Catherine Dilts
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Short Stories
  • Annie's Fiction
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series

Mystery Thriller Week - reviewing and reviewed

2/21/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
Only two more days of Mystery Thriller Week! My article titled I Have This Great Idea appeared on the event blog February 17.

Today on my blog, I discuss reviews. I must admit that I find both reviewing others' work, and being reviewed, to be stressful experiences.

As authors, we need reviews on major sites like Goodreads and Amazon to help our sales. We want honest reviews, and yet dread that less than stellar opinion.

I also agonize over giving reviews. I have changed my review policy and philosophy over time. Before I was published, I could be brutal. After being published, I realized how hurtful negative reviews could be, not just to an author's ego, but to their sales. For a while, I refused to review anything. I was paralyzed by fearing the damage I might do to someone's writing career by expressing my subjective reaction to his or her book.

Because that's all a review is - whether given by a professional or someone who simply reads for enjoyment. Reviews are opinions. 

I received a nice review of Stone Cold Blooded recently. You can read it here. Reviewer Mahrie G. Reid is the author of the Caleb Cove Mystery Series.

I read and reviewed Casket Cache, by Janice Richardson. and What Lies Beyond the Fence, by L. C. Hayden. Click on the title, and you can learn my opinion of these two novels. 

Reviewing doesn't have to be a school essay on literary techniques. It should be an honest expression of your reaction to a tale that entertained you. I encourage you to post reviews. (Some of my treasured readers already do - thanks!) Even if you keep it short and sweet, you'll be helping an author more than you know.

4 Comments
Jacqueline Seewald
2/22/2017 07:34:20 am

Hi Catherine,

A number of people have read my novels. I hope more of them will review these books. I always appreciate reviews. I don't know if readers realize just how important and influential their reviews are. Like you, I review many of the books I read. I review the books I enjoy. I don't review books I dislike because I know how hard we writers work on our novels.

Reply
Catherine Dilts
2/22/2017 08:16:21 am

Jacqueline, that's a good policy. All writers went to great effort to put thoughts into words. We might not enjoy a book, while it could appeal to someone else.

Reply
Elsie Hayden link
2/22/2017 08:09:42 am

I definitely agree with you about reviews. They are so important. Thanks for pointing that out!

Reply
Janice J. Richardson
2/24/2017 09:46:28 am

Like you Catherine, I have changed my attitude about reviewing books since becoming an author. If an author approaches me for an honest review, they will get one. I learned my lesson - if the book is bad I won't rate it. I will read it and let the author know privately. I am not an analyst,I am not a literary writer. I can give an honest opinion. That what our readers do, they like our books, love our books or hate them. If I review someones work, I am a reader too.

Reviews matter to an author and to degrade their work publicly is not my style. Therefore, if the book gets a 3-star review from me, it's not a great read.

99% of authors are appreciative. For that 1% that demand or expect a 4-5 star review, I let them know they will not get a rating or review from me.until I have read the book and given it a chance.

It happened once - an author was not happy with my low rating and review and kept pestering me to read the rest of the series. I refused. The author defended their work and could not accept that it was substandard. If I could pull that rating, I would.

As for my work, I respect and appreciate the time a blogger/reviewer takes to read and review my book(s). If it is a 2 star rating in their opinion, they they need to be able to give that opinion without my interference. That's how I learn and grow as an author, constructive criticism matters as much as a positive feedback.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to this blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly