If one writes professionally—that is, making a living at writing—reviews are important.
One writes a book spending x number of years writing, rewriting, editing, fretting … the book is published and then there are the … reviews. And now I have been reviewed for my latest book, Catch You Later, Traitor.
I know some highly successful writers who have told me they never look at reviews, not one.
I know some highly successful writers who tell me they obsessively track down every review, each one.
I have met reviewers who, when asked if they would like their reviews to be reviewed became indignant.
I have been told by a few reviewers that they don’t care what the writer thinks of their reviews.
I once asked one of these folks if they ever thought how their review might impact a writer’s income. “That’s not my job,” she said, “It’s the risk a writer takes for publically publishing a book.”
Over my many years of publishing I have usually had good reviews of my books. That said, I have never published a book—no matter how successful or how lauded—but that at least one reviewer thought it a poor book.
I have had books reviewed which said “this is a wonderful book.” The same book has been reviewed as “This is a terrible book.”
I have never learned anything about my writing from any one review. That said, if something similar is said in a number of reviews I can, and have, learned a lot.
Things to remember.
Reviews are written for the reader, (or purchaser) not the writer.
There are professional reviewers, and professional readers (librarians, teachers) who can and do write, informed, thoughtful, even interesting reviews.
In these days of blogging, what often passes for reviews are uninformed and subjective responses, quite often personal in their negative comments about the author, and his/her work, indifferent as to the impact of what is said. I recently met an editor who advised her author not to read blog reviews.
Summary: One review of a book is never conclusive. But you can get a sense of a book’s worth by reading say, seven reviews. Try this by looking at the reviews of Catch You Later, Traitor.
4 thoughts on “Suggesting Seven Reviews”
IT is indeed easier to write a review of a book than to write a book!
I see what you did there. XD Reviews can definitely be a good resource for readers, but also be a problem for writers when they’re too discouraging (or if they let them get to their heads…) Funny how something can be frivolous and fatal all at the same time.
The limitations of current review journals often means that a reviewer only has 250, maybe 300 words to sum up an entire book. It is extremely difficult to do it well. Often there are requirements to be met in terms of making it clear in the first and last line whether this is a first, additional purchase or not worthy of purchase at all. There are those cantankerous buyers who want to know if it has sex, gore, cursing or just irreverent attitude and the reviewer has to wrap that all up without overly focusing on that content.
I’m no writer, but I do write reviews and I ponder them for days and weeks even. Am I being fair? Will the reader have a clear picture of what they are purchasing from the little space I have to use? It is much harder than a simple annotation and I must admit, I expect writers to be tough.
A reviewer is just one reader. I bring myself to the review and all that background and baggage needs to be somewhat hidden, but another reviewer will have an entirely different take. Fortunately or unfortunately, you have that cachet of having won a Newbery Medal which makes many readers automatically predisposed to like it. And other readers to set their expectations so high that you could never satisfy them.
Dear Carol Edwards; Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I wish all reviewers were as careful and hardworking as you. And I wish people who read reviews (particularly blog reviews) would consider them in the light of your words. Just as there are professional writers (and amateur writers) there are professional reviewers and amateur reviewers. Not all reviews are equal.