Stef and I love reading a good review of our work. When I say “good,” I mean a thorough opinion, whether it be positive or negative. What we don’t like are reviews which ignore simple logic. I’ve already put together a series of five blogs which help people construct a proper review. This blog is a compilation of the seven “don’ts” in the world of reviewing.
One-liners – Some speakers are naturals at delivering a single sentence worthy of acknowledgment, but a book review consisting of ten words (or less) which either gush or slam the author’s work doesn’t deserve the same notoriety. Nothing is gained from these stunted recountings, and pretty much everyone ignores them. Note: Two-liners also fall into this category.
Grammar Gate – Badd spelinng, improper, punctuation!, and lack of CAPITALIZATION all contribute to a less than stellar looking review. The content may carry some merit, but if all of the above is ignored, people will not take your opinion seriously. Also, please separate ideas by starting a new paragraph. Block paragraphs are an eyesore.
Trolling – This is a category all unto itself, so we will focus on one particular guerrilla tactic: bashing. Don’t go out of your way to slander the author and/or their work. No one enjoys a hatefest except the haters. You aren’t necessarily a troll if you mercilessly slam books, but people may confuse you for one. Try to be more constructive.
Just the Facts – Oftentimes, reviewers mix up character names, misinterpret plot ideas, and can be as vague as a teenager telling their parents about his day at school. Keep your facts straight, and skim back through the book if you find yourself struggling to recall a particular detail you loved or despised. If you don’t, people might wonder if you actually read the book. And that leads us to…
Unfinished - Above all, make sure you READ THE ENTIRE BOOK before you review. You will not be taken seriously if you confess to the world that you couldn’t bear to read another letter past chapter two. Don’t be lazy.
Spoiled - Nobody wants to watch a movie trailer that gives away too much information about the plot, and the same goes for a book review. However, if you do wish to discuss all points of a novel, make sure to list SPOILERS just before you drop the bomb(s). Discovering how the book’s main antagonist is defeated in the review’s first line is jarring and might insight a mob. This is one of the worst kinds of offense one can commit.
TL;DR - Have you ever tried to read a review that was almost as long as the book you read? If so, then you probably thought “TL;DR”. Too Long; Didn’t Read. A review is a concise summary of your opinion. Potential readers don’t need to know every little detail of why you liked or disliked a book. If your review is more than a typed page on MS Word, then scale it back. Less is more. However, not all people agree with this sentiment. There are many professional reviewers who write gargantuan reviews which encompass vast amounts of information. They have their place, but the average Joe might just sigh and move onto the less wordy review. Notice how this point is the longest of the seven?
If you are a reader of reviews—as I am—then you’ve no doubt run across at least one of each of these examples. They can be frustrating to read, and sometimes down-right mean. What with the internet and digital anonymity, it’s easy to blast people behind a nameless, faceless avatar. Don’t be one of these cowards. Take the high road of constructive reviewing. We Indie authors are counting on you. :)
One-liners – Some speakers are naturals at delivering a single sentence worthy of acknowledgment, but a book review consisting of ten words (or less) which either gush or slam the author’s work doesn’t deserve the same notoriety. Nothing is gained from these stunted recountings, and pretty much everyone ignores them. Note: Two-liners also fall into this category.
Grammar Gate – Badd spelinng, improper, punctuation!, and lack of CAPITALIZATION all contribute to a less than stellar looking review. The content may carry some merit, but if all of the above is ignored, people will not take your opinion seriously. Also, please separate ideas by starting a new paragraph. Block paragraphs are an eyesore.
Trolling – This is a category all unto itself, so we will focus on one particular guerrilla tactic: bashing. Don’t go out of your way to slander the author and/or their work. No one enjoys a hatefest except the haters. You aren’t necessarily a troll if you mercilessly slam books, but people may confuse you for one. Try to be more constructive.
Just the Facts – Oftentimes, reviewers mix up character names, misinterpret plot ideas, and can be as vague as a teenager telling their parents about his day at school. Keep your facts straight, and skim back through the book if you find yourself struggling to recall a particular detail you loved or despised. If you don’t, people might wonder if you actually read the book. And that leads us to…
Unfinished - Above all, make sure you READ THE ENTIRE BOOK before you review. You will not be taken seriously if you confess to the world that you couldn’t bear to read another letter past chapter two. Don’t be lazy.
Spoiled - Nobody wants to watch a movie trailer that gives away too much information about the plot, and the same goes for a book review. However, if you do wish to discuss all points of a novel, make sure to list SPOILERS just before you drop the bomb(s). Discovering how the book’s main antagonist is defeated in the review’s first line is jarring and might insight a mob. This is one of the worst kinds of offense one can commit.
TL;DR - Have you ever tried to read a review that was almost as long as the book you read? If so, then you probably thought “TL;DR”. Too Long; Didn’t Read. A review is a concise summary of your opinion. Potential readers don’t need to know every little detail of why you liked or disliked a book. If your review is more than a typed page on MS Word, then scale it back. Less is more. However, not all people agree with this sentiment. There are many professional reviewers who write gargantuan reviews which encompass vast amounts of information. They have their place, but the average Joe might just sigh and move onto the less wordy review. Notice how this point is the longest of the seven?
If you are a reader of reviews—as I am—then you’ve no doubt run across at least one of each of these examples. They can be frustrating to read, and sometimes down-right mean. What with the internet and digital anonymity, it’s easy to blast people behind a nameless, faceless avatar. Don’t be one of these cowards. Take the high road of constructive reviewing. We Indie authors are counting on you. :)
-Matt
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