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Wednesday 25 January 2012

What are they saying about you?

Earlier today, CassaStar author and ninja blogger Alex J. Cavanaugh talked about authors reading reviews of their own books. Should we do it? 

A lot of people have different opinions on this one (Alex thinks we should read them, for example) and I thought his was such a great post that I'd chime in.

Euurreaaarrrgh. That's pretty much how I feel about the topic. Should we read what people are saying about our own work? On the one hand, I think, no. We shouldn't. Reviews are written so that readers, or prospective readers, have a sense of what to expect and what other people think of the book. They're not a letter to the author. 

But on the other hand, I think, yeah. Sure we should. For the same reasons Alex talks about. Certain things highlighted in a review - praise for excellent writing, for example, or a rant about a horrendously two-dimensional villain - can help an author do as well or better next time. We may get a sense of what worked and what didn't. We can learn a lot from readers' responses to our work. 

But then on the third hand, I think, no, we shouldn't read these responses. Because the 'learning a lot' thing can backfire. Spectacularly. Dramatically. Cataclysmically. A lot of other -icallys. 

What if you start writing things because you think a reader wants it? What if it takes you away from the story you really need to be writing? I won't mention any specific books here, but there has been many a time that I've got to Book 3 or 4 of a popular series, only to find that things suddenly seem a bit... off. And it seems a little like the author's been reading too many reviews. (Yes, if you're wondering, I do have a morbid fear of this happening to me!)

So should we read reviews of our stuff? Euuuurreaagh just about sums it up.

As for the other question... will I read them anyway?

Hell yes. I won't be able to resist.

What do you think?

14 comments:

  1. I guess you can't always believe your own press. To be a writer you have to have an inner compass that keeps you true to your writing. Will you do everything perfectly? No. Will everyone like your book? No. But if you know that going into publishing, it'll make a difference about how you deal with the criticism when it comes.

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  2. See, even the ones who say they won't will read some anyway!
    I had no idea where to go next with my story (as I hadn't planned on a second book) so reader comments nudged me in the right direction. And the couple reviews I've seen of my second book tell me it was a good choice.
    And they've already nudged me in a new direction!

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  3. Euuuurreaagh sums it up pretty well. I kinda think no, we shouldn't, but I know I will anyway. At least a few.

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  4. I'm sure I'll end up reading them. I like something that Cate Masters does. She includes some of her reviews on her blog every now and then. Since a reader my occasionally wander over, that can be a good thing for them to see... and know that it's not just you thinking your writing is absolutely FAB.

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  5. I'm afraid I would read them just for curiosities sake...then I'd go cry, depending on how harsh it was.

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  6. I think it's okay to read them if you go into it with realistic explanations. If you can remember that it's just not possible for everyone on the planet to like any book. Of course, that's easier said than done.

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  7. I could never resist reading a review. I thought the bad ones would really sting, but in actual fact I find most reviewers are constructive when they don't like something and I always remind myself that there is no way everyone would like the same thing. That always helps.

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  8. Despite the valid arguments both for and against, I think it's one of your last sentences that sums it up for me: I won't be able to resist.

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  9. Hm, I agree with you and would struggle to find a balance between reading for constructive criticism and staying genuine to what I want to write. Sometimes it's hard to get all of those voice out of your head! But reviews can definitely point out things that go missed.

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  10. Reading reviews can be both good and bad, yes it is important to know what people are saying about us, but it can discourage us from writing further - well those writers who are really sensitive about their work.

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  11. That's such a good point! I'd be scared that reading reviews would change my style of writing or what I wrote about, and I'd hate for that to happen.

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  12. Accurate description. I agree with you--assuming I ever get something published, I doubt I'll be able to resist the urge to read reviews. :P

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  13. I think the most interesting thing to come out of the recent author-blogger fracas was that there is a difference between a review and a rant. Reviews are professional - whether someone gets paid to do it or not. A review is professional in tone, measured, assesses the work's quality, style, strengths, weaknesses, appeal to that reviwer or different audiences. Rants are fueled by feeling, rely overly on a personal reactions and are not constructive. Rants may either denigrate (using words like "suck" or resorting to comments about the author instead of the work) but they might also elevate (fangirl/boy gushing about a book).

    I think there's a place for both in the world. I gush and rant about books to friends. I review books for a wider audience on my blog.

    But for authors, and one day I hope I have the chance to practice what I preach, I would say this: Read reviews. Don't read rants.

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  14. i think u should read them but not get emotionally attached......... smile at the good reviews, learn from the bad ones, and ignore the crass ones!

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