I loved that song by Tina Turner back in the day. Better Be Good To Me
It reminded me about something.
It reminded me about professionalism.
It reinforced that respect has its place and is a necessary component in every aspect of our lives.
It made me remember that T.V. has a strong influence on our opinions and it's not always a positive outcome.
I see it in sitcoms, Reality T.V. and children's cartoons. It's rubbing off on society as a whole. Sure, it has its place and some instances, it's needed and to the point. But if we aren't careful, it could become a habit, a way of interacting that spills over into aspects of our lives we don't intend it to. And that absolutely includes writing a review.
What am I referring to? It goes by many names because it's considered a gray area. Snark. I.E.: Sarcasm. Causticity. Derision. Disparagement. Scorn. Contempt. Disrespect. Sneering.
Let me put it like this, and it's a quote from a respected author regarding a scathing review that appeared on Amazon.
"...have this Simon Cowell mentality that you have to be cruel in order to get your point across as to how much you hate the book or the performance or in this case, the romance genre in general."
In a nut shell - it comes across as a lack of respect.
Some review sites channel their inner Simon Cowell. They don't call him Judge Dread for nothing. He might be entertaining on television, but his style does not translate well to writing reviews for romance books. Some people need to be reminded of that. Despite and in spite of the review blogs that are out there that cater to that mind set, it's not what everyone looks for.
My advice? Before you review for a site, check with the site owners or, if they have it, the list of criteria or FAQs that might provide information about the tone or style of their reviews and what they look for.
Read some of their published reviews and get a feel for what they typically accept. And that includes whether they care to edit their reviews or leave them as they are. If they leave them as submitted, that means the onus is on the reviewer to edit and present a coherent review. If the review site cares, that is.
If your writing is cutting edge with clever quips and snark and they love that type of writing, then you've found a home.
By the same token, if they are more about information, fairness, respect and articulate coverage of what works and objective comments on what doesn't without resorting to flaming prose, and that's what you prefer to share, then that's the review site to join.
Long and Short Reviews' readers don't get snark at all. They don't get the flamboyant and/or the exaggerated. Nor the mean, the cutting or the brutal type of opinions that can turn off reader and author alike.
Usually readers look for solid, well written, professional and trustworthy reviews. They want someone who can articulate without resorting to flashy verbiage or the current fad lexicon of the moment, certainly they don't want a review that makes them cringe from the harshness of the comments.
And that's where the title, Be Good To Me, comes in.
Respect yourself as a reviewer.
Respect the author's work.
Please don't make any criticism personal by making disparaging comments that allude to a negative reflection of the author. The author is not being reviewed, the book is. The story is. The technique is. The dialogue is. The plot is.
Please don't confuse enthusiasm with outlandish vocabulary: gonna, wanna, yo', bitchin', any profanity, slang spelling and slang vernacular.
Please treat the literary work, short or long, with respect.
Especially short stories.
Don't get angry because you felt it wasn't long enough. If it's a short story, it's a short story. It focuses on ONE aspect, ONE development thread and if that is not enough? Don't read short stories.
Know your personal expectations and choose books accordingly.
It's not a fault if the book is short.
It's wrong to use that reason to lower a book's rating.
Do you know what that is like?
It's like ordering one scoop of ice cream and getting upset because it didn't fill you up like two scoops.
One scoop of ice cream is like a short story. Remember that.
I tried to find an example of snark that insults not only the author but the book. I tried to find something that incorporated the don'ts - like swearing, while also providing what those other review blogs have, entertaining snark. I stumbled upon this video regarding a series that I actually enjoy. I overlook a lot of stuff that drives many readers wonky. I don't know what it is, but I have enjoyed every book in the series for what it gives me in that book alone.
Obviously, this particular Vlog has made video snarking an artform.
If a reviewer was to put in writing for LASR what is in this clip: synopsis, a bit of spoiler, profanity and yes, snark, it would never see the light of day. SNARK THEATER for one of the Anita Blake books.
I think it makes the point.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
How to Stay in the Race
The first thing a reviewer needs to do to reach the checkered flag at the end is make a good start at the beginning. If we're talking horses, I'd say you have to shoot out of the starting gate as soon as it goes down. If we're talking the Olympics at the sprinter's race, it is the sound of the starting pistol that gets everyone to move forward. You can't stay in the race if you never get your best foot forward. You can't stay in the race if there's no incentive to do so. Your race = being read.
In all instances, an effective start puts a competitor in a better position to perhaps keep the lead and cross the finish line first. That's the hope of every competitor.
The checkered flag in the end = a reader who sticks around to read your entire review.
For a reviewer, their starting gate is the first paragraph. Their start signal is the first sentence. I've covered this before but it's nice to have a reminder every now and again. First, I'll give a link to the first time I touched base on this.
The Beginning of the Same Difference
The reason I believe it's good to visit this again is to remind reviewers that stating the obvious is boring. Making it your first sentence is a buzz-kill. Rehashing - This is # such and such in the LaLa series and it's great - doesn't do a thing for me. Not as a reviewer and certainly not as a reader.
