Those 2 Star Reviews Aren't as Bad as They Seem

I know ... based on this title, you're thinking I've gone insane. But the truth is that those 1,2, and 3 star reviews really aren't the end of the world ... or your writing career. While they can be hard to swallow and make you start to doubt yourself, they can also help you. Not only can they encourage you to continue writing in order to avoid more bad reviews (Note: There is always going to be someone who doesn't like your book. That's just the way it is, but that doesn't mean you are not good at what you do), but they can also help you determine your strengths and weaknesses. Because, let's face it, we are our own worst critic.

But how do you decide which reviews are helping you and which are just bashing? It's not easy, but after nine books, I think I'm finally getting the hang of which reviews to take seriously. On my most recent release, The Shift, I received a three star review. Let's use that as an example, shall we?

The review, and how I use it to my advantage (None of what I say is against the reviewer. Rather how I was able to use the review to my advantage):

"I want to start off by saying how I thought Elli's concept was great! I loved see that someone's opinion about "love is love".  (Okay. Good start. At least the biggest point of the book was a hit.)

I started having the problems with this book when Noah showed up. Noah is significantly older than her. (It's a shifter book, so his age doesn't matter to me. Of course, I'm one of those people who think age is just a number) I feel he eventually takes advantage of a lonely 18 year old who lusts after him. Maybe I see this from a mother's point of view but to have a "neighbor" live close to her and watch her grow up then jumps her bones at 18 (They are mates, so it wasn't like it wasn't mutual attraction)  isn't exactly "sexy" to me.

Noah seems more like just another father for her and less of a mate. always trying to protect her and Elli just listens?! I wouldn't listen if I was out for revenge.... (Everything in the paranormal world is new to her, so that's why she listens instead of going off half-cocked on her own and probably getting herself killed.)

I don't want to spoil anything so I will say that the death of characters is downplayed. Meaning that the other characters move on quickly. yes they seem to care but they jump right back to work. I didn't really get to slow down and experience the loss/emotion. (I can understand this, but they "moved on" because they had a war to overcome. There was emotion, but they didn't break down and become useless, because they knew they needed to have the strength to fight.)

Example is only a few hours after someone Elli loves is killed she then gets "threatened " by the team members about how to treat Noah (whom is at least twice her age).

“Don't break his heart,” she warns me, “or you'll have to answer to us.”

Saying this to a girl who has just suffered a major loss is severely insensitive. 

It really put a bad taste in my mouth.

I wish we would have got more of a history of the team and all their abilities. It became confusing to keep track of them during the fighting scenes since I only just heard their name a few pages ago. (Fight scenes are my weakness, so this I understand. Plus, I knew that I wanted to keep the team as secondary characters because I didn't want to just be writing the same things when their books came about.)

The book felt rushed once we got to the actual figuring stuff out pages.... I wish for more detail and a little bit of a slower pace. (Again, rushing is one of my problems, so I'm working on it.)

I did actually like this book. (Yay!) I'm still not a huge fan of Elli and Noah though....

(I wish they would have entered this whole thing as a friendship then once she gets a little older and working together they finally give in. their whole relationship seems like teenage lust and not a true "mate") (To each their own, but they have been friends for eighteen years so...)

I would rather see Elli as an independent woman trying to figure herself out before getting involved with a much older guy who now seems like he controls her.  (I honestly didn't see anywhere where he controls her, but the story comes across different to each person.)

The description of the change is a breath of fresh air for me. it's unique and I loved it.

"Unlike the book and movies explain, the transformation doesn't feel like my bones are breaking and reshaping. It feels like I'm being turned inside out, revealing the other creature residing beneath my skin. My bone structure doesn't change, and my organs don't move, but what does happen hurts just as much. Like a performer in a costume, my human body is encased within the animal, compressed and bent to fit." (This is the best news of the whole review! I was so worried about this idea, but I'm glad it's coming across well.)"

Now, see how I sort of work through the "bad" and turn it into "good"? Most of what this reviewer had trouble with was her own opinion and not really my writing. Since reviews are just that, opinion, every reader is entitled to their own. What you have to do is find the good within the bad. She didn't like Noah, but she liked Elli (the main character). She felt there was a lack of climax, but she liked the concept. 

