tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post111538667307168413..comments2024-03-24T05:22:57.577-04:00Comments on Deidre Knight's Blog: Fireflies in the Georgia HeatDeidre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02543260043122520069noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115485339535760302005-05-07T13:02:00.000-04:002005-05-07T13:02:00.000-04:00Fabulous post! You are both dead on! Offering up a...Fabulous post! You are both dead on! Offering up a novel in the best possible shape is all anyone can ask of us. We learn--we grow.princessdominiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07487209892843939470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115470997191983892005-05-07T09:03:00.000-04:002005-05-07T09:03:00.000-04:00You've hit a subject I'm trying so hard to work on...You've hit a subject I'm trying so hard to work on! I thought I was prepared for bad reviews because hearing I need to work on something from other writers, my lovely agent, readers and so on has never, never bothered me (in fact, I like it). I eat it up, crave that kind of feedback, so I can go back and make the book better. Yet for some reason, bad reviews manage to rock me. I don't know why, but would absolutely love to get to a place of peace about them.Gena Showalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258195148903570276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115400334776377572005-05-06T13:25:00.000-04:002005-05-06T13:25:00.000-04:00I think even if she posted on Amazon it would be o...I think even if she posted on Amazon it would be okay, because if she disliked something about an author's book, she gives a very good reason for it (like Ellen says, a grain of truth). She's not one of those people who comes on and flames because they don't personally like that author (not the author's work, but the author) or her agent or whatever else. Of course, that's part of the whole "must take what you dish out" attitude of mine. I know that the reviews I wrote affected people's businesses. It sucks for the author, but if it's an honest review based on a reader's opinion rather than some prejudiced flame, there's really nothing wrong iwth it. Reviewers shouldn't be in it for hte authors, they should be in it for hte buyers. If the authors learn somehting, great, but that's not what the review was written for.<BR/><BR/>I think Mrs. Giggles actually does have genuine affection for romance novels and that's why she feels so free to state her unvarnished opinion about what she finds wrong with many of them.<BR/><BR/>Maybe I like her because, while I don't have as strong reactions to the issues, I have similar likes and dislikes of storylines, character motivation and genre cliches. I know that anything Mr.s Giggles gives a 65 or above to I'm liable to like very much. She gives tougher grades than I would, but we think alike.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115399963885657692005-05-06T13:19:00.000-04:002005-05-06T13:19:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115398548459335872005-05-06T12:55:00.000-04:002005-05-06T12:55:00.000-04:00Mrs. Giggles has skewered-- er, reviewed-- four of...Mrs. Giggles has skewered-- er, reviewed-- four of my books:-). Actually, I voluntarily send my books to her for review. She is extremely snarky, but when you dig beneath the snark, you often find a kernel (or even several kernels) of truth in her reviews. Her comments on my books have helped me identify some of the weaknesses in my writing.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345856694410479930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115395272125209002005-05-06T12:01:00.000-04:002005-05-06T12:01:00.000-04:00Yep. Does she no longer post on Amazon? Because s...Yep. Does she no longer post on Amazon? Because she used to, which was part of why it bothered me. To argue against myself, I suppose when someone IS reviewing uniformly, then even the bad can't hurt that much. :) SO I've answered my own debate on this one.Deidre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543260043122520069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115394875973468262005-05-06T11:54:00.000-04:002005-05-06T11:54:00.000-04:00Are you talking about Mrs. G.? She cracks me up. S...Are you talking about Mrs. G.? She cracks me up. She's like the "Television Without Pity" of romance novels. But I feel differently about her, since she's a) not a "review site" but a person with a hobby and can therefore be biased and personal and snarky, and b) she's not posting her admittedly personal and biased opinions on a book-buying website like Amazon.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115391398824226752005-05-06T10:56:00.000-04:002005-05-06T10:56:00.000-04:00Diana,I've actually had to go to Amazon and have a...Diana,<BR/>I've actually had to go to Amazon and have a review removed on an author's book. Not b/c the "reviewer" had a problem with the author--b/c they had a personal issue with ME!! It's amazing. <BR/><BR/>I also take issue with some reviewer sites that tend to head straight for the negative review on every book. After a while, it's hard to take their opinions very seriously.<BR/>DDeidre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543260043122520069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115391017258447932005-05-06T10:50:00.000-04:002005-05-06T10:50:00.000-04:00Since my past life was as a (restaurant) reviewer,...Since my past life was as a (restaurant) reviewer, I hope I'm prepared to take it as well as I dished it out now that professional reviewers will be turning their eyes on me. :-)<BR/><BR/>But this is another reason I always keep all my rejection letters and contest feedback - you never know when someone weird opinion will turn into five or six people's insight.<BR/><BR/>What I don't get is the so-called "reviews" posted on Amazon, etc. which are really just the mutterings of fangirls or embittered and jealous writers that can actually hold some bearing on a book buyer's choices. Bad reviews from establish reviewing source, yes. Biased ravings, not so much.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115390051735926802005-05-06T10:34:00.000-04:002005-05-06T10:34:00.000-04:00So true! But I'd categorize that under the latter ...So true! But I'd categorize that under the latter section of my post, the bit about the anonymous cruelty of the Net. I'm always amazed at how people can get carried away in the posse mentality. <BR/><BR/>Part of welcoming critique is knowing the difference b/t bashing and truly instructive analysis.Deidre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543260043122520069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11981147.post-1115389674493036022005-05-06T10:27:00.000-04:002005-05-06T10:27:00.000-04:00"...every bit of feedback I receive as a writer I ..."...every bit of feedback I receive as a writer I welcome, even if it’s not comfortable. How else can I grow?"<BR/><BR/>I've always regarded bad reviews as a useful thing-- sometimes they point out very valid problems with my writing. And we all get bad reviews, so there's no point in getting in a snit about them (although it can be hard not to sometimes!). Critiques from editors, agents, and contest judges are often very valuable, too.<BR/><BR/>But occasionally an author gets feedback that isn't welcome-- unpleasant criticism that's directed at her personally, rather than at her writing. This is the kind of thing that tends to blow up on message boards and blogs, because it's hard to ignore. But generally speaking, an author is better off ignoring stuff like this, because any argument on her part will tend to draw attention to it.<BR/><BR/>In other words, criticism isn't always constructive. An author needs to learn to heed the constructive criticism and ignore the rest.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00345856694410479930noreply@blogger.com