Tag Archives: Writers Resources

A blog about the topics of writing, The elements of writing a book

Responding to Bad Reviews: Should Authors Engage?

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What do you feel when you see that you have received a one or two-star review? It can range from disbelief to unhappiness and anger. And in my case, the need for me to respond to what they wrote.

I thought about it a lot, I wrote my reply, but couldn’t hit send. What could ensue could be bitter and for all the world to see. Is this what I wanted for my book and my brand?

And not only that, if I saw an author going back and forth with a reviewer. What would my reaction be to that? It is easy to reply, but very hard not reply.

Not everyone will like your books. There will always be trolls waiting to put someone down for a few reasons. Sometimes it falls under being mean.

Reaching out to others, a small few said to reply, the vast majority said to hold off, to something I had mentally decided to do. I was concerned the review would be seen.

Would people read and review my books once they saw that? A concern I had was that people would see it and would not read or review my work. I have left very few one or two-star reviews. I tend to reach out to the author to explain my thoughts on the book. They have been grateful that I would go this route instead of leaving a low-ranking review.

I would never, and have never, leave a nasty one; that isn’t my way. I even had someone tell me that having a bad review could be a good thing. People could be curious to know why the review was written and end up reading the book. I am not confident that has happened, but I got the logic of it.

Receiving a low review sometimes comes with no text. The way ebooks are now, you can leave a review by just giving it a star without explaining why. It is too easy now to bring a person’s ranking with no fanfare. I have no control over that. What I can control is not to reply to a nasty review. And I am okay with that now.

A blog about the topics of writing

Guest posting on Voice 9

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I was approached by Voice 9 to write an article for their site. The topic was “Authors in the shade of the pandemic situation.” The point was to talk about creative writing during this crisis. The article came out this past Monday. 

This is what I came up with.

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I’ve told myself often that there’s just not enough time to work on the aspects of writing.

To those who are in this field you know there is writing the book, editing, revising and recycle the process. After that you have to find a publisher or publish it yourself, market it and gosh just so much more.

Than the pandemic started. People in my state in the US were required to stay home. So, my family was home with me, all day and night.

Yay!

But now my meetings with writers, trips to the bookstore and other activities were restricted. I to this day just go to the grocery stores, the doctors and very few other places. My church is streaming so I don’t go to church in the literal sense.

This gave me time. Time that I never could count on before.

I been able to finish volume four to my Jasper, Amazon parrot series and finish round one of edits. I been able to reach out to ask bloggers to review my books, to interview me and to do guest post. Something I knew I had to do but time was not on my side.

What has come from that is a radio interview out of England, some lovely reviews, some lovely interviews and my first guest post on a blog. I been able to maintain the pace since I am home majority of the time just due to circumstances.

Yet, time has also given me insight into the world around me from what I see on the news, the radio and in articles. It’s motivated me to want to write about the conditions that I am seeing play out.

But write about what exactly? How do I choose just one topic over another? I’m not sure. The issues at hand are large in their own right. If I can use my ability to write and spread it through my platform could I make an impact? Would I just anger people? It seems my country has been angry this entire year. Frankly, I don’t blame those who are. I’m angry as well at what I’m seeing.

I would like to try and write on what I’m experiencing. This time in our lives needs to be recorded. Perhaps if it helps just one person it would be worth it. If nothing else, I have the time now to do it.

The article is here:

https://voice9eng.wordpress.com/2020/09/27/authors-in-the-shade-of-pandemic-situation/?fbclid=IwAR1ssMjw8Tu88jVZOUqEjm6qty9S9Fun4thwmHJfLMyPkUll0DINTy9ipHM

 

 

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Cross promoting with other authors

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As a writer do you try to hog the whole show? Are you unwilling to cross-post with another author? Are you unwilling to interview someone and place it on your website, unwilling to read another person’s book and review it or unwilling to give anyone else space on your page giving them the spotlight instead of you?

If you haven’t figure out by now writing is a solitary job. The only time it is a team effort as far as actually writing it is when you are collaborating with another writer to write a book together. Helping another writer out doesn’t diminish what you write or take away your spot as an author. By sharing with each other we learn plus who knows we may get more hits or more noticed by helping another writer out.

From the authors I know online I been blessed that it is a co-op situation with us helping each other. Sadly the people I know in real life are too busy pushing themselves out there that a/ it’s all about them and b/ even when they talk to you it is all about them with rarely a mention in asking how I am doing. True, some do ask but they are the exception.

I use to think this way not willing to give up space, thought or time. But that doesn’t get anyone much anywhere. And while this space on the web hasn’t shown it in a bit I use to do just that with the interviews, the cross-post and the reblog. I need to get back to doing that.