Recently I followed a discussion on AQC, about whether some critical comments were or were not appropriate in regards to a fellow member's writing. I saw no harm in the criticism - we're writers, and not everything we write will be received well by everyone else. That's okay. But the conversation - along with the recent publicity about paying for fake reviews - got me thinking about the obligations, expectations, and boundaries of the writing community. (On a brief side note, you can read my honest review pledge by clicking on the tab at the top of the page.)
There's a sense - I believe now, more than ever - that we're all in this together. We're all navigating the same murky waters, trying to break into an industry that's changing every day. And we do support each other. I love supporting those writers whose work I believe in.
However, I've come across the sentiment in some indie- and self-pub circles that all criticism should essentially be squashed. We need to support each other! If one wins, we all win! If one loses, we all lose! Rah-rah-sis-boom-bah! All that sort of mindless cheerleading.
Should you post a less-than-glowing review on Amazon, where it could potentially affect sales? Some would say no. But I say why not? If it's your honest opinion, not motivated by spite or anything like that, why not? If you bought the latest book by a NYT bestseller and didn't like it, would you refrain from reviewing it on Amazon because it was critical in nature? Just look at how many people bash Twilight, or The DaVinci Code, etc. But take an indie- or self-published author, and suddenly it seems like a different beast altogether. That's when all the cheering and jeering starts again.
We're all in this together! A negative review could hurt their sales. We're a community!
It doesn't sit quite right with me, though. Yes, I am a writer in a community of writers, many of whom I like a lot. I want to see those writers whose writing I adore shoot to the top and have great success. But if someone who frequents the same message boards and forums that I do publishes a book, that doesn't automatically make it off-limits for my criticism, does it? Why should it?
The purpose of a review is to share your opinion of a story and the writing with other people who have read, or may be considering reading, that book. It's true, a particularly good or bad review may sway some customers' decisions on whether or not to buy the book. Should we let that stop us from posting a review that isn't all puppy dogs and rainbows? If it's the latest Dean Koontz, I bet most of you would say no, it shouldn't matter, we're all entitled to our opinions. If it's a self-published author, though, trying to eke out a living...? Tell me what you think. Here's what I think (apologies in advance if it's a bit blunt).
Once you publish a book - I don't care how you do it - reviews are fair game. I'm talking genuine, honest reviews, based on the content of the book and the quality of the writing, and nothing else. I don't care if you publish with a major house, an independent press, or if you self-publish. You're in the business now, and people will have opinions. I don't care if we belong to the same online communities, if we chat on Twitter, whatever. If I think you've delivered a sub-par product, I should feel free to say so in my review, just the same as I would if I were talking about Nicholas Sparks. As callous as it sounds, I'm not terribly concerned with your sales (or Nicholas Sparks' sales, or any author's sales).
There's a real danger in the false back-patting that I've seen in indie- and self-pub circles. I'm not here to blow smoke up anyone's ass about their talent. If I don't mean it, I won't say it. I won't be pressured into giving something a better review than I think it deserves simply because the author and I are both signed-in-blood-card-carrying members of the writing community. Likewise, I can't be pressured into withholding a review that may carry some pointed criticism, despite the very real fact that reviews can affect sales.
As aspiring writers, how often do we complain about what we see as mediocre quality novels being published while our own superior (in our eyes) stories go unnoticed and as-yet-unpublished? As readers, how often have we picked up a much-hyped book, only to be disappointed? And that's with the stuff that's already made it through the so-called gatekeepers of traditional publishing. With the digital publishing push, there are oceans of new books to wade through every day. If we keep our criticisms to ourselves - or worse, if we let the idea of "community" guilt us into giving sugar-coated reviews - how will we then, as readers, be able to spot the proverbial diamond in the rough? And how will we, as writers, expect our own stories to stand out in the crowd if everyone has the same rose-colored reviews?
If and when my novels are published, I'll expect both good and bad reviews. Not everyone will like what and how I write. If a customer reads a negative review that resonates with them, so be it. Other customers will be swayed by the positive reviews. If the negatives outweigh the positives, and my sales aren't good, then I need to put out a better product, simple as that.
Would you post a critical review of an author you're familiar with through social networking or writing websites? Have you ever felt pressure to post a positive review no matter what you actually thought? I'd like to hear your take on things.
Showing posts with label Critiques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Critiques. Show all posts
19 September 2011
02 December 2010
Crit for a Cause
I just wanted to take a moment to let you guys know about a great opportunity this month. Literary Agent Irene Goodman auctions off partial manuscript critiques on Ebay every month, with the proceeds benefiting charitable foundations. This month (December) however, she is auctioning off FIFTEEN critiques! This means YOU have a chance to have your partial reviewed by a top industry insider! Or, you could bid on a critique as a gift for someone else. Even better, the proceeds go to charity.
