Novelists write stories because we want others to read them. There may be lots of additional reasons why we write, but I would venture to say this reason is on every author’s why-I-write list.
When I sent my first book out to the reading public in 1984, there was no Internet. Most offices didn’t even have computers. (Shocking to realize that wasn’t so very long ago!) There were very few periodicals or newspapers where books were reviewed, and mass market romances were seldom selected for those publications. There were only two where most romance novels could hope to be reviewed; Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur.
Back then, there were also only two ways to hear back from readers about a book. One was to meet them in public, most often at a book signing. The other was fan mail. You know, hand written notes that arrived in the mailbox.
I remember what it felt like when I got a fan letter for my first book. I earned about 17 cents for every copy of that book that was sold. But when I got that fan letter, I went to the bookstore and paid a dollar for a special bookmark to send to that reader. Obviously, I couldn’t continue to spend over four times my earnings just because a reader said she liked my book. LOL!
Today, there still are a very limited number of publications where a book might receive a professional review, especially when you consider there are 15 million books for sale on Amazon alone!! But because of the Internet and social media, the opinions of readers have taken on an even greater importance. Reader reviews on Amazon, BN, CBD, and Goodreads have become a large percentage of today’s “word of mouth.” And positive word of mouth for a book is very important to the author.
Reviews from readers can be wonderful. They can lift a writer’s spirits and encourage her creativity. Reviews from readers can also send a writer into the pit of despair. And I doubt there is any writer who wouldn’t agree that it’s the negative reviews we tend to remember most.
[Tweet “Which is why many writers avoid reading reviews. Especially negative, one-star reviews.”]
In our society today—and especially when it can be done anonymously—some people seem to go out of their way to be cruel. Sometimes they don’t just criticize the book; they take personal potshots at the author of the book. I’m sure it is a sad commentary on modern day Western culture. I’m also sure psychologists and psychiatrists would be able to expound on said commentary for hours.
Recently I stumbled on something that actually made me shake my head rather than despair over a few one-star ratings of A Promise Kept on a social media site. This novel has generated some of the best reviews of my career, and because of the personal nature of the story, I have followed reader reactions closer than I usually do. So when a few one-star ratings showed up (no reviews, just ratings) after the book had been out a couple of weeks or so, I decided to see for myself what books these readers both liked and what books they also hated.
- One man had rated over 1900 books, all of them added on the same day and all but 5 of them receiving only one star. Now, how seriously can I take that?
- One reader gave one-star ratings to pretty much any Christian book she’d supposedly read, including anything by Beth Moore, anything by Billy Graham, the King James Bible, and one of my all time favorite novels, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Hey, if my book is ranked the same as those books, then I think I’ll just take it as a compliment. Thank you very much.
- And two more had given one-star ratings to over 90-95% of the books they’d read. Which made me think I would quit reading if I hated almost every book I opened. Seriously. There are other things I could do with my time that would bring me pleasure. If reading just made me miserable, I’d quit.
An author cannot expect every reader to love her book. It may be that the very word “divorce” in a back cover blurb can generate such a negative reaction that a reader will give it one star without ever reading it. Maybe her husband left her. Maybe her daughter was traumatized by divorce. Every reader brings their own past experiences into their reading. An author never can tell how someone will react to the words she writes. A book that is thought brilliant by one reader for one particular reason may be detested for the very same reason by another. You just never can tell.
Whether or not an author reads reviews, I’m sure most would tell you how very much they appreciate it when a reader takes a moment to leave a rating and/or a review. So, thank an author today. Especially let others know when you have enjoyed a book because, as stated above, there are 15 million other books listed along with that book on Amazon and other sites.
And may all the books you read this year be a blessing to you!
~robin
I don’t understand why people would write a review without reading the book. I could make a few guesses but that wouldn’t be helpful or very nice. It may take me a while to post a review but at least I do read the book first. It is good that you researched their reviews and are not taking their review of your book to heart. By the way, I love your books.
Hi, Jan. Thanks so much for your comment. Rating/reviewing a book without reading doesn’t make sense to me either. But it happens. I’ve seen ratings on Goodreads (both good and bad) on books I happen to know the author isn’t even done writing yet, well before the book could even be available as an Advanced Reader Copy.
I recently learned that some readers on Goodreads rate books that are yet to be released (or maybe even are released) based on how much they are looking forward to reading them, as a sort of mental note to themselves. This surprised me, and it makes it hard as an author to know exactly how your book is doing in terms of actual ratings, but I guess Goodreads is meant to be a tool for readers, so if that’s how they choose to use it….