There' s is nothing about this review that makes me want to stop writing. Why? Well, because without the criticism, I would never improve. And I'd rather be told the truth than have 100 reviews of "fluff" because people don't want to hurt my feelings. Yes; sometimes, reviews give me doubts, I'll admit that, but the best day of my writing career was the day I told myself "Write for yourself, and if the rest of the world doesn't like it, then so be it." I love my readers, and I want to please them, but in the long run, my books are for me. So as long as I like them...

That's not to say I love everything about my writing, but I am starting to improve. From the very first book I ever published to now, I'm really starting to see where I've added more strengths and eliminated some weaknesses. I still have some to overcome, but that will come in time.

Now, on the other side of the spectrum. The above review isn't really considering a "bad" one to me. But this next one certainly is, because there is nothing helpful what so ever about it. This was on my short story, His Brother's Widow. Now, I'm aware that story needed some work, so it's not that that's the problem. Actually, the problem is fairly obvious when you read the review ... if you could call it that.

"I wish I could give this story negative stars, because it's even worse than some books I've rated one star. Do. Not. Bother."

..............

Um ... what the hell was that?! I mean, how was it worse than some books you've rated one star? What didn't you like about it? Tell me something! Why did you even bother "reviewing" if you weren't even going to say something worth reading? 

This is what I call a "throw away review". That means I give it no merit what so ever. It's trash, just like they say my story is. Hmmmm ... is that what they call irony?

So, what have we learned here? Lower rated reviews are not always a bad thing. They can be really helpful, actually. So take the bad with the good, because you need both for your writing to balance. Nothing will ever be "perfect". In fact, that word shouldn't even be in your vocabulary, because there is no such thing. Everything and everyone has flaws, even if you can't see them at first glace. That doesn't make the bad or useless; that just makes them normal. It's the truth that not everyone will like the same things, and that's how the world runs. Otherwise, we'd all be robots, liking the same things, dressing the same way, etc. Who would want that?

My go-to saying is "focus on you". Write what you want, what you like, what you find entertaining. There are so many readers out there that you'll find the ones that like the same things as you. It may take a while, but they're out there. So "focus on you". Because, you do, and always will, come first.

Author Tip: People Watching

Between this blog and my Facebook page, we've discussed both Author Bibles and Idea Journals. Now, it's time to talk about something that most people take for granted, but is actually a very helpful tool for writers.

People Watching

One of the most important things about writing a book is to make your characters realistic. This isn't by creating their personality or their families ... it's about the way they move, the way they speak, the way they behave. And one of the best ways to write that is by watching people in every day life. 

Example: Going to the horse races and watching how a man reads his betting program. Maybe he strokes his goatee as he contemplates which horse is the best bet. Or perhaps he leans back, his belly protruding, and lifts his falling belt with one hand while holding the program with the other. 

Whatever it is, pay attention.

In fact, just like the idea journal that you should now have in your bag, have a small notebook to write down your observations as you watch the other people around you. For me, I simply go to the dollar store and purchase a pocket notebook with a button enclosure. For you, it might be something different. But whatever it is, use it. There is no such thing as too many tools when it comes to being a writer.

Next time: Taking Criticism

It Takes a Team

Remember in the last post how I talked about having a team of researchers? Well, they aren't the only ones on my team. I also have a typist, proofreader, promoters, a secretary, and a personal assistant. They are an amazing group of people, and I wouldn't be able to do most of my work without them. 

A lot of authors don't have the privilege of having a team behind them, but I've been lucky enough to find a group of gals who support and guide, receiving little in return. I wish I could give them more for what they do for me, but it's not in the cards right now ... like it might not be for other authors. That is why every day I thank the cosmic powers for them and their willingness to help. 

They're friends and family. 

This isn't a long post, and it really doesn't have much in the way of education on the life of a writer, but it's an important post nonetheless. I want to thank them all for everything they do.

