacting to it. Obviously, that wasn't good enough for you. Again, sorry about that.

    It sounds like you're a reviewer/blogger, so maybe you could do a piece on reviewing that would be more appropriate from your point of view. Readers do need encouragement to do reviews.

    Thanks for taking time to respond,

    Marla

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    Replies
    1. Readers may or may not need encouragement, but it's not your place to tell them HOW to do it. You can ask for reviews and encourage people to do so until the cows come home. You cannot stipulate the content of those reviews. Just as you can't make somebody like your book, you can't make them express an opinion that isn't theirs.

      And if I misunderstood the intent of your words, it's nobody's fault but your own. As the communicator, it's your responsibility to make sure your audience understands you. If you don't actually mean what you say, how could you expect us to understand your intent?

      As for your "Obviously, that wasn't good enough for you." remark - you are correct. Erasing the evidence rarely sits well with us. You are just one in a long line of authors who have recently lost their marbles and decided that it was their place to not only write the books, but tell people what they should think about the books. Every time, the author has realized their mistake (whether it be through common sense suddenly reappearing or publishers threatening to blacklist them) and attempted to delete and erase the damning evidence from their websites, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. That's why some of us take screen shots of this nonsense so it can be seen by all the people you hoped wouldn't see it.

      So, I apologize for having little patience with your editing. Your opinion of the situation hasn't changed, you've just censored it to avoid more drama.

      On a brighter note, your book has been shelved on Goodreads quite a lot in the last 24 hours.

      Delete
  20. While I routinely review books and give 1- and 2-star reviews as well as positive books, I almost always give an example or reason for the rating. There are some books that I've given a 2-star review for that did have very worthwhile elements that I know other readers would like.

    But one thing I definitely don't do is hide behind an anonymous post to berate someone else for something I disagree with. Voice your opinion with civility and openness. I wouldn't be giving myself such a big pat on the back for making snarky remarks and pointing fingers, anonymous commenters. It's not difficult to be an asshole when you don't have your name attached to the comments.

    Marla, it seems that you've acknowledged that some of these people made valid points. But now, you've done more than enough apologizing. You won't please them no matter what you do. Welcome to the nasty world of blogging, my friend.

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    1. Thanks, April! And one comment was so bad, Blogspot didn't even add it to my site. They must screen for certain words.I'll try not to imagine what they were.
      A bitter lesson here, again learned the hard way.

      Delete
    2. I must say you've demonstrated a much higher degree of professionalism in handling these trolls, Marla. Kudos to you.

      Delete
  21. It's important a reader is 100% honest in their review. The site they review on uses that information to tailor recommendations for future reading on it. And unfortunately, the star rating is given great weight. So if I give a 2 star rating to a Pride and prejudice for bad formatting, Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble won't know that, they'll think I don't like Jane Austen and not recommend Sense and Sensibility to me.

    That's why you should really review the books you love and didn't love to make your ability to find great books even better!

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  23. Sandra Patterson,
    Your words are very much appreciated. It took a lot of willpower to swallow my pride on this one!
    Thanks for visiting!
    Marla

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  24. How were people trolling when Ms Madison stated in the original post that you shouldn't write negative reviews and if you can't write a positive one "tell a little white lie" and was called on her hypocrisy?

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