Why should you avoid stating a book is whatever number it is in a series in your first sentence and paragraph? Because you'll lose a reader immediately. The only ones that will keep reading your review is someone already a fan of the series. Readers unfamiliar with the series or the author and his/her works will say - "Oh, forget this. I'll have no idea what's going on, so I'm not going to read anymore. There are other books out there."
Right after identifying the number in the series, some reviewers will rehash the blurb - a major no-no and another boring addition. Why? Many review sites post the blurb first. It's after reading the blurb that a reader will then continue onto the review. Telling them what it's all about after they just read what it's all about is a waste of their time for reading, and a waste of a reviewer's time for writing. The only time giving a brief overview has value is when a review site does not include a book's blurb with the review and reviewers have to give a reader some insight. For this post, I'm specifically addressing reviewing for sites that do provide the blurb up front.
What you put in your first paragraph is key. I like variety so, here are some examples to peruse for Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann.
Terrific, a wonderful bland of historical, romance and paranormal.
Of course, the typo in the first sentence doesn't inspire confidence much.*grin*
A fearless virgin and a reclusive duke sound interesting when paired together but throw in a vampire duke and a young woman determined to remain unmarried and willing to do anything to ensure she won’t, makes this book unique and fascinating.
The intro sentence compares the usual Regency fare to that same scenario with a twist, thereby teasing the reader to read more. Okay, so I wrote that particular review, but still, that is the result I was aiming for. How'd I do compared to the other examples? I enjoy feedback.
When I chose this book to review, I was intrigued by both the title and the premise. “Bite Me, Your Grace” as the title had me imagining a story using a clever double entendre. A clever title shows an author with a clever mind, right? In some ways the book was clever and there was evidence of that double entendre.
Even though I liked how it started and because I did, I read more - with this review (it's from a site that does not provide a blurb) I found the tone quite negative in the extreme even though it was well written.
Merging the humor of a Regency romp with the darkness of a vampire novel, Ann has come up with a charming debut that captures the light and dark of the era.
Although I liked this sentence, using an author's first name is unprofessional. I covered this no-no in my post That Familiar Touch.
I included the above because they showcase how a good first sentence lures a reader to continue reading.
Next, I tried to find a book in a series, I chose, Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh:
This was another hot episode in the Breeds series. (ho-hum)
FULL of Spoilers! Readers of this blog know how I feel about spoilers.
Gives a wolf whistle and pumps fist in the air: She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack! Oh Em Gee everyone, Ms. Leigh hit it out of the park with this long awaited story, Lion’s Heat.
I liked this because of the sheer enthusiasm of the reviewer. Her comment about "died hard fans" had me laughing, which I'm sure was not her intent. See? Editing IS important! And ::sigh:: spoilers again. What is it with spoilers in reviews??
This volume in Lora Leigh's Breeds series is a pretty good entrant -- unlike many of the other books in the series she published around the time of this one, it doesn't feel totally phoned in, maybe because the character of Jonas had received a lot of fleshing out in earlier volumes, or because of the build-up from the volumes.
Wow- nothing like bringing out the negative. Really makes me want to read the rest of the review. NOT!
Expectations can be too high sometimes. I was really looking forward to this book by Lora Leigh, Lion’s Heat. This is the 21st book in the breeds series and Jonas’s story which is a breed who has figured prominently in many of the breed stories to date.
Here we go, the # of the book, and negative to boot. I don't think this horse should have gotten out of the starting gate, do you? And, because I found two reviews back to back with prevalent negativity, it's the perfect segue for you to check out the The Sandwich Rule for Reviewing. There's a place for, and a way of, mentioning what didn't work for you in a review. It's worth referring to, believe me.
Director of the Bureau of Breed Affairs Lion Breed Jonas Wyatt knows the only person who could bring him to his knees is his assistant, Rachel Broen. -
I don't call this a review. It's a synopsis, pure and simple - and disappointing. The first sentence starts as it went on. In a race, it would have been disqualified.
So, do you see what I mean? Initial presentation is important in writing a review. You want to be read, not passed over.
From an editing standpoint, many of these would have given an editor a headache due to content. Ouch.
In all instances, an effective start puts a competitor in a better position to perhaps keep the lead and cross the finish line first. That's the hope of every competitor.
For a reviewer, their starting gate is the first paragraph. Their start signal is the first sentence. I've covered this before but it's nice to have a reminder every now and again. First, I'll give a link to the first time I touched base on this.
The Beginning of the Same Difference
The reason I believe it's good to visit this again is to remind reviewers that stating the obvious is boring. Making it your first sentence is a buzz-kill. Rehashing - This is # such and such in the LaLa series and it's great - doesn't do a thing for me. Not as a reviewer and certainly not as a reader.Why should you avoid stating a book is whatever number it is in a series in your first sentence and paragraph? Because you'll lose a reader immediately. The only ones that will keep reading your review is someone already a fan of the series. Readers unfamiliar with the series or the author and his/her works will say - "Oh, forget this. I'll have no idea what's going on, so I'm not going to read anymore. There are other books out there."