Good reads lets you review books that haven’t been released, Amazon will not. Some authors and publishers send out free books before release dates to readers that are willing to give honest reviews. I’ve done this myself.
Gail, I am always doing a giveaway on Goodreads, and right now am running one for the ARCs of Four Weddings & a Kiss, my June release. It is a great way to get some early feedback, although I can’t require a reader to write a review. But hopefully they will and it’s a win for both author and reader.
Robin, I love to read and I always post a review on any books I get free, whether ones I win, or ones given to me to read and review. I actually have gotten in the habit in the last few weeks of doing reviews on any book I read.
Linda, I love Goodreads as a reader, and I am always adding books to my To Be Read shelf. It’s a great tool for remembering the books you heard about and want to read.
Thanks for your thoughts on this subject Robin. I try to write an honest review on every book I read on Goodreads. They may not be long but I try to give my thoughts either pro/con on the book. After an author’s hard work, I feel they need to know what their reader thinks about their books whether it be good or bad, and hopefully, the feedback will help them grow as authors. Keep writing Robin as I thoroughly enjoy your books!
I am always grateful for honest reviews, Loraine. And all authors appreciate it when the reviewer doesn’t give away too much of the plot.
I admit I read the one star reviews first then move on up. It’s helpful to me if I see a book that piques my interest to read the reviews before I buy. Maybe I miss reading some that I might enjoy by doing that but I think I miss more stinkers. If a one star tells me in the review that it has graphic sex scenes or bad language, even if it’s listed as “Christian”, Then I’m probably not going to read it. Some reviewers rate a one star just because it has scripture and Christian principles, I overlook those comments as I assume they are not Christian and do not appreciate a good moral story. I love to read and now try to review every book I read.
I’ve been known to read one-star reviews of books, too. But one-star ratings without any reason why are meaningless to me. Like you, the reason they hated a book might be what convinces me I want to read it. And thanks for taking the time to leave those reviews!
Robin, I can’t wait till I have books of yours to hold in my hands and read and review ! I would actually love to influence for you moreso then just read and review. I would love to be able to give you many many great reviews.
Your a wonderful person and a wonderful writer, I have your last book on my kindle. I love that you shared from lifes trials and I think that is where God calls us to be. Pray for me as I write , I joined Speedbo ! Brought me to tears just to send the email to join… Going to share from Life !
Love in Jesus
Linda Finn
Faithful Acres Books
faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com
Loved your comment, Linda. Thanks for the kind words. Wishing you the very best as you pursue your own writing and sharing from your heart.
Your welcome !
Hugs
Linda
I am a firm believer that if you don’t have something nice to say, you ought not say anything at all. Thus, I really try to keep negative words to a minimum. (A great read is “Positive Words, Powerful Results,” by Hal Urban.) So, if I happen to review a book on Goodreads (which I don’t often do), I only review the books I like and about which I have something positive to say. I’m the same way on my classic film blog—there are so many wonderful movies to talk about, so why waste my time talking about those I don’t like.
I loved “A Promise Kept.” I thought it was a beautiful story! I have to tell you, though, “The Victory Club” is my all-time favorite of your books—in fact, it is probably my all-time favorite modern-day read period. That story affected me in a powerful way, and I know I even emailed you to tell you how much it touched me. Thank you so much for writing it (and all your other beautiful books).
On another note, I’ve learned to stop reading 1 and 2-star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. Most of them are mean-spirited, and I just don’t need that in my life.
Patti, your first paragraph made me smile. I can see Thumper (in Bambi) tapping his foot and repeating what his mother has told him: “If you can say nothin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” LOL!
Thanks much for telling me that you loved both A Promise Kept and The Victory Club.
I loved your post. I’m a reviewer and I take it very seriously. I refuse to give a 1 star review because regardless of the negative aspects of a book there are always positives that deserve a fair rating. An author friend of mine recently discovered someone on Goodreads had given her book a poor rating at it wasn’t even released yet! So, I think sometimes people do it to be deliberately cruel. I have too much respect for authors and the extensive work that goes into the book writing process. Thank you, Miss Robin, for giving me years of entertainment! i’m looking forward to ALL of your releases this year!
Ah, bless you, Wanda.
Robin,
I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely loved reading this and am very proud of your reaction/response. Have a blessed week! 🙂
-Emily
Thanks, Emily. Blessings on your week as well.