 |  |  |  |
New novel ready for release? Lots of excitement surrounding the event—for the author
and her biggest fans. Anticipation grows as the first reviews start to make their way onto
sites across the internet and along with it, the author's reluctance to see the reviews—
what if my precious novel fell into the wrong hands?
It happens. Usually more often than a novel deserves. Usually from the keyboard of fellow
authors.
I follow novel reviews, out of curiousity, and to keep in touch with new releases. Over the
last year I've witnessed a growing trend that sizzles my toes. Reviews that reflect personal
taste—not of the novel's target audience; from the point of view of a author—not from the
point of view of a reader.
In a recent blog tour, many of the posts more closely resembled critiques than reviews.
What's that all about?
I believe that every reviewer, especially author and editors, has the responsibility to
provide reviews that a target reader can understand and relate to—reviews that will fairly
inform their purchase decision.
I believe that authors and editors need to demonstrate professional integrity in their
reviews; heck, we owe it to ourselves to write a review that is professional.
Do we want to look, to potential fans of our own work, like we're showing off our
knowledge of writing?
Think about it, does the everyday reader know what an action beat is, know what head-
hopping is? Does the everyday reader even know they should care?
Sometimes I wonder if certain reviewers have a personal agenda: the reviews are so
nitpicky—almost to point of pettiness—that they read like writer is trying to lash out at a
competitor.
Probably my absolute favourite HUH? moment came while reading a review of Flashpoint:
the reviewer lauded the book but gave it 3 out of 5 stars saying: "my problems with it have
nothing to do with Frank's writing or the story itself." He then went on to talk about font
size and the fact that, in his opinion, the short length of the story didn't qualify it for a
novel! As I said, HUH?
If the reviewer had said something like, the writing was amateurish, or the book was
boring to read, or even, I got lost somewhere after the first 6 pages, I'd have sat up and
taken notice. Instead I dismissed it with a grin and a giggle and chalked it up to reviewer
inexperience, obviously not someone I'd go to for a book recommendation.
Don't be one of these reviewers! If you don't like a book, explain why and give concrete
examples. If you do like it . . . well, same drill applies. And, if you also happen to be a
novelist or hopeful, write a professional review—whether negative or positive—your review
will reflect your writing skill, and on the world wide web, it will be an example for ever.
Cynthia MacKinnon
Recommended Reading: On Book Reviews & Reviewers
and her biggest fans. Anticipation grows as the first reviews start to make their way onto
sites across the internet and along with it, the author's reluctance to see the reviews—
what if my precious novel fell into the wrong hands?
It happens. Usually more often than a novel deserves. Usually from the keyboard of fellow
authors.
I follow novel reviews, out of curiousity, and to keep in touch with new releases. Over the
last year I've witnessed a growing trend that sizzles my toes. Reviews that reflect personal
taste—not of the novel's target audience; from the point of view of a author—not from the
point of view of a reader.
In a recent blog tour, many of the posts more closely resembled critiques than reviews.
What's that all about?
I believe that every reviewer, especially author and editors, has the responsibility to
provide reviews that a target reader can understand and relate to—reviews that will fairly
inform their purchase decision.
I believe that authors and editors need to demonstrate professional integrity in their
reviews; heck, we owe it to ourselves to write a review that is professional.
Do we want to look, to potential fans of our own work, like we're showing off our
knowledge of writing?
Think about it, does the everyday reader know what an action beat is, know what head-
hopping is? Does the everyday reader even know they should care?
Sometimes I wonder if certain reviewers have a personal agenda: the reviews are so
nitpicky—almost to point of pettiness—that they read like writer is trying to lash out at a
competitor.
Probably my absolute favourite HUH? moment came while reading a review of Flashpoint:
the reviewer lauded the book but gave it 3 out of 5 stars saying: "my problems with it have
nothing to do with Frank's writing or the story itself." He then went on to talk about font
size and the fact that, in his opinion, the short length of the story didn't qualify it for a
novel! As I said, HUH?
If the reviewer had said something like, the writing was amateurish, or the book was
boring to read, or even, I got lost somewhere after the first 6 pages, I'd have sat up and
taken notice. Instead I dismissed it with a grin and a giggle and chalked it up to reviewer
inexperience, obviously not someone I'd go to for a book recommendation.
Don't be one of these reviewers! If you don't like a book, explain why and give concrete
examples. If you do like it . . . well, same drill applies. And, if you also happen to be a
novelist or hopeful, write a professional review—whether negative or positive—your review
will reflect your writing skill, and on the world wide web, it will be an example for ever.
Cynthia MacKinnon
Recommended Reading: On Book Reviews & Reviewers
A Frank Word or Two
Poll: Your Opinion Please.
______________________
Your Comments and
Feedback
______________________
______________________
CATHOLIC WRITERS
ONLINE CONFERENCE
KARINA FABIAN
reviews: marcher lord
press POLL
Jeremy Robinson Interviews
INDUSTRY NEWS
Leaps of Faith new online
UNDERGROUND ANTHOLOGY UPDATE
creative calisthenics
twitter A Frank Word or Two
Like Write on Rice
- do you Twitter?
- news in spec-fic
Poll: Your Opinion Please.
- does advertising play
a role in what books
you buy?
- action beats and
nose-picking
- Grace Bridges reports
on her trans-U.S.A.
tour
- Marcher Lord Press's
initial offerings - reviews courtesy of
Armchair Reviews,
Grace Bridges, Eric
Wilson
- Cynthia MacKinnon
speaks out on review-
writing
______________________
Your Comments and
Feedback
______________________
______________________
CATHOLIC WRITERS
ONLINE CONFERENCE
KARINA FABIAN
reviews: marcher lord
press POLL
Jeremy Robinson Interviews
INDUSTRY NEWS
Leaps of Faith new online
UNDERGROUND ANTHOLOGY UPDATE
creative calisthenics
twitter A Frank Word or Two
Like Write on Rice