Right after identifying the number in the series, some reviewers will rehash the blurb - a major no-no and another boring addition. Why? Many review sites post the blurb first. It's after reading the blurb that a reader will then continue onto the review. Telling them what it's all about after they just read what it's all about is a waste of their time for reading, and a waste of a reviewer's time for writing. The only time giving a brief overview has value is when a review site does not include a book's blurb with the review and reviewers have to give a reader some insight. For this post, I'm specifically addressing reviewing for sites that do provide the blurb up front.
What you put in your first paragraph is key. I like variety so, here are some examples to peruse for Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann.
Terrific, a wonderful bland of historical, romance and paranormal.
A fearless virgin and a reclusive duke sound interesting when paired together but throw in a vampire duke and a young woman determined to remain unmarried and willing to do anything to ensure she won’t, makes this book unique and fascinating.
The intro sentence compares the usual Regency fare to that same scenario with a twist, thereby teasing the reader to read more. Okay, so I wrote that particular review, but still, that is the result I was aiming for. How'd I do compared to the other examples? I enjoy feedback.
When I chose this book to review, I was intrigued by both the title and the premise. “Bite Me, Your Grace” as the title had me imagining a story using a clever double entendre. A clever title shows an author with a clever mind, right? In some ways the book was clever and there was evidence of that double entendre.
Even though I liked how it started and because I did, I read more - with this review (it's from a site that does not provide a blurb) I found the tone quite negative in the extreme even though it was well written.
Merging the humor of a Regency romp with the darkness of a vampire novel, Ann has come up with a charming debut that captures the light and dark of the era.
Although I liked this sentence, using an author's first name is unprofessional. I covered this no-no in my post That Familiar Touch.
I included the above because they showcase how a good first sentence lures a reader to continue reading.
Next, I tried to find a book in a series, I chose, Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh:
This was another hot episode in the Breeds series. (ho-hum)
FULL of Spoilers! Readers of this blog know how I feel about spoilers.
Gives a wolf whistle and pumps fist in the air: She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack! Oh Em Gee everyone, Ms. Leigh hit it out of the park with this long awaited story, Lion’s Heat.
I liked this because of the sheer enthusiasm of the reviewer. Her comment about "died hard fans" had me laughing, which I'm sure was not her intent. See? Editing IS important! And ::sigh:: spoilers again. What is it with spoilers in reviews??
This volume in Lora Leigh's Breeds series is a pretty good entrant -- unlike many of the other books in the series she published around the time of this one, it doesn't feel totally phoned in, maybe because the character of Jonas had received a lot of fleshing out in earlier volumes, or because of the build-up from the volumes.
Wow- nothing like bringing out the negative. Really makes me want to read the rest of the review. NOT!
Expectations can be too high sometimes. I was really looking forward to this book by Lora Leigh, Lion’s Heat. This is the 21st book in the breeds series and Jonas’s story which is a breed who has figured prominently in many of the breed stories to date.
Here we go, the # of the book, and negative to boot. I don't think this horse should have gotten out of the starting gate, do you? And, because I found two reviews back to back with prevalent negativity, it's the perfect segue for you to check out the The Sandwich Rule for Reviewing. There's a place for, and a way of, mentioning what didn't work for you in a review. It's worth referring to, believe me.
Director of the Bureau of Breed Affairs Lion Breed Jonas Wyatt knows the only person who could bring him to his knees is his assistant, Rachel Broen. -
I don't call this a review. It's a synopsis, pure and simple - and disappointing. The first sentence starts as it went on. In a race, it would have been disqualified.
So, do you see what I mean? Initial presentation is important in writing a review. You want to be read, not passed over.
From an editing standpoint, many of these would have given an editor a headache due to content. Ouch.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Don't Let Inspiration Cloud Your Judgment
I appreciate being inspired. It propels me to do great things - or at least attempt mediocre things with flair.
A painter spies a glorious multi-hued rainbow of colors bathing the sunset with its spectacular display. He's inspired to try to capture on canvas what he saw so he could share it with the world.
A musician hears a chorus of birdsong and realizes the melody fits with some lyrics that have been plaguing his brain for months. He's inspired to write a song.
A soldier returned from war finds himself beset by injuries of mind and body and somehow perseveres to heal and find love and a brighter future.
A fireman rescues a puppy from a burning house and the young man whose dog was saved, is inspired to become a fire fighter when he grows up.
To be inspired is a wonderful thing. It's how many of our culture's masterpieces got created in the first place.
When a reviewer reads a book that moves them, touches them emotionally and makes them feel powerful feelings, it's quite natural to say that the book inspired them. The urge to buy all the back list books of that author, the quest to seek other books in that series, or the impulse to contact that author to express appreciation, all of those actions stem from being inspired.
Being inspired, or a book being an inspiration to you, is not the same as a book being an Inspirational. An Inspirational is a noun. A genre, or as some view it, a sub-genre.
In researching for this post I found a lot of jibber-jabber and conjecture but ultimately, when I read far enough, I found the common ground that they all eventually came to.