Crissy Sutcliffe, Christy Parks, Bridget Parker, Ebony McMillan, Jessica Tahbonemah, Aislinn Pearce, Kelly Langford, and Stephanie Puterbaugh. This post is for you. <3 

You Don't Need Time Travel to Learn About the Past

Today, I am doing research on time travel. While I don't have any immediate plans to write a book with time travel, there's no such thing as too much information. And this has always been a topic I've been curious about. So, I'm sitting here with a stack of library books, a notebook, and a pen, writing anything of importance down for future reference.

Research is one of the most important aspects of writing a book. No matter if it's a romance or mystery, or even fantasy, accuracy is essential. Now, being that it is Fiction, there is leeway to stretch the imagination. But anything not made up by the author should be concise and true. You may be surprised at the amount of backlash one gets if even the slightest thing is incorrect.

It takes up a lot of time when in the process of writing a book, but it is not a portion that should be skipped. Therefore, an author needs all the help they can get. And, thanks to some amazing people, I have a ton of help. I have a team of three researchers (one for traditions, organizations, and social aspects/one for clothing, food, and language/and one for general research that doesn't fall under the other categories) who find the best, most accurate information while I continue to work. With just a text, they jump into action. I'd be lost without them and the rest of my team ... which we'll discuss next time.

So why am I doing my own research this time, do you ask? Well, because it's fun research. Also, I can't always assume my team is available. So I do some of my own research every now and then to expand my knowledge. I use library books, websites, and professionals willing to chat. It's a blast and a half to broaden my mind and learn something new.

Self-published or Traditional, We're All in This Together!

Believe it or not, there are people out there who think self-published people and books are not as significant as traditionally published. That is ignorant and rude. An author is an author, regardless of how they've become such. Granted, authors under a publisher may have more opportunities for promotion or inclusion in big name bookstores. However, that does not mean one book or author is better than another. Authors who are not under the name of a publisher have enough disadvantages against them already, so, please, give them a chance. 

But I digress. That is not the point of this article. While there is a slight competition in the book industry, because, let's face it, there's competition in everything even if we try not to let there be, authors are not in the business to prove they're the best. If they are, or if they are in it for the money, they're in the wrong profession and have gotten an ill conceived notion about the rewards of writing books. Okay. I know you're saying that, yes, there are some authors out there who advance in the profession quickly and gain the title of "bestselling" or "most popular", etc, and you're right. However, that does not come easily, and there are no guarantees. It's a waiting game for most.

And even those whom do make it that far, do not become rich beyond their wildest imaginations. It is possible they could be more well-off than others, allowing them to write full-time, or, at least, most of the time, but writing is not money-laundering. I've spoken to a few well-known bestselling authors (No. I will not give names.) who have assured me that the idea that they "sit around drinking champagne while bathing in their cash" is laughable. 

Yet, they continue to write. Why? Because they love it. They are passionate about the concept of story telling, and they can't get enough. That is the real reason to become a writer. Which is why there is no difference between self-published or traditionally published authors. Those under a publisher may have learned more than others, but that is a matter of experience; it comes with time. 

There has been so much negativity in the community lately, I feel like I need to remind everyone (trad. authors, self-pub. authors, models *hint hint*, designers, editors, etc) that we are all in this together. Not to quote High School Musical too much, but "once we know who we are, we're all stars, and we see that..." W.E. A.L.L. I.N. T.H.I.S. T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R.

It's Not Cheap To Be A Writer

It happens all too often that life gets in the way of everything else, and that has happened here. I apologize for taking so long to write another post. I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off the last week, or so. 

Picking up where we left off with the last post, today, we are going to talk about money and how expensive it really is to be a writer. A lot of people believe it to be a free career, because "all it takes is a computer and your brain". That's so wrong that it's hard not to cringe when I hear people speak like that. Being a writer is about so much more than the actual writing. While that's a huge part of it, there's also promoting and attending events and expenses needed to accomplish writing a book. You may need a notebook for your ideas, index cards for your edits, pens and paper if you write by hand, printer supplies, a computer, a Microsoft Office subscription, and then you need editors, cover designers, formatters, and many more services to complete the process. This all costs money, and while some of it sounds like somewhat cheap supplies, it adds up very quickly. 