Irene's son has Usher Syndrome, which causes progressive loss of sight and hearing, so she has chosen to donate the proceeds of the auctions to three foundations doing research in these areas.
If you would like to bid on one of the auctions, there are links on the agency website. There are five auctions for each of the three foundations. Get feedback for yourself, and support a charitable organization. I'd say that's a win-win, how about you?
Irene's son has Usher Syndrome, which causes progressive loss of sight and hearing, so she has chosen to donate the proceeds of the auctions to three foundations doing research in these areas.
If you would like to bid on one of the auctions, there are links on the agency website. There are five auctions for each of the three foundations. Get feedback for yourself, and support a charitable organization. I'd say that's a win-win, how about you?
01 September 2008
A Drop In The Pond
You know that saying... the whole ripple effect thing.... So I've always been way too sentimental for my own good, but part of me can't help but give praise where it's due.
Have you ever had one of those people who influenced you in a big way, and you aren't sure how to thank or acknowledge them for it? I've had lots. But what makes me a sappy nerd is that I try to express that gratitude, one way or another. I haven't stumbled across too many people like that in the past couple years, but now my inner nerd is telling me there's someone worthy of a huge THANK YOU. (See, my self-deprecating nerd remarks are really my own defense mechanism against the potential embarrassment that can come from putting yourself out there like this--if I laugh at me first, it's not so bad if you laugh at me too. Am I getting to analytic for you? Apparently I do that.... but moving on....)
I heard from someone recently, someone I haven't heard from in a while. I'd say an "old friend," but I don't know if he'd consider our association that. I've never technically met the guy! haha. We were in an online critique group with a few other people. It was definitely good times. Always good critiques and interesting discussions. Unfortunately, it all came to a bitter and unexpected end, the group crumbled to bits, and I haven't heard from this person since. I'll keep him anonymous, since he may well want to remain that way.
I sure do miss that original group we had going, though. We had a good mix of people of different ages, genders (only two different ones, as far as I know ;-P), backgrounds, writing in different genres. Maybe because I was the baby of the group, I sometimes got that big-brother feeling about a couple of the guys in the group. You know, that feeling that someone's looking out for you, trying to encourage you, show you your potential, etc. (and I mean this in a literary way, like a writing mentor might do). And I, being the novice, ate up every word of encouragement and criticism. Couldn't get enough.
If you've ever been in a writer's group, I'm willing to bet there was one or more people whose criticism you considered longer, harder, or just plain more than others, and whose praise just seemed to carry more weight than others. Because this guy was such a talented writer in his own right, and because he was always so thorough and thoughtful in his critiques, his opinion just had a little more weight to it for me. In fact, the only reason my giggling-like-a-pre-teen thoughts about writing erotica have evolved into something more serious is because this guy I've never met, but who I respect immensely as a writer, said an explicit sex scene I had written was actually good. Bordering on erotica, he'd commented, but the good kind. Erotica with a purpose. I never thought those words would have impacted me this much, but they did. To the point that I'm actually trying to write something like that, instead of having it happen accidentally.
That kind of encouragement was also a major influencing factor in some major revisions I did with To Call Home (Charlotte). The story had to grow up a lot, so I made it happen. And I did it without being embarrassed about the darker aspects (sexual and psychological) of the story that started to peek through. And damn if I'm not prouder of the story now than I've ever been! And more confident in my own ability, too.
Can I really pinpoint that one person, that one comment, that one moment, as the catalyst for all of this? Maybe it's unrealistic. Maybe my sentimental nerd is just grasping at coincidences, or making a mountain out of a molehill, or whatever. But maybe not. There are others from that group who also deserve a big thanks, but I'm still in contact with all of them and can do that any time (like perhaps in the Acknowledgements of my first pubished novel...perhaps?)
Either way, I couldn't let a favor like that - a favor he probably didn't know he was doing for me - go unacknowledged. So, if you're out there, still reading, you should definitely know who you are, and know that I'd love to continue the dialogue, if possible. Or if not, just know that I owe you a HUGE thanks, and I wish you the best in the future!
Have you ever had one of those people who influenced you in a big way, and you aren't sure how to thank or acknowledge them for it? I've had lots. But what makes me a sappy nerd is that I try to express that gratitude, one way or another. I haven't stumbled across too many people like that in the past couple years, but now my inner nerd is telling me there's someone worthy of a huge THANK YOU. (See, my self-deprecating nerd remarks are really my own defense mechanism against the potential embarrassment that can come from putting yourself out there like this--if I laugh at me first, it's not so bad if you laugh at me too. Am I getting to analytic for you? Apparently I do that.... but moving on....)
I heard from someone recently, someone I haven't heard from in a while. I'd say an "old friend," but I don't know if he'd consider our association that. I've never technically met the guy! haha. We were in an online critique group with a few other people. It was definitely good times. Always good critiques and interesting discussions. Unfortunately, it all came to a bitter and unexpected end, the group crumbled to bits, and I haven't heard from this person since. I'll keep him anonymous, since he may well want to remain that way.