Inspirationals, whether they be romance, mystery, westerns or contemporary fiction all have one thing in common:
They usually do not allow profanity or explicit sex - the bedroom door is firmly closed. They are books that have a specific religious background, portraying characters who are part of a particular religious tradition, usually Catholic, Jewish or Christian and oftentimes portray a hero or heroine struggling with issues of faith within that tradition and working through those issues of faith and belief to a hopefully happily ever after, or happy for now. God is a part of their lives and is their guiding force. It's very clear. Wikipedia has their own definition.
I also learned that there is a next step to Inspirationals which is Evangelicals. I never knew nor was aware that they existed and what the difference was. Author Kaye Dacus had some great definitions between Inspirationals and Evangelicals. Click Here to see all sorts of genres explained. I found it helpful. For reviewing purposes, Evangelicals would still fall under the title, Inspirational.
Another good write up on Inspirational or Christian romance comes from Karen Witemeyer - I liked what she had to say so I thought I'd share the link here too. The bottom line for this whole post is to show that there is a difference between being inspired and reading an Inspirational.
When labeling your review, be aware of the difference. It's best not to mislead a reader who only reads Christian romances or fiction. They're kind of sensitive about content.
A musician hears a chorus of birdsong and realizes the melody fits with some lyrics that have been plaguing his brain for months. He's inspired to write a song.
A soldier returned from war finds himself beset by injuries of mind and body and somehow perseveres to heal and find love and a brighter future.
To be inspired is a wonderful thing. It's how many of our culture's masterpieces got created in the first place.
When a reviewer reads a book that moves them, touches them emotionally and makes them feel powerful feelings, it's quite natural to say that the book inspired them. The urge to buy all the back list books of that author, the quest to seek other books in that series, or the impulse to contact that author to express appreciation, all of those actions stem from being inspired.
Being inspired, or a book being an inspiration to you, is not the same as a book being an Inspirational. An Inspirational is a noun. A genre, or as some view it, a sub-genre.
In researching for this post I found a lot of jibber-jabber and conjecture but ultimately, when I read far enough, I found the common ground that they all eventually came to.
Inspirationals, whether they be romance, mystery, westerns or contemporary fiction all have one thing in common:
They usually do not allow profanity or explicit sex - the bedroom door is firmly closed. They are books that have a specific religious background, portraying characters who are part of a particular religious tradition, usually Catholic, Jewish or Christian and oftentimes portray a hero or heroine struggling with issues of faith within that tradition and working through those issues of faith and belief to a hopefully happily ever after, or happy for now. God is a part of their lives and is their guiding force. It's very clear. Wikipedia has their own definition.
I also learned that there is a next step to Inspirationals which is Evangelicals. I never knew nor was aware that they existed and what the difference was. Author Kaye Dacus had some great definitions between Inspirationals and Evangelicals. Click Here to see all sorts of genres explained. I found it helpful. For reviewing purposes, Evangelicals would still fall under the title, Inspirational.
Another good write up on Inspirational or Christian romance comes from Karen Witemeyer - I liked what she had to say so I thought I'd share the link here too. The bottom line for this whole post is to show that there is a difference between being inspired and reading an Inspirational.
When labeling your review, be aware of the difference. It's best not to mislead a reader who only reads Christian romances or fiction. They're kind of sensitive about content.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Why I Applaud Editors of Reviews
I can only speak to the editors of the Long and Short of It Reviews because that's what I'm familiar with.
I was curious about any reviews of a book that I had just finished reading. I loved it and felt it was one of the best books in the series, so far. I can't link to it right now because it has to go through its own editing process before it can get published at LASR. One thing my editors will not see are some of these that I snagged from Goodreads.
"...is an incredible adiction to the" Addiction or Addition - not sure which but an editor could have helped tremendously.
"It sparks me to want to re-read the earlier books in the series" - alright firefly. An editor might have suggested sparked interest in re-reading, or It inspired me to re-read..., or It motivated me to want to re-read... but 'sparked me' just doesn't work unless you're a fire cracker.
One review gave critical plot points away, explaining about the hero's background IN DETAIL; information I only found out when I read the book myself - as it should be. Not only that, but the so-called review showed a huge chunk of dialogue and then continued to give blow by blow accounts of what happened later. I had to stop reading it. I was going to blow a gasket. Telling readers what the story is all about, what happens and explains in intricate detail why something is the way it is has a name. SPOILERS!! They are not reviews!
Ok....I digress. Let's see what else I found.
Oh, The Pout. Yes, a reviewer pouted. "This book would have been so much better if there were more of (previous characters)....." The book wasn't about those other characters. This book was about one man, one hero, and his journey to redemption. Because this particular book didn't have "those" characters, the reviewer trashed it. HELLO!!! ::face palm:: Review and rate the book on what IS, not what you wish it could be. You didn't write the book, the author did. Her world, her rules, her vision. And then the "reviewer" ended with, " complete review to come." Really! So, this person took the time to trash the book because it didn't have the characters she/he'd prefer to see and left a CLIFF HANGER? Interesting technique.
Ah, I was wondering when I'd find a review with this element. I know the hero was as anti-hero as a man could get. He has a history of being the villain everyone loved to hate - with good reason.
