Comments on: A hazing ritual: The bad review http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/ about the craft and business of fiction Thu, 24 May 2012 12:29:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » The good review http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-127783 Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » The good review Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:52:11 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-127783 [...] 20th, 2009 by Sophie Masson A few weeks back, in her post, A Hazing Ritual: the bad review, my fellow WU contributor, Alison Winn Scotch, feelingly described the agony of a bad review. [...] [...] 20th, 2009 by Sophie Masson A few weeks back, in her post, A Hazing Ritual: the bad review, my fellow WU contributor, Alison Winn Scotch, feelingly described the agony of a bad review. [...]

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]]> By: Ginny http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126161 Ginny Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:54:01 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126161 I myself find fowl language quite disturbing. All those dang feathers flying, eggs splattering everywhere. Really, I think this is quite an abuse of poultry. It's so much easier to discount people when they can't even spell - but I'm a snob that way. I myself find fowl language quite disturbing. All those dang feathers flying, eggs splattering everywhere. Really, I think this is quite an abuse of poultry.

It’s so much easier to discount people when they can’t even spell – but I’m a snob that way.

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]]> By: Stephanie L. Weippert http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126053 Stephanie L. Weippert Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:10:59 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126053 The part about "fowl language" made my day. You know you're not ever supposed to write about chickens! ROTFL And the rest of it is wise wisdom, too. The part about “fowl language” made my day. You know you’re not ever supposed to write about chickens! ROTFL

And the rest of it is wise wisdom, too.

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]]> By: Cindy A http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126030 Cindy A Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:31:18 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126030 I am so glad you posted this, Allison. I get hives just going to my critique group meetings. Can't imagine what it would feel like to be skewered in front of the world. Lordy! I am so glad you posted this, Allison. I get hives just going to my critique group meetings. Can’t imagine what it would feel like to be skewered in front of the world. Lordy!

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]]> By: Bryce Beattie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126010 Bryce Beattie Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:20:44 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-126010 Oh, man. I've got an amazon review for my novel that compares it (unfavorably) to a bean burrito from Taco Bell. One other said it would be more better to watch grass grow than to read my book. Of course, most people have been positive about the book, and a few people have actually been fair. I don't mind so much when the review is bad as long as it actually points out real weaknesses in my work. Anyway, I've mentioned it before elsewhere, but Stephen King has described his own work as the literary equivalent of a Big Mac. If that's the case, I guess I'm okay being a bean burrito. Oh, man. I’ve got an amazon review for my novel that compares it (unfavorably) to a bean burrito from Taco Bell. One other said it would be more better to watch grass grow than to read my book.

Of course, most people have been positive about the book, and a few people have actually been fair.

I don’t mind so much when the review is bad as long as it actually points out real weaknesses in my work.

Anyway, I’ve mentioned it before elsewhere, but Stephen King has described his own work as the literary equivalent of a Big Mac. If that’s the case, I guess I’m okay being a bean burrito.

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]]> By: Richard Sutton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125998 Richard Sutton Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:10:41 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125998 This should be required reading for all newly published writers! We all get our hopes so steamed up in the frustration of even getting published, that our often-swelled egos can use some pressure relief. Of course, I mean besides the stings that editors provide. Now if I could only get even a one-star review, it would mean that somebody actually read all the way through the book! Besides myself, wife, children, mother, etc. This should be required reading for all newly published writers! We all get our hopes so steamed up in the frustration of even getting published, that our often-swelled egos can use some pressure relief. Of course, I mean besides the stings that editors provide.

Now if I could only get even a one-star review, it would mean that somebody actually read all the way through the book! Besides myself, wife, children, mother, etc.

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]]> By: prue batten http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125982 prue batten Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:59:18 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125982 Alison, can I have your voodoo doll for future use? Please? I had a bad review on Amazon.co.uk from someone who bought my book, mistakenly thinking it was non-fiction, and who felt the need to vent her disappointment. I would love to have suggested she wear glasses when she reads the descriptions in future. But is there not an old adage that you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time? Great article, Alison. Alison, can I have your voodoo doll for future use? Please?

I had a bad review on Amazon.co.uk from someone who bought my book, mistakenly thinking it was non-fiction, and who felt the need to vent her disappointment. I would love to have suggested she wear glasses when she reads the descriptions in future.

But is there not an old adage that you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time?

Great article, Alison.

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]]> By: Dennis http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125959 Dennis Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:33:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125959 As I'm constantly reminded, there has never been a statue erected for a reviewer. As I’m constantly reminded, there has never been a statue erected for a reviewer.

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]]> By: Alan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125951 Alan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:26:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125951 Great article. I'm still waiting for my first truly eviscerating review, but I know it's bound to come. And I'm bracing for it! Great article. I’m still waiting for my first truly eviscerating review, but I know it’s bound to come. And I’m bracing for it!

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]]> By: CS http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125943 CS Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:44:31 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/09/10/a-hazing-ritual-the-bad-review/#comment-125943 For an unpublished writer, I think we tend to assume that everything will be all roses once we cross the threshold of publication. We forget all the negative reviews passed by peer critics, agents, and editors before publication. Why should it be any different afterwards? The savvy writer knows it's a subjective industry. Any reader is a testament to that--no one reads everything. Why do we delude ourselves? This was a very good post, Allison. A very real reminder that things don't really change all that much. For an unpublished writer, I think we tend to assume that everything will be all roses once we cross the threshold of publication. We forget all the negative reviews passed by peer critics, agents, and editors before publication. Why should it be any different afterwards? The savvy writer knows it’s a subjective industry. Any reader is a testament to that–no one reads everything. Why do we delude ourselves?

This was a very good post, Allison. A very real reminder that things don’t really change all that much.

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