Dear not-yet-published writer
This isn’t about me, but it is about something I’ve noticed on various blogs and review sites, and so please consider this a Public Service Announcement:
It’s fun and easy to say clever, mean things about other people’s books. Snark is such a blast. It makes you feel smart and witty and in.
But there are real people behind the books that you enjoyed saying such mean things about. And while you might feel your comments are justified–”Well, then that person just should have written a better book”–I’m telling you there is such a thing as Writer’s Karma. In the same way that restaurant servers like to tip other servers well when they go out, you should consider storing up some good vibes for yourself.
Because one day you will be on the other side of a snarky, mean review, and it will hurt you personally. No matter how much you know everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and that there are plenty of other people who love what you write–the meanness still hurts.
So consider returning to the lesson we all learned in childhood: If you can’t something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all. Because I’m telling you, your time will come, and it will sting more than you know. And you, too, will think to yourself, “This person is an aspiring writer? Doesn’t she know what she’s doing to herself with all this poison?”
So just think about it. Because being mean to the people in your own profession is never a good idea. I’m happy to say this hasn’t happened to me yet, but like I said, this isn’t about me. This is about you.
PSA over.
[UPDATED TO ADD:] First, just want to reiterate that my complaint here is with author-on-author pileups–not with book review sites in general. There are so many great book blogs I can’t even begin to list them, although you can find some of them on my blogroll to the right.
Second, since we’ve been talking about author’s reactions to negative reviews, here is what I consider a very funny, very classy response by author Brad Meltzer. He enlisted his grandmother and the residents at her nursing home, along with some kids on the Little League team he coaches, to read some of the more choice portions of those bad reviews. Nice work, Brad!
I see your point about karma, but it assumes that the people writing reviews want to publish and will publish to be subject to bad reviews themselves.
I don’t agree that if you can’t say anything nice, you shouldn’t say anything at all. A lot of book bloggers feel this way, both because they don’t have any interest in finishing a book that they don’t like more as well as not wanting to say anything negative. But I think that there can be value in writing a bad review.
I wrote about the new Walter Dean Myers book due out in the fall, and panned it. So, maybe a library system won’t automatically spend their limited budget on three copies per branch. Maybe a reader won’t buy the book, and be disappointed (though a suspect a true fan will at least check it out from the library). Maybe, even, his editor will see the review and correct some significant errors. Never know, could happen.
I wasn’t snarky, but I even go so far as to call all snarkiness wrong either. However, you have given me pause as to whether I will review a picture book from a real publisher with a horrific rhyming scheme. Snark would have been involved.
Mother Reader, thanks for chiming in here. I know that debate goes on all the time among reviewers like you–I’ve loved watching the discussions about whether to post bad reviews or none at all.
My concern here really is limited to authors who trash other authors. I just don’t think it’s the kind or wise thing to do. Not all of us love every other writer’s work, obviously, but I think it’s a bad idea to tee off on someone when you’re just getting started in the business yourself.
But I’d love to hear what some of the rest of you think about this. And thanks again, Mother Reader, for your well-argued point.
I think there’s a difference between a well-reasoned, intelligent negative review of a book and snark for snark’s sake.
The former is a valuable service. The latter may be funny, but ultimately serves only to dumb down the person who wrote and the audience reading it.
Well said, Robin. For the record, I’m not yet published, so I haven’t been slighted in this way, but I do see some pretty awful reviews on sites (and even from some of the trades) that cross the line from negative to downright mean and hateful.
Snark has no place in reviews. That doesn’t mean the reviewer has to like everything, but being witty or pithy at the expense of the author and their work just to make the reviewer seem witty or pithy is wrong. As far as I’m concerned, honest opinions are always welcomed, provided they are tactful and professional.
And you’re right about the karma thing – stuff like that has a real way of coming back to bite you in the ass.
Yeah, Joanne and Barry, that’s what I’m talking about–the meanness. There’s just no need for that.
Robin,
What you wrote is thoughtful and makes sense. A review of a book is important and the reviewers points should have merit but not mean-spirited. When I read the snide, I tend to discount the content of the review.
Interestly enough some well-reviewed books are never big or even medium sellers. And those that are the object of derision sell well. Go figure.
Glad you spoke/wrote up!