I left Goodreads with thankfulness and switched to random clicking and Lo!
"... he is also a complete asshole." That's basically true but profanity really has no place on a 'professional' review site. Even if it's said throughout the book, profanity really should not show up in a review. Remember, and I'm paraphrasing, 'lady on the outside, vixen on the inside'. I think 'bastard' can be used because it is, in fact, a noun and a well used one during those Regency times.
Yes, editors work magic. They fix the flow of a review with a simple tweak of a word here or there. Their jobs are made much easier if I do my homework and proof my words. Did I mix up a metaphor? Did I type in reslut again instead of result? Did I put there instead of their? Spell check won't ever catch that because there and their are real words. This is when the human brain is superior to any computer program. I can't rely on auto-correct either because sometimes what the computer suggests is from outer space. I am the first and last to proof before I submit. Because I've had the honor of assisting with editing, I know what a thankless, eye-straining, headache inducing job it can be. But the polished product is a miracle. We all benefit from our editor's efforts and the result is a higher quality review. I'm honored to have such wonderful people scrutinizing my work. They make me look darned good.
Hats off to our editors!!!!
**VBG** After reading all of this, you are probably wondering and demanding I reveal the name of the book I was basing this post on. I'll instead share with you a review that I thought was awesome. Even better than mine and it's not out yet. I loved the insight this reviewer put into it. I enjoyed how she skirts the cliff of spoilers, giving enough to tease and make me want to read the book all over again. I love giving credit to a great review and this one deserves it. Click HERE to see the answer revealed.
As always, if you have any feedback regarding this post, I'd enjoy the chat.
Thanks for stopping by!
I was curious about any reviews of a book that I had just finished reading. I loved it and felt it was one of the best books in the series, so far. I can't link to it right now because it has to go through its own editing process before it can get published at LASR. One thing my editors will not see are some of these that I snagged from Goodreads.
"...is an incredible adiction to the" Addiction or Addition - not sure which but an editor could have helped tremendously.
"It sparks me to want to re-read the earlier books in the series" - alright firefly. An editor might have suggested sparked interest in re-reading, or It inspired me to re-read..., or It motivated me to want to re-read... but 'sparked me' just doesn't work unless you're a fire cracker.
One review gave critical plot points away, explaining about the hero's background IN DETAIL; information I only found out when I read the book myself - as it should be. Not only that, but the so-called review showed a huge chunk of dialogue and then continued to give blow by blow accounts of what happened later. I had to stop reading it. I was going to blow a gasket. Telling readers what the story is all about, what happens and explains in intricate detail why something is the way it is has a name. SPOILERS!! They are not reviews!
Ok....I digress. Let's see what else I found.
Oh, The Pout. Yes, a reviewer pouted. "This book would have been so much better if there were more of (previous characters)....." The book wasn't about those other characters. This book was about one man, one hero, and his journey to redemption. Because this particular book didn't have "those" characters, the reviewer trashed it. HELLO!!! ::face palm:: Review and rate the book on what IS, not what you wish it could be. You didn't write the book, the author did. Her world, her rules, her vision. And then the "reviewer" ended with, " complete review to come." Really! So, this person took the time to trash the book because it didn't have the characters she/he'd prefer to see and left a CLIFF HANGER? Interesting technique.
Ah, I was wondering when I'd find a review with this element. I know the hero was as anti-hero as a man could get. He has a history of being the villain everyone loved to hate - with good reason.
I left Goodreads with thankfulness and switched to random clicking and Lo!
"... he is also a complete asshole." That's basically true but profanity really has no place on a 'professional' review site. Even if it's said throughout the book, profanity really should not show up in a review. Remember, and I'm paraphrasing, 'lady on the outside, vixen on the inside'. I think 'bastard' can be used because it is, in fact, a noun and a well used one during those Regency times.
Yes, editors work magic. They fix the flow of a review with a simple tweak of a word here or there. Their jobs are made much easier if I do my homework and proof my words. Did I mix up a metaphor? Did I type in reslut again instead of result? Did I put there instead of their? Spell check won't ever catch that because there and their are real words. This is when the human brain is superior to any computer program. I can't rely on auto-correct either because sometimes what the computer suggests is from outer space. I am the first and last to proof before I submit. Because I've had the honor of assisting with editing, I know what a thankless, eye-straining, headache inducing job it can be. But the polished product is a miracle. We all benefit from our editor's efforts and the result is a higher quality review. I'm honored to have such wonderful people scrutinizing my work. They make me look darned good.
Hats off to our editors!!!!
**VBG** After reading all of this, you are probably wondering and demanding I reveal the name of the book I was basing this post on. I'll instead share with you a review that I thought was awesome. Even better than mine and it's not out yet. I loved the insight this reviewer put into it. I enjoyed how she skirts the cliff of spoilers, giving enough to tease and make me want to read the book all over again. I love giving credit to a great review and this one deserves it. Click HERE to see the answer revealed.
As always, if you have any feedback regarding this post, I'd enjoy the chat.
