Reviews and A Plea for Kindness

TL/DR
Recently, one of my favorite authors posted the following. Please note that she's an amazing woman and award-winning author who struggles with many health issues.

What she describes is way too common. I don't understand why some people go out of their way to tear down artists.

"Had time to write this morning but haven’t managed a single word. The doubts I carry, that have only grown over the years, become really loud when people go out of their way to tell me directly that my books suck. They drown out the whispers of creativity and the desire to keep doing this, knowing it will lead to more moments of being unexpectedly on the receiving end of an unasked-for point-blank firing squad of criticism.

Be kind to authors. We are human beings with feelings who are doing our best."

An online friend said he has read some books that were so awful it would be a crime not to trash the book and encourage the author not to write anymore. And I'm sure there are a lot of people who agree. If you've ever visited the reviews on Goodreads, you'll know what I mean.

But writers grow and improve the more they write. No authors I know who've written for very long don't look back on their early works and cringe a little. Sometimes a lot. One even went so far as to purchase from her publisher all the remaining paperback copies of her first book--and she fueled a bonfire in her backyard with them.

Yet, that book had once been considered worthy of publication by a publisher.

What if someone had ragged on that first book and encouraged her not to continue writing? What if she had listened to the disheartening message that she was not now and could never be any good at writing? What if she hadn't pressed on and learned all she could and subsequently become an award-winning author beloved by her readers?   

Here's my take on reviews:

Reading is such a subjective experience. I may absolutely love a book while my best friend is bored stupid with it.

Example 1: Mockingjay (the last of The Hunger Games series). Ugh. I loathed it! And many people did too. But just as many people loved it.

Example 2: Audiobook for my award-winning book Torn Canvas. The guy who did the narration was my dream narrator. When he reads the story, it sounds just like it did in my head as I wrote it.

• One reviewer panned his performance because it was "melodramatic."
• Another reviewer dissed it because they said he was "monotone."

Melodramatic.

Monotone.

The same book but an opposite reader experience. Neither is invalid. Readers experience what they experience.

But, because I understand this, if I cannot give a book at least three stars, I won't review it.

I recognize that I may have had a "melodramatic" or "monotone" experience with a particular book, but that doesn't mean the next person who reads or listens to it won't have a 5-star experience.

If I trash it, they may pass it up and miss out. This is my personal philosophy.

And for a second witness, below is a link to author Beth Revis's humorous blog post about it and puts it in perspective--and helps wounded authors recover from hurtful reviews.

And there are always bad reviews for ANY book no matter who the author is as Beth cites in her post.

Beth Revis' Take on Review

Happy New Year!

Operation: Help the Elf!

I'm Pete the Elf

You may have noticed this little guy in the column to the left. The wonderful gals over at The Bookshelf Muse (and who are authors of the wonderfully helpful Emotion Thesaurus) are at it again.

When they released ET, they did a Random Act of Kindness event that was so fun to take part in. I'm a firm believer that our perception controls our reality, so I'm all about looking for what's right in the world.

Well, Angela and Becca are doing something along that happy vein--with a fun holiday twist. Poor Pete the Elf messed up, and he needs our help to put things right.

Please head over to The Bookshelf Muse and check out the details. 

Consider signing up to help Pete. I think you'll find you want to.

Let's shout this to the world . . . and save Christmas!

A Sisterhood of Strength Blog Tour

Today I'm participating in Diony George's A Sisterhood of Strength Blog Tour. What's the book about?

Back Cover Blurb:President Monson has repeatedly expressed that even in our busy, bustling lives, “it’s the service that counts.” and no one knows that better than the quiet, humble women of the relief society. Working together, faithful women form a sisterhood of service, selflessness, and ultimately strength to share with each other and with the entire world.

Experience for your self the pure love that gives birth to such service in this inspiring collection of true stories from the lives of ordinary women who have given and accepted service in an extraordinary manner. On each page of this remarkable book, you’ll find words of wisdom and beauty that are sure to encourage and uplift you, whether it’s your turn to serve or to be served. Told with heartwarming sincerity, A Sisterhood of Strength will have women everywhere rejoicing in the friendship of their own dear, loving sisters.

This book is written about the experiences of real life LDS women in their association with each other in the Relief Society. It's about women taking time out of their busy lives and reaching out to each other. Sometimes it's a huge effort as in the case of the woman who stepped up to help another who was dealing with a debilitating pregnancy. The service spanned months and was even offered for a subsequent pregnancy. Other experiences are simpler but needed--and oh, so appreciated--nonetheless. The stories are told on the part of the recipients of the service.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love stories about people who step up and reach out, who show their true (heroic) nature under stress. I have no patience for pettiness or vindictiveness. I believe true heroes walk among us every day, giving of themselves through their kind words and tender ministrations and, in the process, making the world a better place. I'm married to a man like that.

I think, perhaps, that I love the stories like this because I wish I was more like these women. I admire people who see opportunities to help others because I tend to go through life with blinders on. I do reach out and provide succor or inspiration--and am happy to do so--but someone usually has bring the need to my attention. People like my husband and the women in this book see it on their own.

This book made me want to be a better person and even showed me examples of how to do it.

Blogging Challenge K(indness)

Something I've experienced quite a lot of in this writing journey is how very kind writers can be to each other. And helpful and supportive. I find this in my day job as well, but I know it's not always the case. I think you fellow writers rock.

Things have been crazy with the blogging challenge and my trip to Ireland, so I haven't had a chance to thank Deirdra Eden-Coppel at A Storybook World for giving me two awards: