IntenseDebate - gretavdr

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - Bashing an author or b... · 1 reply · +3 points

Generally speaking, you're right. But I'd add one thing - you mentioned the 'whiny' character being pointed out as a warning. But that still needs to be supported, because not everyone may react to that character in the same way. I know in my own books that some of my characters are perceived in totally different ways by my readers. So if I took exception to a particular character, I would say WHY that character is 'whiny'. Or maybe people reading reviews should be aware that a review is just somebody's opinion. :) No more, no less.
My recent post The vexed question of censorship

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - When authors should re... · 0 replies · +3 points

I have a friend who responded to a reviewer who doubted the veracity of a scenario in his historical novel. The author pointed out where the facts were obtained. That's all. I thought that was a perfectly legitimate response.

For myself, I responded to a technical issue which resulted in a 2 star rating by providing a new copy of the book. I didn't ask for a new review and I didn't get one. It's the only time I responded to a review, except to say 'thank you'. It's usually best to shrug and move on. Reviews are always, always subjective. They can be influenced by an argument with the wife, PMT, a hangover or just plain spite.

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - Do reviews really matt... · 0 replies · +1 points

Better late than never, as they say. I share your mistrust of 5 star rated books. But there are some which do get an awful lot of 5 star reviews in a perfectly legitimate way. Even so, reading is an individual choice, so no book will please everybody. The short answer is don't judge a book by the reviews. Do your own homework and decide for yourself.

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - My 10 Best Ideas for P... · 0 replies · +1 points

Number 8 will work! Get onto it, girl!!!
My recent post Love at first sight – fact or contrived fiction?

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - Shame On You: This is ... · 0 replies · +1 points

The reviewer said the file 'froze her Sony'. I sent her a new epub from my own machine. I never heard any more and the review was not updated - that said, I pulled the book from Smashwords about a week after I sent her the new file. BTW, that action was not related to the review. I've worked in IT for many years. I'd say the fault she experienced was either a glitch in the download or an error in the Sony reader.

12 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - Shame On You: This is ... · 2 replies · +1 points

I received a review on Smashwords giving my book 2 stars - because the user was unable to read past p63. Apparently she loved what she'd read - but was annoyed she couldn't finish it. I would have thought contacting Smashwords with a technical error was the way to go. (I checked the epub myself - it was fine)

Smash doesn't allow replies to reviews, but I contacted support and asked them to email the reviewer to contact me for a replacement copy, which she did.

12 years ago @ http://charactertherap... - A New Question to Ask ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I read this thinking "um... yes". It seems self-evident to me - although clearly it isn't to everybody, judging by a few of the comments. Backstory is vital for the author to understand a character's motivation. But that doesn't mean the reader has to know it all. Backstory is like an iceberg. 70% is beneath the surface.

13 years ago @ JENNY SCHWARTZ - Australia Day Book Giv... · 1 reply · +1 points

No, we'll be drowning :) Very very wet here. At last.

13 years ago @ JENNY SCHWARTZ - Australia Day Book Giv... · 3 replies · +1 points

Wow, you're doing well, Jenny. Best wishes to you in Perth.

13 years ago @ The Masquerade Crew - Rewriting Early - synd... · 0 replies · +1 points

I actually agree with you. I tend to write a chapter a day (or so) then edit it the next day. And if I realize I've made a plot blooper, I'll go and fix it. This does not mean the story won't need a full revision when it's finished, but Like you, I've realized it lessens the pain.

See? Another 'rule of writing' bites the dust.
My recent post Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as over-editing

IntenseDebate Comment System

Connect with gretavdr

People I'm following

gretavdr