Thanks for stopping by!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Spam Spam Spam I Am - NOT!
First, a nod to Monty Python's Spam.
I find it amazing that it's the perfect tie-in to teach about repetitive words in a review. I have covered this issue before and I thought it was pretty clear about how annoying a Broken Record could be. However, it is a topic that begs to be revisited because it's a trap that we all fall into frequently. It not only plagues reviewers but authors as well.
The use of the same word to refer to an item repeated in close proximity in the same paragraph is to be avoided. Like the counter 'lady's' reaction to all that repetitive Spam flying around, I too want to scream, "Enough!"
The word most often abused is 'story'. Here are other options to try in your review to break up the bad habit of story-itis.
Book
Cliffhanger
Comedy
Drama
Epic
Fable
Fantasy
Folk tale
Legend
Myth
Novel
Novella
Or use the actual title of the book instead of "this story"
Plot
Saga
Sequel
Story line
Tale
Tall tale
Tear jerker
This mystery
This whodunit
This romance, the romance
Thriller
Yarn
I have a suggestion. If you have a search function or (edit and replace) on whatever program you use to write your reviews on your computer, plug in the word "story" and see how often it shows up and where. Same with "book". They seem to be the most repeated and need to be mixed up and stirred.
The goal of this post is to polish your writing style. I hope this list helps. Too much of a good thing, like SPAM, can make you sick. Using the same word over and over again in a 250 word review is not a good thing. Read it aloud and you'll see.
If there are other words that you find yourself over-using, let me know. I can research and come up with another comprehensive list that other reviewers can reference. And, if you have other words that I missed that I can add to the above 'story', I'd love to see them and I'll update this post.
Thanks!
I find it amazing that it's the perfect tie-in to teach about repetitive words in a review. I have covered this issue before and I thought it was pretty clear about how annoying a Broken Record could be. However, it is a topic that begs to be revisited because it's a trap that we all fall into frequently. It not only plagues reviewers but authors as well.
The use of the same word to refer to an item repeated in close proximity in the same paragraph is to be avoided. Like the counter 'lady's' reaction to all that repetitive Spam flying around, I too want to scream, "Enough!"
The word most often abused is 'story'. Here are other options to try in your review to break up the bad habit of story-itis.
Book
Cliffhanger
Comedy
Drama
Epic
Fable
Fantasy
Folk tale
Legend
Myth
Novel
Novella
Or use the actual title of the book instead of "this story"
Plot
Saga
Sequel
Story line
Tale
Tall tale
Tear jerker
This mystery
This whodunit
This romance, the romance
Thriller
Yarn
I have a suggestion. If you have a search function or (edit and replace) on whatever program you use to write your reviews on your computer, plug in the word "story" and see how often it shows up and where. Same with "book". They seem to be the most repeated and need to be mixed up and stirred.
The goal of this post is to polish your writing style. I hope this list helps. Too much of a good thing, like SPAM, can make you sick. Using the same word over and over again in a 250 word review is not a good thing. Read it aloud and you'll see.
If there are other words that you find yourself over-using, let me know. I can research and come up with another comprehensive list that other reviewers can reference. And, if you have other words that I missed that I can add to the above 'story', I'd love to see them and I'll update this post.
Thanks!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Reviewing Isn't Singing Along with Toby Keith
I actually enjoy Talk About Me and it's great to sing along with - if I can keep up.
The lyrics that stick with me are these:
"I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me (me,me,me,me- background singers)
I wanna talk about meeeeeeee (me,me- background singers)
(I wanna talk about me- background singers)mmmm me me me me
(I wanna talk about me- background singers)mmmm me me me me
You you you you you you you you you you you you you
I wanna talk about ME!"
What does Toby Keith's song have to do with reviewing? It is perfect to illustrate what readers should see in a review. If I'm writing the review, you want to know what I felt, what I saw, how I was affected, what I liked, what I didn't, what I observed and what I looked for and what I found and what I didn't find. Did I laugh, did I cry, did I faint from the scorching love scenes or fall asleep or did I want to rush out and tell everyone to read this book; all those things are points that make a review valuable to a potential buyer of a book. What do they have in common? Me! My opinion.
What I do not want to see is you: You will like this..., You will absolutely love..., You will cry when ..., You will want to ...., You will come to believe..., You must..., You are going to .... You you you you you.
Seriously, how can a reviewer possibly anticipate a reader reacting the same as the reviewer?
There are times when "You" can be fine to use.
"You might remember the old adage, "It takes a thief to catch a thief".
At that point the reviewer is talking to the reader, drawing them in by using a common analogy or reference to make their point. Nowhere in the above example is the reviewer telling the reader what they will do. It's being chatty, and that's fine. But when reviewers persist in talking...no telling the reader how to do this or that, then it ceases being a sharing of opinion and comes across as shaking a figurative finger at the reader with authority, "You will laugh...!" "You will do this...after reading this scene, chapter, book."
I don't think so.
To flip Mr. Keith's lyrics around from "I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me."
It should be "I like talking about me me me me me, usually, but occasionally I can talk about you."
