August 2 Question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?
My biggest pet peeve when I read a book is having to go back a chapter to read it again because the story line doesn't make sense!
I recently read a book that alternated chapters writing from first person current time, to first person past time and then third person past time. What? To make it worse, the third person past time kept changing names for the same person.
I kept getting confused and having to go back and reread. When I went to Goodreads to leave a review most of the other reviewers complained about the same issue. I still gave the book three stars though because the story really had potential. Also, I don't believe in publicly bashing anyone. If the book was truly horrible or I couldn't even finish it, I wouldn't even leave a review.
Then I had to wonder, how did a book getting these kind of reviews, with so many people saying the story line doesn't make sense, get a publishing deal? Especially considering how many good writers there are out there who would give their eyeteeth to be published.
I recently read a book that alternated chapters writing from first person current time, to first person past time and then third person past time. What? To make it worse, the third person past time kept changing names for the same person.
I kept getting confused and having to go back and reread. When I went to Goodreads to leave a review most of the other reviewers complained about the same issue. I still gave the book three stars though because the story really had potential. Also, I don't believe in publicly bashing anyone. If the book was truly horrible or I couldn't even finish it, I wouldn't even leave a review.
Side note: To my fellow writer's out there, please, please be a considerate reader and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. You know how much authors depend on reviews to move their book up in search engines and ratings. The more reviews (not even necessarily all fabulous reviews) the higher up the book is placed and more people will see it.
Then I had to wonder, how did a book getting these kind of reviews, with so many people saying the story line doesn't make sense, get a publishing deal? Especially considering how many good writers there are out there who would give their eyeteeth to be published.
When it comes to the writing and editing process, my pet peeve is that it just doesn't always come as easily as I would like. Sometimes the muse strikes and I can write for hours. Other times, I have to bang my head against the computer before I can barely type out a few coherent sentences. That's frustrating, but just part of the process I suppose.
This post is a part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, a monthly meeting of writers who over think, under write and just want people to like them.
Wow, that sounds like a really confusing book! I probably wouldn't have finished it. I like your approach to reviews - if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
ReplyDeleteI find this "bad review" topic a tough one. On one hand, I would like people to get the full scoop (even though reviews are very personal) about a product or service, to not put their money and time in something that might not be worth it. But, on the other hand, I feel it is different with writers, who put their blood, sweat, tears and souls into their creations. I think not leaving a review at all when you didn't like a book is probably the noblest thing to do. Especially, if one didn't finish said book.
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