tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post8898053235810415044..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: The good of bad reviews: writing tips from the meaniesLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-42970810991774886262015-10-29T14:49:42.843-04:002015-10-29T14:49:42.843-04:00I find it puts into perspective any negative feedb...I find it puts into perspective any negative feedback I get on my work. Even some award-winning and critically acclaimed books will have detractors.<br /><br />But it is helpful to hear what readers find annoying and off-putting. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-30715585819463724602015-10-24T18:47:14.998-04:002015-10-24T18:47:14.998-04:00OOH, these are great lists. All distilled and oh-s...OOH, these are great lists. All distilled and oh-so-true. I too get a twisted kick out of reading bad reviews, since they're so over-the-top! Creative writing for sure. ;o)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-3820677209894133012015-10-21T21:14:18.261-04:002015-10-21T21:14:18.261-04:00It's in the 3-star reviews that most writers f...It's in the 3-star reviews that most writers find the best critiques, but the 1 and 2 star "meanies" are usually a lot funnier. :-) Yeah, some character traits might work for antagonists, but not love interests, whether it's a 16-yo hockey star in YA, 29-yo firefighter in a romance or a 50-yo surgeon in a thriller. <br /><br />Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-39263085111611797382015-10-21T19:57:52.889-04:002015-10-21T19:57:52.889-04:00hehe, well, I happen to write some reviews with ma...hehe, well, I happen to write some reviews with many of those NoNo's; and not all are for YA. Although those complete lists are the reasons I don't read YA. But, as a reviewer, I do try to be "informative" as opposed to mean spirited. And I only publish a review if I give the author a 3. Still, a prudent author can learn from bad reviews, as you say, because they do list what doesn't work. Sometimes the author just needs to tell the difference in whats not to a single reader taste, and what most readers are complaining about. Only fix what is consistently a complaint, otherwise the author can be forever trying to please everyone, which is just ridiculous.<br /><br />I'm always grateful to know authors are not completely offended by constructive feedback :)dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-76951944257336606842015-10-21T12:09:09.050-04:002015-10-21T12:09:09.050-04:00Yeah, schadenfreude isn't the most positive fe...Yeah, schadenfreude isn't the most positive feeling to be seeking after all, though it is a fun word to trot out at parties. LOL. Better to use the slams to avoid personal pitfalls.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-24061291975271449542015-10-21T12:06:20.649-04:002015-10-21T12:06:20.649-04:00Ooh, good one, Connie, with insta-love! How could ...Ooh, good one, Connie, with insta-love! How could I forget? That could go on a couple lists. I'll update the post!<br /><br />I think it's really helpful if you plan to change genres, to get acquainted with what readers hate (and love) by reading lots of reviews of works you wish to emulate.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-19352275932855553332015-10-21T12:02:19.905-04:002015-10-21T12:02:19.905-04:00Not too many readers seemed to mind that Christian...Not too many readers seemed to mind that Christian Grey for example has lots of these negative traits (or so I read in the reviews). I get the impression there are subgenres of romance where abusive guys are pretty much the norm, and any non-abusive guy would be considered a dull milquetoast. With teens, though, everyone wants more healthy relationship modeling. Go figure.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-36886494798424760522015-10-21T11:59:16.707-04:002015-10-21T11:59:16.707-04:00I find it less harmful to my creative mojo to lear...I find it less harmful to my creative mojo to learn what readers think of books similar to mine. But if you can compartmentalize well, indeed, there can be help in reading your negative reviews, pointing out where you can improve.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-57049052500110346952015-10-21T11:20:46.378-04:002015-10-21T11:20:46.378-04:00Wow, what a great way to use negative reviews as a...Wow, what a great way to use negative reviews as a positive tool! <br />Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-67064045406304731022015-10-21T09:59:12.198-04:002015-10-21T09:59:12.198-04:00I haven't read too many negative reviews of po...I haven't read too many negative reviews of popular books (though I might now because you're right--they can be instructive), but I do love reading the negative reviews of my favorite classics--they make me laugh.<br /><br />I really appreciate your list of no-nos. I'd add "insta-love" to your list.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-85060791375036912262015-10-21T09:50:55.299-04:002015-10-21T09:50:55.299-04:00Those pretty much for for adult books too!Those pretty much for for adult books too!H. R. Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06715450637785127208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-86890361912458235612015-10-21T08:27:18.873-04:002015-10-21T08:27:18.873-04:00And that right there is why I read my negative rev...And that right there is why I read my negative reviews. They hurt, they really do, and some reviewers are just haters by nature. What can you do? Still, there's something to be gained even by them. How else can we avoid past mistakes?Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.com