It's hard to refrain from You-ing all over the place. A reviewer might do it because they feel that they're writing it in a way that might relate better to the reader. It's not. It's telling. A review is your opinion and you are sharing about how the book, characters, dialogue, setting or sex scenes affected you. Or not.
I need to see, "I was amazed!" not, "You will be amazed." You can't possibly know that.
When I see a review telling me to do this or that, I get all huffy and want to stomp up to my soap box and hold up a neon sign that says STOP! I don't like to see someone telling me how I'm going to react to the same book they're talking about. That's for me to decide. I can only hope that I'll derive the same sense of enjoyment, awe, surprise or excitement out of the book as the reviewer. But I can't be told to.
A reviewer's goal is to Make me want to experience those same things by hooking me, intriguing me, teasing me and painting with words that show me their enthusiasm and observations enough that it piques my interest, whets my appetite and encourages me to go and read the book for myself.
Me.
Before you submit your review, look it over to see if you are sharing your opinion or telling.
Too much telling in a book can drag down the review rating. Telling in a review is just as unwelcome.
Please be aware folks. And when writing, think in your head, 'talk about me'.
The lyrics that stick with me are these:
"I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me (me,me,me,me- background singers)
I wanna talk about meeeeeeee (me,me- background singers)
(I wanna talk about me- background singers)mmmm me me me me
(I wanna talk about me- background singers)mmmm me me me me
You you you you you you you you you you you you you
I wanna talk about ME!"
What does Toby Keith's song have to do with reviewing? It is perfect to illustrate what readers should see in a review. If I'm writing the review, you want to know what I felt, what I saw, how I was affected, what I liked, what I didn't, what I observed and what I looked for and what I found and what I didn't find. Did I laugh, did I cry, did I faint from the scorching love scenes or fall asleep or did I want to rush out and tell everyone to read this book; all those things are points that make a review valuable to a potential buyer of a book. What do they have in common? Me! My opinion.
What I do not want to see is you: You will like this..., You will absolutely love..., You will cry when ..., You will want to ...., You will come to believe..., You must..., You are going to .... You you you you you.
Seriously, how can a reviewer possibly anticipate a reader reacting the same as the reviewer?
There are times when "You" can be fine to use.
"You might remember the old adage, "It takes a thief to catch a thief".
At that point the reviewer is talking to the reader, drawing them in by using a common analogy or reference to make their point. Nowhere in the above example is the reviewer telling the reader what they will do. It's being chatty, and that's fine. But when reviewers persist in talking...no telling the reader how to do this or that, then it ceases being a sharing of opinion and comes across as shaking a figurative finger at the reader with authority, "You will laugh...!" "You will do this...after reading this scene, chapter, book."
I don't think so.
To flip Mr. Keith's lyrics around from "I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me."
It should be "I like talking about me me me me me, usually, but occasionally I can talk about you."
It's hard to refrain from You-ing all over the place. A reviewer might do it because they feel that they're writing it in a way that might relate better to the reader. It's not. It's telling. A review is your opinion and you are sharing about how the book, characters, dialogue, setting or sex scenes affected you. Or not.
I need to see, "I was amazed!" not, "You will be amazed." You can't possibly know that.
When I see a review telling me to do this or that, I get all huffy and want to stomp up to my soap box and hold up a neon sign that says STOP! I don't like to see someone telling me how I'm going to react to the same book they're talking about. That's for me to decide. I can only hope that I'll derive the same sense of enjoyment, awe, surprise or excitement out of the book as the reviewer. But I can't be told to.
A reviewer's goal is to Make me want to experience those same things by hooking me, intriguing me, teasing me and painting with words that show me their enthusiasm and observations enough that it piques my interest, whets my appetite and encourages me to go and read the book for myself.
Me.
Before you submit your review, look it over to see if you are sharing your opinion or telling.
Too much telling in a book can drag down the review rating. Telling in a review is just as unwelcome.
Please be aware folks. And when writing, think in your head, 'talk about me'.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
"Revisit Me" Screams Number Three
Hello, again, fellow reviewers!
Welcome, fellow word grazers!
It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've covered many aspects of reviewing so topics are fewer to come by. Sometimes what is old is new again and this post proves it. I heard it through the editing grapevine that ratings aren't equaling the review. The ripple effect from that practice is not pretty and it affects the reviewer's credibility, not to mention causes untold confusion for the author as well as readers of your review.
The rating of three (3) isn't a bad thing. If you need a refresher about a three (3) rating click HERE -- remember the Rapunzel-effect?. I know some of you do. I even covered a three (3) rating in more depth HERE - personally, I think the 'Missing Link' is even more helpful. Three(3) is a popular subject, can you tell?
The flip side of rating a book a three (3), is not writing the review to justify it. In fact, what is being written is glowing, gushing and all perfectly positive. If you're that enthusiastic about the book, why in the world are you rating it a three (3)? To paraphrase Mr. Spock, "That does not compute." Certainly, it's not logical.
For a book to earn a three (3) rating, it has to have faults. Has to. Not maybe. Has to. And how to address them was covered in The Rapunzel Effect - so go check out that link if you haven't already.