Thanks a lot, Susan. I really appreciate that! And hi! Hope all is well with you!
Definitely, definitely…. I’ve seen a few pretty terrible reviews since I’ve started blogging, not like writing wise necessarily, but harshness wise. XD
Even if you hated the book, as an aspiring writer, you HAVE to know how hard that person worked to even finish that first chapter you know? A lot of times they’ve (obviously) written a ton more then you have or even ever will in some cases, so you gotta give them props for pushing through and getting published in the first place.
And in a case where your words are out there for the world to see, including the authors themselves if they ever google to find reviews of their books (I totally would XD) you have to be really careful about how you say things. So in a way it’s like, if you wouldn’t say that stuff to their face person to person, or like to a friend, you should definitely rephrase it into something softer. Like breaking it to them gently, as a friend would, and trying to be helpful. Just because you didn’t like the book doesn’t mean you should dislike the person enough to hurt them in that way. It’s just mean.
“Do unto others, as you’d have them do to you.” Right? Or however it goes. XP
Good snark is a talent that not many have, but way too many try – because they are trying to replicate something they saw. When the snark misses the humor – it really reflects poorly on the snarker – not the snarkee.
I’ve always liked the saying that it is far easier to knock down a house than build one.
I love snark; I don’t love mean, or being clever because it makes you look smart. I think snark has been misused & abused, no doubt.
Meanness — that’s another thing entirely. Add to it that it can be easy to be clever, to the point where one is now saying things to be clever and it’s no longer about the book.
Another issue entirely is the number of “negative” reviews that have nothing to do with the book itself, but more about the reviewer. Yet the reviewer slams the book.
Quite frankly, there are bad books. Poorly written ones. Etc. Etc. You don’t need snark or meanness to review logic-holes, shallow characters, sloppy writing. And if the book isn’t what YOU would have written? Own it, don’t make it the book’s issue.
That said, if someone reads it differently than you wrote it? If you think your character is sympathetic and I don’t? That is a valid review.
“If you think your character is sympathetic and I don’t? That is a valid review.”
That says more about the reviewer than the book. You may not find one-armed angry biker chicks with a midget troll for a best friend easy to sympathize with when she is hunting fluffy bunnies with rainbow hearts, but you know, I just might.
That’s something I always think about when giving friends feedback because I may not be their ideal audience. Sloppy writing, cardboard characters, clunky dialgoue, logic holes – all subjective.
I personally have no problem with ‘Red Matter’ in Star Trek:Reloaded. It’s a huge plot device that doesn’t phase me one bit. Yet a lot of reviewers are hating on the movie for things I would consider trivial.
What I really mean to say is, there is a difference in saying “This book is bad.” and “These things did not work for ME in this book.”
If the reviewer can support it in the text? It’s a valid review. If it’s “this reminds me of someone I hated in high school”? Not valid.
Putting time into writing something does not make it good. Either for a book or a review.
To expect all “it’s great” for a book? Just because it took time to write? Unrealistic.
And to point at any negative reviews about a book as not being valid? Unrealistic.
Liz, I agree with you that just because a book (or a review) took a long time to write, that doesn’t mean it’s good.
And I also agree with Patrick that it’s easier to knock down a house than to build one.
Of course there will be negative reviews. That’s what a writer risks by putting his or her work out there into the world. We all want to be loved and admired–not just writers, but all of us–and so of course it hurts when not everyone thinks we’re as wonderful as our best friends or mothers do.
BUT as Dylan pointed out, there are more and more blogs out there using harshness as an entertainment device. It’s so easy to toss off a snippy, snarky line because it feels cute and clever, but I like Dylan’s attitude: if you wouldn’t say it to a writer’s face, why put it in print?
I think all writers who have gotten a less than kind review have fantasies about running into that reviewer some time and seeing if the person tries to make nice.
It’s like that scene at the end of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, when the handsome writer tracks down Diane Lane, who once reviewed one of his books. She asks if she had said nice things about his book, and he said she hadn’t. Something like that. She cringes and he laughs it off.
There are definitely some bloggers out there who might not be so comfortable if they had to face the people whose books they said such snarky, outright mean things about. Don’t you think?
