insecure writers support group, writing

Insecure Writers Support Group: Who Do You Review For?

Jennifer Lane

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this awesome group. Join us here. It’s great to cohost today along with are C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, and Jacqui Murray!

I’m excited that I started writing my next novel! It’s a sport psychology story with a tentative title of Low Water. My progress is slow, partly because I’ve been traveling to Ohio to help my aging parents, but it feels good to write again.

December 6 question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book reviews do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

It depends. If I’m reading a book that is published by a Big Five publisher, I tend to review more for the reader. If the book is published by an indie author (who I may know), I tend to leave a review more for the author. I like to function at Goodreads in both capacities (as reader and author).

Happy writing to all!

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Published by Jennifer Lane

I write sports romance and suspense with a psychological twist.

42 thoughts on “Insecure Writers Support Group: Who Do You Review For?”

  4. Congratulations on starting your new novel! Like you, I review a little more stringently with trad published authors, and I am kinder to indie authors. However, I generally like to write positive reviews and don’t waste time reviewing books I don’t like unless something really jumps out at me.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Melissa. Boo to Blogger for not letting me comment on your blog. Your post brought up my anxiety of whether to be honest in reviews for books that didn’t jibe with me. Such a dilemma!

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  9. I like your approach to reviewing according to how the book was published. I’d say I look at this in a similar way. When an author doesn’t have the big backing then I’ll be much kinder with my review and I’m more apt to review the work just to help that particular author. The big writers’ books I might not bother with a review because mine would just be lost among thousands of other reviews. What’s the point? They don’t really need me to help promote their work whereas the little guys might.

    Lee

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    1. Hi, Arlee! Yes, I think another great source of support this group can provide is reviewing each other’s work, especially if we find authors writing in our preferred reading genres. Sometimes I find kindred spirits on Goodreads by reviewing bestsellers and discussing unique takes on the book.

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  11. I think that makes since, leaving reviews more for readers or authors depending on how their book has been born and marketed. Interesting take! Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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    1. Thanks, Diane! I just tried to comment on your blog, but I don’t think it went through, so here is my comment: Your car AND computer? That’s just cruel! Hope you’re back to cruising both soon. I like your approach to reviewing. Congrats to C. Lee!

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  21. Congrats on getting back to writing. I know how much caring for a loved one can pull us away from our writing. Thank you for reviewing and supporting your fellow authors.

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    1. Hi, Heidi! I’m lucky that I have two sisters to help care for my parents. Thank your for supporting authors! I’m having trouble finding the URL for your blog, if you posed about IWSG this month.

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