A reviewer does a great disservice to the book and all readers of their review when there is tons of gushing and positive opinions without sharing what dragged it down from a perfect rating of five (5) or Best Book to a three (3). There has to be a reason. It's the responsibility of a reviewer to express that; share what didn't work and what could have made it better in a concise but respectful manner. Remember, no snark - it's never constructive nor truly informative. Remember, I covered No Snark when I went 'fishing'. Need a refresher? Click HERE
I'm not sure why a reviewer would hesitate to share their opinion of what didn't work for them. I don't think they'd hold back if they were talking to their friends face to face about it. I hardly think they'd recommend a book to their friends by waxing poetic about how great it was and then mislead them by not warning them of the book's pitfalls. Friendship means taking the good with the not-so-good. The relationship that a reviewer has with her/his audience is just like a friendship. Some readers follow a reviewer because they feel that they can trust the opinion of the writer. Why would you want to let them down? What are you afraid of? Are you aware that authors respect a well worded critique and find the information of what didn't work, helpful? They do. Well, most do.
If a reviewer stated that the hero's dialogue came across sounding like a stubborn, childish cur instead of a man you could respect and swoon over, then they'd know to pay more attention to the male POV and how he's depicted. Perhaps they need to do more research on how men talk amongst themselves to gain more insight. And that insight may very well benefit the next hero, and reviewers will truly have reason to be enthusiastic. Maybe there was a ton of confusing head hopping in a book and the reviewer shared that it was overdone and threw them out of the story. That might challenge the author to rein in his/her characters and the next book will be sharp and on target.
The bottom line? Write a review that matches the rating. Give details ( NOT SPOILERS) about what was missing, or what didn't work. Something. Don't just say the book 'feels' like a three (3). That means nothing. Please do not submit a review that has "Happy, Happy, Joy! Joy!" (nod to Ren & Stimpy) all over it and then slap on a three (3) rating, or even a four (4). When you do that, your credibility is on the line.
Please make your reviews match and/or justify your rating.
Welcome, fellow word grazers!
It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've covered many aspects of reviewing so topics are fewer to come by. Sometimes what is old is new again and this post proves it. I heard it through the editing grapevine that ratings aren't equaling the review. The ripple effect from that practice is not pretty and it affects the reviewer's credibility, not to mention causes untold confusion for the author as well as readers of your review.
The rating of three (3) isn't a bad thing. If you need a refresher about a three (3) rating click HERE -- remember the Rapunzel-effect?. I know some of you do. I even covered a three (3) rating in more depth HERE - personally, I think the 'Missing Link' is even more helpful. Three(3) is a popular subject, can you tell?
The flip side of rating a book a three (3), is not writing the review to justify it. In fact, what is being written is glowing, gushing and all perfectly positive. If you're that enthusiastic about the book, why in the world are you rating it a three (3)? To paraphrase Mr. Spock, "That does not compute." Certainly, it's not logical.
For a book to earn a three (3) rating, it has to have faults. Has to. Not maybe. Has to. And how to address them was covered in The Rapunzel Effect - so go check out that link if you haven't already.
A reviewer does a great disservice to the book and all readers of their review when there is tons of gushing and positive opinions without sharing what dragged it down from a perfect rating of five (5) or Best Book to a three (3). There has to be a reason. It's the responsibility of a reviewer to express that; share what didn't work and what could have made it better in a concise but respectful manner. Remember, no snark - it's never constructive nor truly informative. Remember, I covered No Snark when I went 'fishing'. Need a refresher? Click HERE
I'm not sure why a reviewer would hesitate to share their opinion of what didn't work for them. I don't think they'd hold back if they were talking to their friends face to face about it. I hardly think they'd recommend a book to their friends by waxing poetic about how great it was and then mislead them by not warning them of the book's pitfalls. Friendship means taking the good with the not-so-good. The relationship that a reviewer has with her/his audience is just like a friendship. Some readers follow a reviewer because they feel that they can trust the opinion of the writer. Why would you want to let them down? What are you afraid of? Are you aware that authors respect a well worded critique and find the information of what didn't work, helpful? They do. Well, most do.
If a reviewer stated that the hero's dialogue came across sounding like a stubborn, childish cur instead of a man you could respect and swoon over, then they'd know to pay more attention to the male POV and how he's depicted. Perhaps they need to do more research on how men talk amongst themselves to gain more insight. And that insight may very well benefit the next hero, and reviewers will truly have reason to be enthusiastic. Maybe there was a ton of confusing head hopping in a book and the reviewer shared that it was overdone and threw them out of the story. That might challenge the author to rein in his/her characters and the next book will be sharp and on target.
The bottom line? Write a review that matches the rating. Give details ( NOT SPOILERS) about what was missing, or what didn't work. Something. Don't just say the book 'feels' like a three (3). That means nothing. Please do not submit a review that has "Happy, Happy, Joy! Joy!" (nod to Ren & Stimpy) all over it and then slap on a three (3) rating, or even a four (4). When you do that, your credibility is on the line.
Please make your reviews match and/or justify your rating.
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