February 18th, 2005
There are certain things you can’t do once you’re published, at least IMHO.
Alison directed her blog readers to this post by Keishon where she complained about realism in contemporary romances. She listed examples and authors by name, a freedom that one has as a reader, but not as a writer.
But that could just be my perception. Do any of you published authors complain about other author’s works? Or do you also feel that you can no longer speak publicly about your disappointment? Perhaps this is just me trying to fit into the “nice girls” club?
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.
on February 20th, 2005 at 3:31 am
>>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.
on February 19th, 2005 at 9:26 pm
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.
on February 19th, 2005 at 1:10 pm
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
on February 19th, 2005 at 12:54 pm
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.
Like I said, I’m a newbie.
Anyone want to weigh in on this?
on February 19th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
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.
on February 19th, 2005 at 12:20 pm
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.
on February 19th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
I agree with Alaina, to a certain extent. But I think that’s also the job for readers and reviewers, more than other authors. Our job, as authors, is to listen to the readers and try to improve on our craft while tellign the stories we love. But then again, wasn’t there something said a short time ago about How some REVIEWERS weren’t being honest because they knew the authors? Maybe that’s why Ms.Giggles is the most popular reviewer..she doesn’t hold back.
on February 19th, 2005 at 11:37 am
My problem with the if you can’t say anything nice idea is that it does a monstrous disservice to the genre. As a reader, I’m apalled at the bad books out there. BAD books. Like inconsistencies in characters and how stupid they act and big fat plot holes to drive a truck through. Honestly I never see other genres bashed the way romance is bashed from outsiders and even from insiders. If romances authors didn’t freak any time some one said some thing that was a suggestion on making things better I really truly believe the quality of a whole lot of the books out there would improve. I mean what’s the big deal anyway? You think all the movie people who are reviewed on tv shows and in magazines like US and People get all bent out of shape like romance authors do? Face it. The bashing happens because the quality is too low too much of the time.
on February 19th, 2005 at 10:07 am
[...] « “Constantine” | Home 2/19/2005 Getting Feedback Yesterday, Sylvia asked, Do any of you published authors complain about other author� [...]
on February 19th, 2005 at 9:16 am
I agree with the comment that as authors, this is a very small community, and what I say may come back around to me. I have griped about a couple of books to friends, but I would never do so in a public forum and name names. I remember one book was by a very famous author and everything that happened was a coincidence! The h/h didn’t have to work for anything! That drove me nuts. The one I’m reading now is sappy and draagggggging, but she does have me hooked on the heroine’s secret. So even though it’s taking me forever to read this book (yawn) I will.
Anyway, even though I may not always like what I read, I respect my fellow authors enough not to diss them publicly. Everyone of us has worked hard to get where we are and to get where we’re headed. I think that publicly the only rule to follow is that “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all.” Trite but true!:wink:
on February 19th, 2005 at 8:22 am
This is tough. I pretty much say what I’m thinking, but when I’m published? I honestly don’t know. I hope that I’ll be able to discuss books openly and honestly without censoring myself too much, but we’ll see.
on February 19th, 2005 at 7:04 am
I think we all censor ourselves to a certain extent, and maybe it’s out of respect more than fear of pissing someone off or looking bad.
At least I like to think it’s resepct…because we, as authors, know how much a person puts into their story, and it’s only to easy to imagine hearing/reading something negative about our babies.
on February 19th, 2005 at 4:41 am
A question: Do you still take great care in what you say, even though you make it very clear that it’s nothing personal?
I find this weird somewhat because when we discuss film or TV productions, we recognise the difference between professionalism and professional standards. If we questioned a person’s professionalism, then fair point, we’d be taken to task over it. But questioning professional standards [or quality]? It’s a necessity.
Yet with books, there seems to be a law that authors shouldn’t criticise fellow authors’ books in public. Why?
on February 19th, 2005 at 3:39 am
I’ve learned to stick close to home with friends and cps I trust. You’re right, Jaq. It’s a small community.
on February 18th, 2005 at 9:38 pm