Now, take into consideration that most writers barely hit $20-$50 in royalties per month (best sellers make more, of course, but it still counts for them, too), and most writers are working 'in the red'. And a lot of people ask, "Well, if you're not making any money from it, then why are you doing it?" NEVER, EVER ask this of a writer. We are not in it for the money, and to insinuate that we are is a slap in the face to us, even if you don't intend it to be. It's like asking a mother why she has children if they don't bring in any money... 

It's an insulting question.

We write because we love telling a story; we write because we have the talent for it; we write because it's who we are on the inside. It is the very essence of our soul. We don't just write; we are writers. 

However, we are grateful for any and all sales we get and are just as excited for pay-day as any other worker. Readers validate our hard work and keep us writing. So if you are a true reader/fan of authors, keep buying books from reputable retailers, posting reviews or sending messages to authors in appreciation of their work, and spreading the word among your friends and family about their books. Keep reading, we'll keep writing, editors will keep editing, and publishers will keep publishing. The book industry is dependent on you, the reader.

We wouldn't survive, or even have a purpose, without Y O U.

Because of this, I say thank you ... on my behalf, and on the behalf of all the other amazing writers in the world, both self-published and traditional. 

And that brings up the next upcoming topic on this blog: 

Self-published or Traditional, We're All in This Together!

Get That Light Off Me

Many people don't realize just how much authors are "in the spotlight". Even self-published authors, like myself, can be put on the spot a lot. Example: everyone watching what you post on your Facebook page. While a lot of writers may not have problems with this, for someone with a fear of too much attention, it can be just as nerve-wrecking as standing up to a microphone to give a speech!

Granted, it's nothing like big name authors who may get noticed on the street and stopped for an autograph or a picture. But, to me, it's just as scary ... and, also, means just as much. Just the fact that anyone even bothers to talk to me about my books is amazing. I never thought I'd be where I am now with my writing, and branching out to include myself in the communities makes me feel blessed, but nervous all at once.

Next year, I'm going to start attending signings. HOpefully, that will help me with my insecruities. The first one will probably cause me to drink, and I'm hoping I don't come off as rude or anything to the readers. I'm absolutely terrified!

But I know it's part of the job, and I do want to meet all the wonderful readers I can. So wish me luck!

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you tomorrow. Topic: Money

I Wish There Were 6 of Me

Since it's the weekend, it's the best time to talk about how other responsibilities can stop you from getting your writing done.

My normal weekend involves babysitting my nieces, grocery shopping with my mother, chores, visiting with my best friend (whom I only see one day a week), my day job, writing, and also time with family. And you're probably asking yourself, how does all of that happen in only two days? Trust me; sometimes I don't know where the hours go. Monday is here before I feel like I even blink. 

Now, while babysitting my nieces this weekend didn't happen and it's NOT grocery week, I'll be writing this based on those events (this weekend, I am going to a sweet 16 birthday party, so my time for everything else is still limited). 

Since my whole Sunday is spent with my bestie, I take that as my day off of everything for the week (that's right; only one day off the whole week). So, nothing gets done that day, and everything is squeezed into Saturday. But that's okay, because Saturday has plenty of hours to the day to get things done.

How? Well, when my nieces are here, I also work on my day job or do the chores. Since they're pretty self-sufficient now, it's easy to multitask while they're here. Understandably, that's not always the case if the children you are watching or raising are younger, but that's why you have to have a schedule in mind when it comes to your writing. Kid goes down for a nap at one o'clock? Get on that computer, or grab that notebook. 

Babysitting usually ends at one p.m, so that's usually when we go grocery shopping, if it's the week for that particular errand (granted, we've been known to switch it to Friday night if the weather is going to be bad or we don't think we'll be up for it. But that's okay. Work with what you've got.). 

Since we live close to the stores, grocery shopping usually only takes 2-3 hours of the day, so we're usually home around dinner time. While dinner is cooking, I'll likely work on the day job or chores (whichever one I didn't do while the nieces were here). If it's a meal that you have to watch carefully and can't walk away, I'll do some writing, standing in the kitchen. If you can't get your computer or notebook near the food, then use a cell phone or a voice recorder (I suggest investing in one, for any time you can't stop and write something down). 