And then there’s this: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/lit_crit/alice_hoffman_is_ready_to_rumble_120199.asp
And for the record, Liz, I’ve never ever seen you do the kind of thing I’m talking about. You don’t love every book you review, but you’re always professional in how you talk about them. I don’t think you’d ever have a reason to cringe around an author whose work you didn’t adore.
I definitely think book bloggers need to feel okay posting not-so-glowing reviews. But there’s a point at which a negative review becomes about the negativity, not the book.
Alice Hoffman, what the hell were you thinking! It’s like her only option now is to go on Letterman, apologize, and then find an author rehab to check into.
But, while not defending Alice, I think authors are being given some very odd messages about what it is “OK” to do with reviewers, esp. blog reviewers (and yes, I know this was a paper review.)
I’ve heard/read authors being told to “engage” the reviewer, thank them, link to them, tweet about it, etc., and frankly that bothers me (yeah, lots of stuff bothers me…..) So we’re telling authors to basically always be nice to the bloggers? But if an author disagrees, what are they to do?
I definately agree with “just say no” to over the top mean. But I have a hard time with the proposition that being critical (let’s get away from ‘negative’ or ’snark’) isn’t allowed; that just because a book has been written & published, we have to start fom a “only say good things” position.
For the record, I didn’t say negative reviews are wrong.
I agree with you,Robin,about not going out of your way to snark just for snark’s sake-I try to be that way when I review books.
I just wrote an open letter to Alice Hoffman on my blog about her behavior,which is all the more worse because the reviewer of that book went out of her way to give a fair assessment of the book and didn’t resort to nasty remarks or snide comments at all. The most you could complain about was going into the plot a bit too much and that’s hardly a reason to insult someone in a public forum like that!
Sorry,still a little ranty here. I do believe in Writer’s Karma and hope that some of the good side of it will come my way in the future.
Believe me, a lot of authors can understand the impulse Alice Hoffman followed through on. That’s when a lot of us call our Authors Anonymous sponsors and say, “Please stop me, I’m about to do X.”
But let’s go back to my original premise. This isn’t about bloggers or reviewers posting well-reasoned, well-written negative reviews. That’s just the breaks when any of us write a book and see it published. Not everyone will love everything we write.
What I’m talking about is some of the blog reviews I’ve seen of other people’s books that make me feel like I’m smack dab in the middle of a high school clique. (”I don’t know why everyone likes her. She smells like fish.”) A negative review is not the same as a mean review. Negative reviews are part of the business. Mean reviews don’t need to be.
I don’t want to read a book that smells like fish.(/rant over)
Oh, and Lady T, I agree with what you said on your blog–giving out someone’s phone number like that is NEVER okay.
Patrick, can’t you just give it a try? Don’t prejudge the fish book.
What if it were a scratch & sniff book for young foodies? “Scratch and smell the smoked salmon….”
Then it would probably be the only mean-sounding review that wasn’t mean: “This book STANK!”
I’m feeling pro-fish smell book peer pressure.
You’re making me uncomfortable.
I share with you my favorite fish story now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92yHyxeju1U
As a not-yet-published author I blog about books partly to understand them better (talking my way through what does and doesn’t work for me) and partly as a means of sharing my opinion.
Opinion, that’s all it is. Occasionally I let some snark slip through, or something will move me to the point of wanting to get it in my teeth and shake it silly, but for the rest it’s just how I see it.
So in the future, when I am published, I hope to find others who, like me, feel free to write what they feel about my hard work and know that I understand that it is their opinion, and they are entitled both to it and to share it with the world.
I sincerely hope my negative reviews aren’t seen as mean, but often those closest to the review at hand (the author) cannot see the difference. I have read the review that Alice Hoffman found issue with and discovered only that her latest book was compared with her earlier work, and faults were illuminated. No meanness, no hatred, just reasoned opinion.
I forgot what I was going to say next. Probably something snarky. Oh well.
Patrick, that’s hilarious except for the part where Capt Quint (Quinn?) gets chomped in half, which is, of course, the most harrowing scene I ever saw in my formative years and is the reason why I can not have a relaxing vacation at the beach. That, and the fact that my skin erupts into flames if I’m out for more than 5 seconds. But thank you.
David, thanks a lot for your thoughts on this. I think what I’ve learned from today’s post is that this subject is harder to talk about than I thought.
