Some book reviewers say that when they don't like a book, they simply don't review it. I'd love to take the easy way out, but when I think about it from a reader's perspective? I want to know when a book sucks. I recently had to give low ratings to a book. I posted it on Amazon and no where else. More people find the book on Amazon than on my site or other places where I post reviews.
For one book, I contacted the author and explained why I couldn't give it good reviews. I didn't write about it since I believed my association with an organization would bias my review more than usual. The author understood my views and let me know he plans to modify future editions based on some of the things I mentioned, but not the key areas. So it's unlikely I'll review the second edition.
From the minute you decide to be a writer, you can count on negative feedback, or at least, areas needing improvement. A couple of people might tell you I take feedback personally, but that's not the case. Some folks don't know how to provide feedback and make it sound personal rather than an honest criticism for improving the content.
When I edit, I try to keep in mind what it's like to be the author receiving the feedback and word it in a way that helps rather than hurt. Some people nitpick because they refuse to allow any content go through the process error-free. Nitpickers also do this because it affirms they know everything.
Working with someone for the first time makes the process harder. That person doesn't know how well (or not) you take feedback. Some tiptoe around it, provide straightforward comments, or slam it.
Writing easily challenges a person's confidence. One minute, articles get raves and the next, no one accepts it. My self-confidence has been all over the place, but I think we all go through it no matter our career of choice.
Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl's notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.
May-Day!The school bus had long since disappeared over the last... Read More
Alan Heywood writes a stimulating, though sometimes improbable, adventure novel... Read More
Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More
For a number of reasons, today's hiring managers from Wall... Read More
IntroductionRusty Miles never had a real identity. I was that... Read More
It is rare to find a brand new blueprint for... Read More
In his book, "Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a... Read More
The Wal-Mart Decade: How a New Generation of Leaders Turned... Read More
"Carlton Austin has crafted a wonderful piece of work in... Read More
"Author of two books and many short stories, J.P. Ransom... Read More
THE MORAL OF THE STORYLou Dubose and Jan Reid's new... Read More
Percival Everett's Erasure takes a look at how racism affects... Read More
"Dorinne Davis has written many books that concentrate on the... Read More
The Little Mornings, by C M Albrecht is a murder... Read More
Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action,... Read More
Teenage years for Russ Whitney were not filled with opportunity,... Read More
Without great ideas, no organization can stay afloat, much less... Read More
Please Don't Just Do What I Tell You, Do What... Read More
I've reviewed a number of eBooks recently, and none of... Read More
If writing was a religion, it shall be easy to... Read More
Jim Edwards and Joe Vitale who are both well known... Read More
"Fern's Dragon is a wonderfully fun read that stimulates the... Read More
Oswald Spengler predicted a protracted winter in The Decline of... Read More
The Power of 2: Win Big with People in Your... Read More
Who Moved My Cheese? For Teens by: Spencer Johnson, M.D.Spencer... Read More
You look at the salesletter and the price tag ($8.95... Read More
Loosely based on the graphic novel Hellraiser, Constantine follows the... Read More
Don't panic. Jack Mitchell, the author of Hug Your Customers:... Read More
As of August 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
"I just can't seem to get along with this person!"Every... Read More
Reality Checked ? Life through Death, is a moving saga... Read More
The "Rich Jerk" has created quite a stir on the... Read More
"Retired professor of Microbiology, Harry Gilleland certainly has a variety... Read More
Washington Historian Remembers Harriet Lane, the Greatest First LadyWASHINGTON DC:... Read More
The black widow spider is notorious for eating her mate... Read More
Book Summary:This article is based on the following book: ... Read More
Fading Toward Enlightenment by Wayne Wirs is definitely a well... Read More
"Silent Lies is an action romance saga, that takes the... Read More
The Leadership Challenge: The Most Trusted Source on Becoming a... Read More
Title: Conspiracy Of Fools: A True Story Author: Kurt Eichenwald... Read More
By now most of you realise that Google can give... Read More
Unfortunately, I have seen too many of even the most... Read More
The "Rich Jerk" has created quite a stir on the... Read More
Tom Peters crafted a moving, educational animal adventure story in... Read More
To rise and flourish in the world, you need to... Read More
RAT RACE BLUES: How To Break The Stranglehold Darlene Arechederra... Read More
Who Moved My Cheese? For Teens by: Spencer Johnson, M.D.Spencer... Read More
Excerpted from the book "Your Right to Be Beautiful: How... Read More
"Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is... Read More
Oswald Spengler predicted a protracted winter in The Decline of... Read More
In The Oz Principle, Connors, Smith, and Hickman brilliantly use... Read More
It is rare to find a brand new blueprint for... Read More
Based on a mammoth research study conducted by the Gallup... Read More
The Wal-Mart Decade: How a New Generation of Leaders Turned... Read More
Her Backyard by Doreen Lewis is an adventure, romance novel... Read More
EMPOWERING TEENAGERSFrom a new book: "Adolescence is a difficult period,... Read More
When America's foremost literary critic, Harold Bloom, professor emeritus at... Read More
When the topic of family history comes up, where do... Read More
"Why Malta?" my new Maltese friends kept asking me when... Read More
Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: How To Do Business In... Read More
Author/Publisher Christmas in Dairyland by LeAnn R. Ralph Published by... Read More
I have decided to start with this text as simply... Read More
"I just can't seem to get along with this person!"Every... Read More
HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo's Nest; Written... Read More
I dreamed since I was fourteen years old to spend... Read More
Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More
Book Reviews |