COURSE

For Readers

After seeing a particularly difficult review, I decided to come up with a post that would help readers and some authors effectively communicate with other authors when they leave reviews about there books. Your words are your own. So this particular article will be more of a, what not to do, post. Something for you to think about before you leave your next review. That way you know your words aren’t biting, but helpful.

(These comments were snatched directly from Amazon reviews.)

1. To the author just because everyone can write a book now and self-publish does not mean that everyone should.

That is such a passive/aggressive way of saying you should never write books. Both versions of which I have seen on Amazon/Goodreads and the like. I have even had it said about one of my books during a critique.

There is no way to say this, It is one of the most mean-spirited comments you could make to an author.

Self-Publishing is not an easy industry to take on and learn. No matter how many people you see publishing. It is costly. There is little help. And it is literally like climbing a mountain with no harness, using just your fingernails. So if they have done it and hit publish. Not only is it there dream, but their heart is in it. And you have just. . .

But those comments only mean that you thought the book was really bad with perhaps no redeeming qualities. This is how you handle those feelings.

1. Leave the 1-star review you want without the above comments.
2. Track the author down on their website or facebook and send them a message.
   1. Don’t spam and send to both. Choose one platform.
   2. Be honest, but helpful
      1. Use This Template: I left a one-star review, but I wanted to reach out to you because I see so much potential there to become a better author. I positively loved {insert one thing you liked}. I think you should read more novels by {insert author and books}. She writes in your genre and is good with {insert qualities that the author was missing}. But not everyone has time for that, and with publishing your first book things are probably looking hectic on your end. At least then, consider taking a writing course online. It will help you with your next book. And you just might see changes in the reviews. Sorry, I had to leave that one star, but I hope my comments help.
3. Once you hit send wash your hands of it.
   1. Some authors won’t like it, however, you say it.
   2. Their response to you or lack thereof is not an excuse to make the above comments.

The fact is if you feel strongly enough about a book to make a comment like the one above. Then you can spend a few minutes to actually help the author progress. And if he/she takes the advice then who knows you may be their catalyst to greatness. The review they mention during interviews when they’re sitting on talk show hosts couches.

2. A great many distracting and wince-worthy typos

Admittedly, I have a love/hate relationship with grammar Nazi’s. This comment can take many excruciating forms. At least for my psyche people who point out, typos are annoying. But this is an unbiased opinion on how to use your powers for good. The comment above is stated okay and I much prefer it to those who list out said mistakes. Or paint typos as being next to death. You know what gives me Cancer. Reading comments about typos being as bad as death. Here is the right way to do it.

1. Leave Review With Words: Some distracting typos and syntax errors
   1. No more or no less is needed
2. Track the author down on their website or facebook and send them a message.
   1. Don’t spam and send to both. Choose one platform.
   2. Be honest, but helpful
      1. Use This Template: I recently read your novel {insert book name} and I really enjoyed it. {Insert part you like} was really interesting. But I came across quite a few typos, that you might want to know about. A software program that’s even better than my casual eye is ProWritingAid/Grammarly/Ginger. But as you already know nothing beats having an editor. Casually looking into it, I know those people can be expensive. Think about trying to find someone on Fiverr. Until you can upgrade to a full-time editor etc. A bad typo can knock you right out of the story.
         1. For those who like listing typos out, this is the place you would do it.
         2. End it by saying: Sorry, I had to leave the one star, but I do hope my comments were helpful.
3. Once you hit send wash your hands of it.
   1. Most authors will approve of this method.
   2. Their response to you or lack thereof is not an excuse to use words like death, cancer, excruciating or any other manner of ridiculous adjectives. Grammar shaming is a thing, please lose the inclination.

Whether an author is self-published or they have a publisher. Without reading their contracts and knowing exactly whats going on behind the scenes. A number of things could be coming out of there pockets that the reader doesn’t know. And that could include the cost of an editor. Tread lightly.

3. I don’t like stories with too much [Sex, violence, drugs]

I recall reading a book that had too much sex in it during one of my book reviews. Mostly because the sex seemed to be disruptive to whatever else was going on in the scene. But that’s not what the comment above said. And making such a statement implies something different. It usually comes from people who don’t like any sex, violence, drugs or rock and roll.

Novels that include such subjects will not appease every taste palette. If you find that you have interests in such subjects, but would like them packaged in a lighter fare. Consider reading:

• Christian Novels (yes even suspense novels)
• Clean Romances
• Any of the Harlequin line (yes they do mysteries, paranormal)

If you are reading a book or following an author that does not specifically reference any of the above phrases then expect that the characters in those novels will run the gamut of human expression. That is not always good and can be too much of an extreme. Most of these novels can be spotted by the covers, even if not mentioned in the blurb.

There’s no template here because in general, you cannot tell another parent what they can do with there baby. The same goes for authors. You can’t tell another author that last death scene was too gory, and the sex scene was one too many. They saw that book executed in a different way then the reader. And it comes down to a difference of opinion. But they get the final say because it’s there baby.

1. Leave Review With Words: It wasn’t the type of novel I like
   1. Which is not the same thing as above. Above assumes there was something wrong with the story. I can even vouch for the book I grabbed this from. That review was completely wrong. It wasn’t too much anything. It was boring.

4. Way Too Short

If the author does nothing at all to alert the readers to the specifications of the novels. Never fear because Amazon has you covered. Leaving a review of two short is not a reflection on the author or book. But it just means that you’re missing some critical information. How to find out the page number before buying the book.

• Check the book info underneath the Amazon description. It’s labeled length.
• Check the Product Details section. Will be labeled, Print Length.
• Check the end of Amazon description.
• Check the book cover itself.

1. Leave Review With Words: This book would be better, longer. Or. I loved this book so much. I wish it were longer.

No template is needed. Although the best comments I’ve ever received for one of my stories is, I wish this was longer. I wouldn’t send that as a personal message. But a review is fine. Only because there’s usually a reason it wasn’t long to start with.

• Scheduling.
• It’s a Freebie.
• Wanted to write other things.
• It’s a standalone.

I’ve seen authors take those comments to heart and then extend their novels or come out with sequels. But if they didn’t have any ideas prior to the pressure. They end up writing novels that are stilted and forced with no imagination.

A similar hack can be used for the blurbs. Downloaded a book and you don’t remember what it’s about. Click on it and Amazon should automatically show you a box that looks like reader reviews and other things you don’t need to know. But if you hit the plus button it will give you the blurb. All without leaving the screen.

5. The author’s screwed up theology. . .

Wheather an author includes there personal theology, politics or sociology into there novels is different from author to author. It is generally recommended to authors that they don’t do it. However, its an authors choice to stray from the path and do what they think is true to there heart. That being said it should never be assumed that just because a character said or did something controversial by your standards, that is the same political/theology that the author themselves holds.

Its an author’s job to create living breathing creatures with there own thoughts, fears, and dreams. That might mean that characters have an opinion that a reader might not agree with. It’s not a reason to boycott an author.

If you want to know an author’s true feelings about a subject. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or check out their website and subsequent blog posts.

1. Leave Review With Words: The character’s theology/politics did not match up with my own and it made for an uncomfortable read.

No template is needed. If this is even remotely true. You’re not going to change the author’s mind with a stern carefully worded letter. Instead, you may kick up more drama than is needed in your life and the authors. If it’s not true. The authors just going to think you’re crazy and then spread said message to other author friends to laugh at. Sorry, I have seen it happen.

This isn’t an appropriate review even if its a Christian Author/Book. Even within the Christian faith, there are denominations like Catholic/Protestant etc. And the readers who pick these up will have a faith just as diverse. It’s just not appropriate to compare apples to oranges and then point to the author like there is something wrong with them.

This particular review does not apply to characters who display racist tendencies or ideas. Which should always be called out.

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For Authors: Guidelines only.

A good rule of thumb in sex scenes is no more than 3-4 per novel. It can get gratuitous. Even in an Erotica. For Erotica, I’d say 3-4 full sex scenes with 1-2 masturbation scenes as plenty. Dependent on the novel those might be too much.

Short Stories/Novellas should be marked as so on the cover and in the Amazon blurb/description section.

Reveal your characters personal political/theological/sociology beliefs as it relates to the plot. For example: It would be weird if a Political Thriller didn’t mention politics. Dystopian novels sometimes touch on sociological themes. And of course, Christian novels have to delve into the personal theological beliefs of its main characters. A Contemporary Romance wouldn’t need any of the three.