(Well actually my pseudonym is RJ Scott, but for the auspices of this post I am RJ Scott, writer).
Hello, my name is RJ Scott and I am a reader.
The two go hand in hand in my honest opinion. You can't improve your own craft unless you actually interact. An actor watches films, a surgeon watches surgery, a writer should read. Simple. I read a book every other day, quicker if they are shorter.
Problem is. Reviewing.
I have quite a few people following me on Goodreads (waves to my awesome GR friends list) and so, when I post something on there about writing I suppose I am approaching them as RJ Scott, Writer. However, I have had on about ten separate occasions had people say they read my book reviews and that they are interested in what I think of a book (hugs them all).
Thing is... and this is what I struggle with. Does me reviewing a book badly reflect on my writing? Do people sit there and say *What the f**k does she know? Her *insert RJ Scott book title here* was crap anyway*. Because of feeling like this, for two years of being with Goodreads, and reading so many MM books I have lost count, I have always been hesitant to post reviews.
Up until now, I have only posted a rating if I felt a book was worthy of a 4 or 5. Or if I read a book that I desperately think everyone should be reading because I love it so much. But now, what I want to do, is become a little more active in my reviewing and actually write a few sentences about which of my GR friends may like which book i read. I will still only post ratings for books that are 4s and 5s.
I hope no one is offended by anything I write, I will just try to be honest. I love contemporary romance with a HEA, so I will be biased in what I love. I also have my favourite authors, people like Chris Quinton and Marie Sexton, Diane Adams and Meredith Russell (and Stephani Hecht's hockey books *mainlines them*).
There will be a bias with them as well. I can't help what I love. That doesn't mean that some of my GR friends wont like the Sci-Fi I was confused with, or the shifter book that I didn't enjoy and I will make sure to add that in my recommendations... I am not an impartial reviewer. I just know what I like and I hope everyone is cool with that...
Please feel free to tell me I know f**k all! ROFL...
Happy Saturday... RJ XXXXXXX
Regardless of whether the reviewer is an author who's books I enjoy reading, a reviewer or a friend, I just take it as that person's opinion on a book they've read. What decides me on if I want to read that book myself or not is if I've found that we've had similar tastes or not. Simple as that. What I do like about most reviews written by authors are that they are generally thoughtful and articulate. Opposed to mine, which tend consist of Loved it! or It was crap! LOL
ReplyDeleteROFL Aniko... I wouldn't hold out much hope for my reviews either... Hugs xxx
DeleteOOOKKKK you do relise that your writing is in the top of the writing world right? If you have read a book and you feel it needs work 9.5 times out of 10 you will be correct.
ReplyDeleteCinders
Cinders... you are so good for my ego... thank you for your unfailing support... x
DeleteI like reviews written by people who actually write. They tend to be more sympathetic to other authors' weaknesses, and they use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and they think about the aspects of stories that actually matter (not just "too much/too little porn" or "this book wasn't the book I wanted to read, so it must suck"). As long as you're not going around egotistically flaying other authors for not being you, I say write all the reviews you want. It'll be good for those authors whose books you like. And after all, isn't the purpose of a review to tell readers whether they're going to enjoy a book or not? Those little sentences of "not my thing, but you'll probably like it if you dig shifters" are great guides.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julia... that is what I hope to achieve... rj xxxx
DeleteAs I commented to you earlier, not only you an awesome writer, you are also a READER.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, you are entitled to your thoughts and opinions just like the rest of us. I don’t read your reviews as an “author wrote this”; I read them as a “reader wrote this”. I have always found your reviews to be honest. You write what does and doesn’t work for you and are not critical when doing so. You know what kind of stories you like to read, just like I know what kind of stories I like to read. Sometimes when we venture out and read a “different to me” kind of story, we are pleasantly surprised. Sometimes we are disappointed. That’s how it goes.
Hugs,
Sharon
xoxo
I know... I should listen to you more... ROFL... Hugs... ME xx
DeleteYes you should! LOL
DeleteLove you bunches!!!
xo
I totally get you. I set myself the rule that I wouldn't review anymore, simply because I was afraid of a number of things (I can list them, but some might sound far-fetched - but I swear I've seen those things happen!). However, I want to take part in reading challenges on the M/M Romance group on Goodreads, etc. That means reading and reviewing books. The challenge I'm doing now doesn't stipulate leaving the review on the book page, I just have to copy it in the challenge link. But yeah, totally understand where you're coming from. I don't know, I guess since I became an author myself, I know what it's like on the other end of a review. However, if the review is constructive and non-condescending, then it can be a godsend compared to the many one liners, like: "This sucked" (erm, why?).
