Authors are also readers, inhaling our favorite genres as fast as free time allows. But should we leave reviews?
This is a discussion that has come up a half-dozen times this year, just among the authors I know. We want to do everything we can to support each other, but what do we do when we *don't* like a book? Do we stay silent, leave an honest review, give a courtesy high-rating, or just review books we loved?
I personally stay out of it. I hate not giving back and supporting the authors I've enjoyed, but I find the most comfort in staying neutral. If I love a book, I'll rave about it online, but not on a review site. If I were not writing, and just reading, I'd want to leave reviews for every book I read whether I enjoyed it or not--this kind of accuracy and honesty is something I value as a reader and writer. But I'm not good at tiptoeing around office politics, and leaving a poor review--even at its most constructive--for another author is something I still struggle with.
Many writers disagree with me on this. Do you? As a writer or a reader, how do you feel about authors leaving reviews for other authors?
Good post. I guess I feel like it's unprofessional to publicly bash other people's books. Yes, we're all entitled to our own opinions; that goes without saying. But that doesn't mean we NEED to voice those opinions in a public forum. Authors bashing authors just seems crass. It does everyone a disservice.
ReplyDeleteI made the decision to not review books - I track what I read at Goodreads but rarely rate a book unless it blows me away. I agree with PG - it feels unprofessional. I value the relationships I've formed with other authors and don't want to damage that. Also, I recently stumbled across a review of one of my books by another author that was less than favourable and I have to say, it really bugged me. I mean, I get lots of reviews from readers who don't like a particular book, but this felt different, and I don't want to do that to other authors.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. It does somehow feel unprofessional. I will, like you Sky, talk online about a book I've enjoyed but I don't leave reviews on Amazon, etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't write reviews either, but when I'm super excited about a book I will post on FB or blog about it. I look at writing negative reviews sort of the same as I would talking about a coworker's presentation in a workplace. You might mention it to a close friend or chat to your boss about it, but you wouldn't send a mass email to everyone at work about it either. Like the others mentioned it's a professional courtesy thing to me too.
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