I sure do miss that original group we had going, though. We had a good mix of people of different ages, genders (only two different ones, as far as I know ;-P), backgrounds, writing in different genres. Maybe because I was the baby of the group, I sometimes got that big-brother feeling about a couple of the guys in the group. You know, that feeling that someone's looking out for you, trying to encourage you, show you your potential, etc. (and I mean this in a literary way, like a writing mentor might do). And I, being the novice, ate up every word of encouragement and criticism. Couldn't get enough.
If you've ever been in a writer's group, I'm willing to bet there was one or more people whose criticism you considered longer, harder, or just plain more than others, and whose praise just seemed to carry more weight than others. Because this guy was such a talented writer in his own right, and because he was always so thorough and thoughtful in his critiques, his opinion just had a little more weight to it for me. In fact, the only reason my giggling-like-a-pre-teen thoughts about writing erotica have evolved into something more serious is because this guy I've never met, but who I respect immensely as a writer, said an explicit sex scene I had written was actually good. Bordering on erotica, he'd commented, but the good kind. Erotica with a purpose. I never thought those words would have impacted me this much, but they did. To the point that I'm actually trying to write something like that, instead of having it happen accidentally.
That kind of encouragement was also a major influencing factor in some major revisions I did with To Call Home (Charlotte). The story had to grow up a lot, so I made it happen. And I did it without being embarrassed about the darker aspects (sexual and psychological) of the story that started to peek through. And damn if I'm not prouder of the story now than I've ever been! And more confident in my own ability, too.
Can I really pinpoint that one person, that one comment, that one moment, as the catalyst for all of this? Maybe it's unrealistic. Maybe my sentimental nerd is just grasping at coincidences, or making a mountain out of a molehill, or whatever. But maybe not. There are others from that group who also deserve a big thanks, but I'm still in contact with all of them and can do that any time (like perhaps in the Acknowledgements of my first pubished novel...perhaps?)
Either way, I couldn't let a favor like that - a favor he probably didn't know he was doing for me - go unacknowledged. So, if you're out there, still reading, you should definitely know who you are, and know that I'd love to continue the dialogue, if possible. Or if not, just know that I owe you a HUGE thanks, and I wish you the best in the future!
15 June 2008
It was a dark and ugly novel....
And I'm writing it! ha. This whole process of having my manuscript read and critiqued by others is turning very interesting. Early on, Young Adult and Chick Lit were two of the genres my readers tended to associate with the book, which is not where I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be more adult and commercial, and I tried to focus on that with my revisions. Most of that came sheerly from changing the language/style of writing, but then I started adding and changing plot elements to achieve my goal.
Now, a few months down the road, I've gone from lighthearted Chick Lit to what one reader has said is something dark and ugly. Dark! Really! Some writers might be offended if they received a comment like that. And believe me, it crossed my mind to react that way haha. But ultimately, there are two things I've realized as a result that make me not offended, but extremely satisfied.
1. You just can't please everyone all the time. Not gonna happen, and I don't plan on trying. An opinion is an opinion, and I can do with it what I like. Ignore it. Worry about it. Use it to inspire me. Let it get me down in the dumps. It's up to me. So I'm learning from this one, but it's essentially going in the trash bin without me losing any sleep over it because of number......
2. Someone is having a hard time with my story, and that's a good thing! I knew before I started writing it that it might cause some knee-jerk reactions. I realize now that the way I wrote the story the first time was with the intention of soothing the reader into believing it was okay. Charming them into seeing how what they thought was a cut-and-dry ethical issue had more subtle grey areas. But why the hell did I want to do that? I don't know, but I know I don't want to do that anymore.
There are moral issues in this story, sure. But why should I sugarcoat it? I need to be bolder, more assertive as a writer. I need to make my reader uncomfortable and hope they'll stay with me long enough to see the happy ending through. If I'm going to change their minds about something, I want them to make the change freely, after some real hard thinking. Not after I've watered it down enough to make it easy to swallow. And the reader I really want is the one that will stick it out to the end, not throw a hissy fit and point fingers at my morality because I've made them too uncomfortable for their own good.
And while I'm on it - I'm either crazy, or some people are just really uptight, because I don't see why anyone would get quite so worked up over what I've written anyway. It is just a book, after all. Fiction.
Now, a few months down the road, I've gone from lighthearted Chick Lit to what one reader has said is something dark and ugly. Dark! Really! Some writers might be offended if they received a comment like that. And believe me, it crossed my mind to react that way haha. But ultimately, there are two things I've realized as a result that make me not offended, but extremely satisfied.