If I don't write (and sometimes even if I do) while cooking dinner, I'll stop my other work by 8 or 9 p.m so I can hit my daily goal. By the way, having a goal is extremely important to getting a novel done. Even if you don't have a specific date for release in mind, you should set a goal for yourself. Make it a realistic one, too. Don't go crazy. If you're the type of writer who wants to write a 60,000 word novel in a year, then do the math (60,000 divided by 365) and set that goal. For me, I usually try to write 8 a.m-NOON on weekdays (except Tuesdays), and 8 p.m-MIDNIGHT on weekends, except Sundays. Depending on the book, I can have a daily goal of four hundred to one thousand words. Usually I try to make it the lower end of the spectrum, so that if something happens and I miss days, I won't be overwhelmed with how many words I should be writing on a daily basis.

Everything you have to do in your life can be overwhelming, and adding writing a novel to that can just make things worse. But if you become organized and stick to that schedule as much as you can, you'll have written a novel in no time! This was a lesson I learned from Theresa Oliver in her book "How to Write a Novel In Your Spare Time, Even When You're Busy", and it's a lesson I am forever grateful for. 

Most days I'm awake from 8am (7:30 when it's shower day) until Midnight or one a.m. Yes, those are long days, but on Tuesdays and Sundays, I allow myself to catch up on my sleep. It's a schedule that works for me, but it may not work for you. And that's okay. You have to find your own rhythm.

Now it's time for me to actually get to work on this schedule for the day (with a few tweaks since I didn't get up in time). Then it's off to the birthday party later tonight for some fun and cake! Hope everyone has a good weekend! And I hope I'll see you Monday for the next topic. Being "in the spotlight". 

Fight Scenes

Today, I am working on my upcoming release The Shift. The battle between good and evil is about to happen, bringing forth the climax of the story. I'm a little apprehensive about writing the fight scene, because I know they are a weakness of mine. Fighting in books is difficult to describe in a way that would translate to a person's mind, and in the past, I've skipped over them and just insinuated what went down. However, with this novel, I want to "spell" it all out for the reader, because a lot of what happens during the battle is important to what follows. That being said, I'm sure it will need a lot of editing after the first draft is complete.  

In all honesty, as I'm thinking about it, all I can think about is the battle in the last Twilight movie, and, although this one is similar (because they are paranormal beings), I do not want to "copy" the scene from the movie. Then there's the added thought of, "Who's going to die?"

Of course, at first, we don't want any of the good guys to die. But will that actually be the way it works out? I'm not sure. Honestly, I'm not sure about anything when it comes to this scene. So we will see what comes about. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow's Topic: Finding time to write while still being able to give attention to family and other responsibilities.

Brainstorming

Tonight, I am brainstorming the idea of a future series. It's a series that will be dedicated to my grandmother, Winona Gage, and it's inspired by her. She's a kick a...butt grandmother who doesn't let anything stop her. In addition to being a grandmother, she's a great-grandmother, wife, artist, jeweler, and judo "master". That, added with her love of mystery novels, conceived the notion for this series. It's different than anything I've ever written, and I'm not sure there are any books out there like it. Because of that, I'm not sure how the series will be received by readers, but I'm excited to get started! 

One of my goals as a writer is to write unique, never before read books, giving readers a new experience from all the usual plots out there. There's nothing wrong with those plots, but creating unique ones give readers a chance to live inside a "world" like they've never known. Hopefully, this future series will be one to provide that kind of escape.

At this time, all I know is that it will be a 2017 release. What time of 2017 is unknown, as is the title of the first book. As the date grows closer, I'll continue to update y'all, so keep an eye out! 

Hope to see you tomorrow for the next post! Subject: Fight scenes!

I Must Be Insane!

When someone approached me about creating an author blog and posting about my writing on a daily basis, I will admit, it terrified me. Blogs have always been an enigma for me. I love them, and they are a lot of fun, but I always end up not having time to write in them. So I wasn't sure if I would go forth with creating one for my writing, but here we are! I hope this goes well, and y'all enjoy reading about my writing and my life as a writer.