tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post3173379109470810968..comments2024-03-12T05:11:42.096-07:00Comments on Write of Passage: New Commentary on the DoJ Case Against Apple/Publishers; and, What To Do With a Bad ReviewLinda Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-30166479213532545472012-06-28T09:39:44.329-07:002012-06-28T09:39:44.329-07:00Excellent point about who the reviewer is writing ...Excellent point about who the reviewer is writing to, Lin! And I do think you're wise to distance yourself from the emotional reaction that compels so many to respond. Better to write that passionate response and then burn it, if you can't help yourself. :)Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-24119420174460945912012-06-28T08:56:50.415-07:002012-06-28T08:56:50.415-07:00I have seen reviews both good and bad for books I&...I have seen reviews both good and bad for books I've written. I never respond to either. I'm not sure if that's a good policy or not, but that's how I operate. After all, the reviewers aren't writing to me--they're writing to other readers who might or might be interested in the book in question. I only respond if someone sends me a letter or an e-mail about the book. Reviews are pretty subjective. One person might hate something that someone else loves.LinWashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041832821260168483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-46278017540567694832012-06-27T20:25:43.758-07:002012-06-27T20:25:43.758-07:00Ha! That's a great bad review to get. Publish ...Ha! That's a great bad review to get. Publish that one widely and you'll get ten readers for every one who agrees with the reviewer. Oh, wait, what am I thinking? Fifty Shades of Grey is keeping the publishing industry going practically single-handed (I'm sure there's a pun in there somewhere). You'll get THOUSANDS of readers for every one. On the lawsuit, I don't know either. Maybe it's just that it seems out of our control.Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-80656873956417292042012-06-27T18:40:05.160-07:002012-06-27T18:40:05.160-07:00Linda, thanks for providing the link to the lawsui...Linda, thanks for providing the link to the lawsuit. I'm not sure why there isn't a discussion. Maybe authors don't think they can do anything about it? Perhaps they don't understand the ramifications? Perhaps everyone is so busy writing, we leave the fight to the big guys? I do know that the old way of doing business must shift. <br /><br />So... what do we do with a bad review? Know that even the bad comments provide opportunity. "I didn't like it because there was too much sex!" Oh... my, I'm guessing there are people who might want to read it because there is too much sex. <br /><br />I like the suggestion if you know who the person is and can respond to something they wrote later Great idea. <br /><br />Thanks again for a great post!Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-68058586489428315152012-06-27T10:00:22.667-07:002012-06-27T10:00:22.667-07:00Heather, I'd love to hear your thinking on the...Heather, I'd love to hear your thinking on the effect on authors question! You've dug into this deeply and made a choice, but not with blinders on. How do you see the current drama playing out to authors' benefit? I know it's complicated--maybe a post on the subject? How about a guest post here? I'd love that!<br /><br />Here are my current thoughts on this topic: traditional publishers have been guilty of a CLASSIC head-in-the-sand posture. It's like when television was introduced around 1950 took audience and power away from the big movie studios. Powerful movie makers couldn't adapt. What happened? Aside from the big mess for everyone in the business, that is? The big movie studios lost power and shrank. People who wanted to make/write/star in movies (not tv talent shows),had to find a new way for the most part, simply because there weren't the same number of opportunities available as there used to be. Some enterprising and talented stars created companies that made movies for television. They'd found a way to adapt that not only kept their dreams alive, but paid financially (eventually, for them; immediately for people they hired to be in their movies).One of the keys here, though, was there were only a handful of people doing this.The artists themselves were not all making their own production companies and trying to do several full-time jobs themselves to make it work.<br /><br />Now I'm seeing glimmers that sectors of traditional publishing are finding ways to adapt without losing their core. Some big publishers are creating digital-only imprints. The lower costs in those imprints make it possible for them to take more risks with debut authors, and they are seeking that author segment. Three cheers!! How the imprints are actually operated--whether they'll continue the tradition of editing, especially, will be key to whether they can distinguish themselves, in my opinion.<br /><br />Have you heard of any other initiatives?Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-79442283282826920612012-06-27T08:21:53.262-07:002012-06-27T08:21:53.262-07:00I've been watching that drama play out though ...I've been watching that drama play out though I'm not convinced it will have negative repercussions on authors. We shall see. <br /><br />That's great advice on bad reviews. I especially love the last one, lol!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-11316711912212334792012-06-27T06:43:03.488-07:002012-06-27T06:43:03.488-07:00Agreed, LM! That's a great way to deal with it...Agreed, LM! That's a great way to deal with it. And it is so encouraging to read the bad reviews of the great authors we love. Is that bad??Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-56051039524010714462012-06-27T06:33:35.014-07:002012-06-27T06:33:35.014-07:00When I get a bad review ... I go read my good ones...When I get a bad review ... I go read my good ones :-D and remind myself that I can't make everyone happy. Also, readers are so particular with what they read. Then I go read the bad reviews on the books I've loved.LM Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624508396760965680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-52293498422675232472012-06-27T06:06:02.275-07:002012-06-27T06:06:02.275-07:00I'm with you, Kittie. People are skittish abou...I'm with you, Kittie. People are skittish about opposing Amazon, for obvious reasons, but their attitude toward booksellers and authors has been pretty horrible for the long-term survival of the industry. With their pricing policies, sometimes I think they're purposely going for the death grip.Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377741836634273944.post-70756626062865040492012-06-27T02:56:31.290-07:002012-06-27T02:56:31.290-07:00Thanks for the link. I've been following the ...Thanks for the link. I've been following the lawsuit. In a nutshell, I'm not a big fan of Amazon. They're a machine that demands a lot of fuel.<br /><br />I can't imagine writing to a reviewer about a bad review.Kittie Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756250649095903317noreply@blogger.com