Katie, I forgot to respond to you earlier. I like your distinction–that at some point a negative review can become about the negativity, not the book. I think that’s right, and that’s what I hope we writers don’t do to each other.
Watch the video Patrick posted. Peace out.
Re: Alice Hoffman, I reviewed Indigo years ago, and gave it a lukewarm review. I don’t think it was nasty, though. It’s a good thing she didn’t have a Twitter account then! (Here’s the review– last one on the page: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Indigo/Alice-Hoffman/e/9780439256360#TABS)
–Farida
“well it sounds okay.” “D+?” “No B+” “but i got a D+” “Well you have to work for a B+” FUNNY, i love old and young ppl.
and i know what you mean about karma, i’m always harsh to myself, but when it comes to my friends then im just like, its really good but a certain part could use more work, and whenever i have them read my stories i tell them to be as mean as they want, they never are very mean
i forgot to add
sometimes bad reviews are good, it makes you realize that you have to work harder and it helps you for your next book. but if you’re someone who lets bad reviews stop you from doing what you love, then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place… not to be mean or anything
You know, Farida, I feel sorry for Alice Hoffman. I think all authors have had the impulse at one time or another to lash out after a less-than-stellar review, and in this age of Twitter it’s way too easy to act on impulse. Then once you have, it’s out there for all the world to see. It’s a really hard situation.
Carli, I agree with you that sometimes a critical review shows you where you need to work harder with your writing. That’s certainly been true for me. And you’re also right that if criticism makes you want to quit, then maybe you should quit–because the more books you have out there, the more you’re going to hear about whether or not people like them.
But I like your method of critiquing friends’ work. There’s a kind way to do it and a harsh way. We’re all just humans. We all want the love. There’s a way to say, “Um, this isn’t so great here” without going into total meanness.
Robin, after I read that Hoffman apologized about the lashing out and deleted her Twitter account, I felt a lot more sympathetic. I know I’ve certainly done things I wish I could take back.
Hah,love that Brad Meltzer video! Now,that’s the way to handle bad reviews:)
Hi Robin! Interesting post and discussion. I want to second Barry’s comment and your reply. There is a difference between constructive criticism and being snarky.
I want my blog to be a positive space so I only review books that I like, although I do report both their strengths and their weaknesses. As an aspiring writer myself, I hope that others will treat my work with the same respect and honesty.
You might be interested in my post Blog Ethics on just this subject and other moral issues in book blogging.
I’ve reviewed your book on my blog today.
My first link doesn’t seem to work, sorry. Here’s the url to Blog Ethics:
http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2009/05/blog-ethics-and-mentoring.html
Sarah, thank you for that lovely review of my book! And I’m so sorry about your dog! Poor Stella! And I liked your blog ethics post–some really good ideas there.
Lady T, glad you liked that video! He definitely comes out ahead in that whole scenario.
Farida, that’s the downside of all this public access: we can hit send faster than we should sometimes. We need a delete key for life.
I am SO BEHIND in my blog reading. I am sad about the timing of this post, because it seemed to happen on the same day as the Alice Hoffman thing, and people took it to mean that no one should write bad reviews.
Of course, I read it just now and I see well what you’re trying to say. And I agree.
Let me tell you what happened to a friend of mine recently–she got a blurb request. Normal stuff…yes. but the debut author sending her the request was someone who’d written unsavory blogs about two of her books.
Needless to say, the answer was no. If said debut author thinks this is ‘unprofessional’ then she need only get back to us in a year’s time when other aspiring writers are picking apart her *perfect* book.
The thing is: this business is hard enough without having to turn on each other. I read books I don’t like all the time. I just don’t go on the internet and publicly rip them to pieces–why? Not because I’m trying to be nice to everyone…but because I’m too busy doing positive things that will help my own career to take time out to insult a fellow author, her editors, and her publishing house.
Really–people are watching.
Too often aspiring writers want to analyze how published books are SO WRONG because their [unpublished] books are SO RIGHT. I dig that. I wrote many novels over 14 years before I ever got published. But behind all that self-centered writer stuff, I always remembered that this is a business. People talk, other people listen, and the cookie does eventually crumble.
Brave of you to write a blog about this, Robin.