Comments on: The other side of the line. http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/ Weblog of National Bestselling, Award-Winning Novelist Sylvia Day Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:49:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Kate Allan http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1391 Kate Allan Sun, 20 Feb 2005 11:31:56 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1391 I don't see why romances aren't reviewed more critically. I review novels for the Historical Novels Review and I'm honest in my opinion of their quality. I don't put personal opinions in my review about whether I like or dislike the subject matter of the story, but I try and weigh up who potential readers are and whether they are likely to enjoy the book compared to comparable alternatives. I'm very happy for any readers or other authors to be critical about my work, because clearly it is not perfect and will not appeal to everyone. I don’t see why romances aren’t reviewed more critically. I review novels for the Historical Novels Review and I’m honest in my opinion of their quality. I don’t put personal opinions in my review about whether I like or dislike the subject matter of the story, but I try and weigh up who potential readers are and whether they are likely to enjoy the book compared to comparable alternatives.

I’m very happy for any readers or other authors to be critical about my work, because clearly it is not perfect and will not appeal to everyone.

]]> By: cece http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1389 cece Sun, 20 Feb 2005 05:26:33 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1389 >>I meant that we should be able to feel comfortable discussing books with a professional eye. I agree with Larissa....in theory we should be able to intelligently discuss a book but it never fails SOMEONE will take something wrong somewhere along the way...Such is life in publishing and not. If a book sucks, I probably wont mention the title (but you can always ask me via email LOL) but if it's great, everyone will hear about it! ...And with Sylvia who said there are some authors she wont buy from what she's seen from them (or friends) in this great small writers community. I think when you're a small fish in a big pond maybe you do have you tread...tactfully but when you're a big fish in a big pond...eeehhhh not so much. Okay I have a horrid sinus headache and that makes no sense. :razz: >>I meant that we should be able to feel comfortable discussing books with a professional eye.

I agree with Larissa….in theory we should be able to intelligently discuss a book but it never fails SOMEONE will take something wrong somewhere along the way…Such is life in publishing and not. If a book sucks, I probably wont mention the title (but you can always ask me via email LOL) but if it’s great, everyone will hear about it!

…And with Sylvia who said there are some authors she wont buy from what she’s seen from them (or friends) in this great small writers community.

I think when you’re a small fish in a big pond maybe you do have you tread…tactfully but when you’re a big fish in a big pond…eeehhhh not so much.

Okay I have a horrid sinus headache and that makes no sense. :razz:

]]> By: Larissa http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1385 Larissa Sat, 19 Feb 2005 21:10:32 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1385 By the way, I wanted to make clear that when I said "less than honest," I didn't mean that I think everyone should run out and be vicious. I meant that we should be able to feel comfortable discussing books with a professional eye. Of course we're going to feel things and say things that aren't appropriate for airing in public to friends, and there are some things that SHOULD be kept private. But I'd love to see writers feel free to have rational discussions without being afraid they'll be shredded. :smile: By the way, I wanted to make clear that when I said “less than honest,” I didn’t mean that I think everyone should run out and be vicious. I meant that we should be able to feel comfortable discussing books with a professional eye.

Of course we’re going to feel things and say things that aren’t appropriate for airing in public to friends, and there are some things that SHOULD be kept private. But I’d love to see writers feel free to have rational discussions without being afraid they’ll be shredded. :smile:

]]> By: Larissa http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1384 Larissa Sat, 19 Feb 2005 20:54:42 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1384 Hmm, see, I'm probably naive, but I don't see how being respected with published authors is going to make any difference in a career. If you take a look at blogs and message boards in other genres, they rip each other apart. It's bloody. They say exactly what they are thinking about their peers' books. Romance is, I believe, the only genre where people play nice in public. Behind backs, though... It's just so fake. Why do we feel the need to be less than honest in the open? Is it because romance authors freak out when anyone disses them, as Alaina said? I have no idea. Anyway, my point is that there are a lot of popular romance writers who don't exactly have a pleasant name in the writer community, and yet, they sell well. Which is why I don't think peers make that much of a difference. Then again, I'm not published. Maybe I'm WAY out in left field! LOL Hmm, see, I’m probably naive, but I don’t see how being respected with published authors is going to make any difference in a career. If you take a look at blogs and message boards in other genres, they rip each other apart. It’s bloody. They say exactly what they are thinking about their peers’ books. Romance is, I believe, the only genre where people play nice in public. Behind backs, though…

It’s just so fake. Why do we feel the need to be less than honest in the open? Is it because romance authors freak out when anyone disses them, as Alaina said? I have no idea.

Anyway, my point is that there are a lot of popular romance writers who don’t exactly have a pleasant name in the writer community, and yet, they sell well. Which is why I don’t think peers make that much of a difference.

Then again, I’m not published. Maybe I’m WAY out in left field! LOL

]]> By: Sylvia Day http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1383 Sylvia Day Sat, 19 Feb 2005 20:32:53 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1383 Alaina, An author, her agent, and editor are only three people. Every book that is disparaged was considered good work by that author, her agent, and her editor. Word of mouth is an extremely important part of becoming successful. I can tell you that there are a few authors I've run into on the web that have changed my opinion about spending money on their books because of things they've said. I also avoid authors with whom my writing friends have had disagreeable run-ins because I'm loyal like that. What that author's agent and editor thinks about her affects my decision not what whit, but what she said on the net does. By the "in crowd" I meant authors who have been in the business for many years and who have a great many associates. Their word of mouth can affect my standing in the author community, though maybe not the reader community. To be successful I think it's best to have a good reputation in both spheres. But I respect your opinion. :grin: Like I said, I'm a newbie. Anyone want to weigh in on this? Alaina,
An author, her agent, and editor are only three people. Every book that is disparaged was considered good work by that author, her agent, and her editor.

Word of mouth is an extremely important part of becoming successful. I can tell you that there are a few authors I’ve run into on the web that have changed my opinion about spending money on their books because of things they’ve said. I also avoid authors with whom my writing friends have had disagreeable run-ins because I’m loyal like that. What that author’s agent and editor thinks about her affects my decision not what whit, but what she said on the net does.

By the “in crowd” I meant authors who have been in the business for many years and who have a great many associates. Their word of mouth can affect my standing in the author community, though maybe not the reader community. To be successful I think it’s best to have a good reputation in both spheres.

But I respect your opinion. :grin: Like I said, I’m a newbie.

Anyone want to weigh in on this?

]]> By: Alaina http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1382 Alaina Sat, 19 Feb 2005 20:20:02 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1382 See, I'm of the opinion that the "in crowd" has nothing to do with your career. That's between you and your agent and your editor. We all know the online world of readers and authors is minute in the scheme of things. See, I’m of the opinion that the “in crowd” has nothing to do with your career. That’s between you and your agent and your editor. We all know the online world of readers and authors is minute in the scheme of things.

]]> By: Sylvia Day http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/2005/02/18/359/#comment-1381 Sylvia Day Sat, 19 Feb 2005 20:04:38 +0000 http://www.sylviaday.com/blog/?p=359#comment-1381 Maili, I don't know about other writers. For me it's the dread of ending up in a flame war. I'm the new kid on the playground. Pissing off the "in crowd" could be career suicide. But again, that could just be my perception. I freely admit to being scarily uninformed about the publishing side of the business. :???: Maili,
I don’t know about other writers. For me it’s the dread of ending up in a flame war. I’m the new kid on the playground. Pissing off the “in crowd” could be career suicide. But again, that could just be my perception. I freely admit to being scarily uninformed about the publishing side of the business. :???:

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