1. You just can't please everyone all the time. Not gonna happen, and I don't plan on trying. An opinion is an opinion, and I can do with it what I like. Ignore it. Worry about it. Use it to inspire me. Let it get me down in the dumps. It's up to me. So I'm learning from this one, but it's essentially going in the trash bin without me losing any sleep over it because of number......
2. Someone is having a hard time with my story, and that's a good thing! I knew before I started writing it that it might cause some knee-jerk reactions. I realize now that the way I wrote the story the first time was with the intention of soothing the reader into believing it was okay. Charming them into seeing how what they thought was a cut-and-dry ethical issue had more subtle grey areas. But why the hell did I want to do that? I don't know, but I know I don't want to do that anymore.
There are moral issues in this story, sure. But why should I sugarcoat it? I need to be bolder, more assertive as a writer. I need to make my reader uncomfortable and hope they'll stay with me long enough to see the happy ending through. If I'm going to change their minds about something, I want them to make the change freely, after some real hard thinking. Not after I've watered it down enough to make it easy to swallow. And the reader I really want is the one that will stick it out to the end, not throw a hissy fit and point fingers at my morality because I've made them too uncomfortable for their own good.
And while I'm on it - I'm either crazy, or some people are just really uptight, because I don't see why anyone would get quite so worked up over what I've written anyway. It is just a book, after all. Fiction.
02 May 2008
.....and the other shoe falls
As much as I love Agent Query Connect, it is not without its pitfalls. The critique group I belonged to has broken up, and though a few of us from the group have created a new one, we've lost one of the members I respected most. The specifics are unclear and upsetting, but I'm seriously disappointed in.... well, in a lot of things.
Let me speak for myself.
As a writer, the things I write are very personal to me. I put a lot of myself into every story I write. When I receive criticism regarding my writing (even the most well-intentioned and accurate criticism), it's very easy to take it all personally. It's easy to look for the personal faults or flaws in the person doing the critiquing. It's easy to go on the attack.
What's difficult is sorting through the words for the facts. For the valid points. What's hard is acknowledging that what I've written is by no means perfect. Realizing that someone else's criticism is not a reflection on my character as a human being, only a reflection of their opinion about what I've written. And though it should be easy, the hardest part can be realizing that even the criticism that seems unfair or harsh is mine to take or to leave, to do with what I will; I don't have to let it get to me.
I believe that under no circumstances is it acceptable to attack a person's viewpoints or ideas, beliefs, profession, integrity, etc. because I don't like the criticism they've offered me in a constructive setting. It is certainly never acceptable to attack a person publicly, by name, on a personal level, after that person has tried to diffuse the situation. EVEN IF I feel my points are valid and justified. EVEN IF I feel my sources are trustworthy. EVEN IF I feel the personal attack is somehow relevant to the original issue - a critique of my writing that I didn't like.
It's just not acceptable. It's unfortunate. It's childish. It doesn't solve anybody's problems. As a writer who seeks always to be truthful, fair, original, and always pushing the boundaries of my knowledge, I hold myself to a higher standard than that. I wish others would do the same.
I've not done any of the things I stated above, nor do I know for sure that anyone has. Like I said, the specifics are unclear and upsetting. I suspect it has much to do with fragile egoes and petty politics. But I hope we've all learned our lesson.
Let me speak for myself.
As a writer, the things I write are very personal to me. I put a lot of myself into every story I write. When I receive criticism regarding my writing (even the most well-intentioned and accurate criticism), it's very easy to take it all personally. It's easy to look for the personal faults or flaws in the person doing the critiquing. It's easy to go on the attack.
What's difficult is sorting through the words for the facts. For the valid points. What's hard is acknowledging that what I've written is by no means perfect. Realizing that someone else's criticism is not a reflection on my character as a human being, only a reflection of their opinion about what I've written. And though it should be easy, the hardest part can be realizing that even the criticism that seems unfair or harsh is mine to take or to leave, to do with what I will; I don't have to let it get to me.
I believe that under no circumstances is it acceptable to attack a person's viewpoints or ideas, beliefs, profession, integrity, etc. because I don't like the criticism they've offered me in a constructive setting. It is certainly never acceptable to attack a person publicly, by name, on a personal level, after that person has tried to diffuse the situation. EVEN IF I feel my points are valid and justified. EVEN IF I feel my sources are trustworthy. EVEN IF I feel the personal attack is somehow relevant to the original issue - a critique of my writing that I didn't like.
It's just not acceptable. It's unfortunate. It's childish. It doesn't solve anybody's problems. As a writer who seeks always to be truthful, fair, original, and always pushing the boundaries of my knowledge, I hold myself to a higher standard than that. I wish others would do the same.
I've not done any of the things I stated above, nor do I know for sure that anyone has. Like I said, the specifics are unclear and upsetting. I suspect it has much to do with fragile egoes and petty politics. But I hope we've all learned our lesson.
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