When you’re part of a minority that tends to get looked down upon, you’d think you would support one another. Unfortunately the big green monster of envy appears to be biting more than one indie author and the toll begins to stand out whether it’s in reviews or down voting or just straight bad mouthing. A frustrating thing when really, we’re all in this together. Yes I can understand where it stems from. Watching a book fly up the rankings when you regard yours as a far better read must be hard. Still, when one person can read numerous books a year (my mum can easily read 10-20 a week) is there really any competition? And your opinion is the same as anyone else’s – your opinion, not an actual definition. I don’t really understand how some seem to think certain books exist or succeed merely to piss them off (‘scuse the language) but you see it frequently in reviews.
No I’m not referring to any of mine ;p I read some of John Locke’s reviews on his Donovan Creed novels. I bought two on the weekend and placed a review on one I read, then, as you do, had a peruse of the other reviews there. The first thing I noticed was someone had intentionally gone through and down voted any positive reviews and up voted negative reviews. How could I tell? It was just one vote each time, a tell tale sign of someone with a grudge. It intrigued me because while I’d never say the novel was outstanding, it was entertaining. It was something I’d read again and for .99c it was a good read. Yet someone had taken such offence that they didn’t seem to realize others could enjoy what they so despised. I have seen other articles on indie’s attacking indie’s but hadn’t really thought that much of it. Probably because the blogging community is so fantastically supportive. Recently however, while chatting to an indie author who has really succeeded (NY bestseller and all) I was astonished to learn that they too, had been on the receiving end of one of these attacks. So much so that after trashing this author on one site the attacking Indie then went to another site and trashed them there too. Thankfully someone picked up on it and as soon as it was revealed the attacker disappeared from those two forums. But I do wonder now, how often this happens? And really if you have to attack someone to try and make your book seem better, well it says a lot for your book now doesn’t it…
Take care all!
Nic
Well you know my opinion on this.
Just show some #authorlove and be nice.
People may remember you and help you out when you need it. I ALWAYS give a vote, or write a nice comment on my blog or twitter or something about 'nice' author's books. I'm not saying i give false reviews… i never do that, but i DO drop an line in twitter saying "I just bought this book and am loving it so far…"
People reciprocate. Just because i don't have a book out, the following day there is a link from them to my blog saying "check out this awesome blog…." or something.
anyway it's a shame when people feel like that have to prove their worth by shaming other people.
sarah
(sorry yes i realise that the first part of this was slightly slightly off topic…)
I hadn't heard about this, but I don't have trouble believing it. People put up some pretty awful things on book reviews in general. I know how hard it is to write a book. If i read one I don't particularly like (though I can usually find something in it I think was done well) I just don't post ratings or reviews. Maybe that's subtly dishonest, but I don't feel right being judgmental about something someone worked really hard on, and who am I to say a book is bad when it might just be me and other people might really enjoy it?
People can be so spiteful. I'd like to think Karma pays them double for their meanness.
I was just on another blog where the blogger mentioned an entire site that does nothing but urge boycotts on authors and blogs if they don't agree with 'their ethics'. I'd never heard of this place (and I'd like to think I'm pretty well read) but evidently this troll has a sick sense of superiority.
Life is too short to be so vindictive.
How awful for you friend!! 🙁
My published writer friend has been stalked by this one person who took such a dislike to his book he posted negative reviews in every online site he could find. It was so disheartening and depressing for my friend who struggled so hard and so long to "make it". But I tell him to just ignore adversity – and to focus on all the other positive and rave reviews! I guess this shows the power of words – they truly arouse the passion in people!
Take care
x
That is so frustrating. I am with Maria on the karma thing. Hang in there.
I think people forget how subjective books are. What one person loves, another hates. And that's perfectly fine. What's not fine is what those ppl mentioned in the post and comments are doing. You didn't like, fine, but don't be an a$$hole about it. If you really want to complain, write a THOUGHTFUL review on why you didn't care for and for the more powerful feelings, talk to a friend.
Hi Pixie – I'm sticking with your theory 🙂 Hard enough out there as it is without cannibals..
Exactly Susanna!
Wow Maria I've never heard of that site either, how gross!
Hi Old Kitty – I know 🙁 What an utter dork that person was. So glad they got openly challenged about it.
Well I've finally learnt to ignore my review Bossy Betty, so I think I'm on the way to salvation ;p
Very, very true Patricia – vent offscreen 🙂
There's one in every pair of pants. I usually accept those reviews for what they are–ignorance and someone needing attention. They're like weeds–don't fertilize them and they die off in time. Especially when it just makes me want to read the book and then go in there and post my own objective review. Which is usually what I end up doing.
You know, we don't all hit the same genre. And that's how I look at it. John Locke, among others, is blazing the trail for we indie authors. It behooves me to support him. And I do. I don't read his genre, so the likelihood of my reading his books is pretty nil. But I support the hell out of him, congratulate him, and try to learn from how he did it. Same with J. A. Konrath, Barry Eisler, and others.
I haven't experienced this between indie writers and I work with a lot of them (from the book review side of things) and I am an indie writer. However, I've seen these type of attacks on authors from vindictive people in their personal lives i.e. exes of all kinds or jealous people from the dreaded past. I know this has been a problem for some authors. Personally, I can't imagine stooping to this kind of behavior within my own industry (or in any for that matter). It's seems pretty darn counter productive — and ah, dumb!
Agree with you both Jesse & Charlie 🙂
google knows it 😀