ReplyDeleteI am afraid...
Delete1. People will retaliate with bad reviews and/or ratings
2. That people would look at my stuff really critically leading to 1.
3. That no one will agree with a single thing I say
4. That I will have authors write that I have upset them and I shouldn't have said X, Y or Z, as I am an author...
Can you think of anything else? Hugs RJ XXXX
I have to say, I shy away of leaving reviews on GR at all. I think I've done about 7 all told. It's an opinion, after all. And I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or create the kind of situation that happened to a friend, who left an honest review of a Big Name Author's latest and discovered within the HOUR that all of her own stories had been one-starred.
ReplyDeleteI've also become a more critical reader since becoming a writer, struggling to correct my own errors and bad habits makes me notice them more in the writing of others. Sometimes I wish for my innocence back! :-)
I think after two years I am at the point where I feel if people want to one star me because of a review I wrote then ... whatever... i can't do anything about that... :(
DeleteI am used to 1s and 2s...
And yes, I wish for my innocence as well...:)
RJ XXXX
Love your books RJ!
ReplyDeleteLove your comment gigi... HUGS Rjxxxx
DeleteMost of the time, i follow the writers I love. I dig Cameron Dane, Mary Calmes, Zahra Owens, RJ Scott, Scarlet Blackwell and LA Witt. When you guys recommend, I take it seriously and more often that not you guys are right. If I am going to spend my money, I decide by way of the blurb, the cover and the reviews. Some authors have the most eye-catching blurbs, like GA Hauser but the writing is hit or miss for me. Her books that I love, I really do. The ones I dont, I dont. But it doesnt stop me from trying to buy her book again. There are some authors whose book I tried, but it left a really bad taste in my proverbial mouth because the writing wasnt to my liking. Like Book 1 of the Fitzwarren Inheritance. I'll give her a shot again when her blurb catches my eye and so does her cover. You guys might hate my guts for saying so but it is just an honest opinion. I dont think people should judge you for the review you give. Your work as an author speaks for itself. If they do, then just let it slide. You cant please everyone. If you keep writing the way you do, your talent will get your book sold regardless. I follow reviewers too. R.Parklane from amazon listmania has helped convince me to buy over 200 books because I found her tastes in books parallel mine A LOT. If this doesnt convince you, then just review under a pseudonym. Like R. Jscot2. LOL. -Jake, CA. Huge RJ SCOTT fan.
ReplyDeleteYou don't think people may think that R. Jscot2 isn't me? ROFL... I wish... I did think of that but I feel I kind of owe my thoughts to the people that follow me... i don't hate anyone for their reviews... and the most constructive of them make me a better writer...
DeleteR Parklane likes me on Amazon... I think she/he has some really good constructive stuff to say about me which is cool...
Hugs RJ XXXX
LOL! I try to review because it matters to other authors what their fellow authors think. I just am lost on Goodreads. It's hard to work with.
ReplyDeleteI *heart* you... just saying... Hugs Rj xxxxx
Deletei think its perfectly fine for authors to leave reviews...as you say they are readers too. and i MIGHT be biased but RJ if i see YOU reviewing a book i will tend to trust YOU more than the average person because i ENJOY what you have written very much and trust that if said book is worth reading i am more likely to try it out vs the average person who probably does NOT know anything about writing!
ReplyDeleteawww laurie, thank you ... your comment made me smile so hard... hugs RJ XXX
DeleteI have to agree with the comments above. As you have said, you are a reader. You have every right to write a review about a book you read. Not to mention you are in a great position to do so. You are a successful author with many fans. You know what you are doing and what works. I would assume you write the kind of books you like to read. And as someone who likes the books you write, I would trust your opinion on a review. Certainly more than I would trust myself. So please, write some reviews. I want to know what books you think are worth reading. I love finding new books and new authors.
ReplyDeleteI will write some then... Hugs XXXXX
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