Quote:
Originally Posted by ManosHandsOfFate
An old college friend just sent me a digital copy of a SF book he published.
It's bad.
All his other friends have given it four stars. On the very slim chance that some complete stranger decides to buy his overpriced, crappy book, I want them to know what they're getting into.
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PLEASE put up your honest review! I agree that it's much kinder in the long run to be honest about the quality of a book. That's not to say people should be told "this book is a steaming pile of dog crap" (or whatever quote I recently heard - read- somewhere
), but constructive criticism is worth a lot, imo. (Plus, if I read it, I won't be staring at all the great reviews wondering which book they all read!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by simonroyle
Sometimes the difference between being good and great is a little encouragement. There really are enough negatives in a run-of-the-mill life without having your dreams crushed when you're young.
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I think it can go both ways. I've been told I cannot do things, and it's made me more determined to actually do them, and do them well. I've also been told I am horrible at certain things and I will probably hold that "truth" to my grave, regardless of the fact that I've been told the opposite since then.
No matter what type of person it is who is receiving the criticism (motivated to continue or easy to give up), constructive criticism will go so much further than unspecified "you suck" type comments. If you suck at something, it helps to know what is the sucky part so you can fix it.
When I write reviews, I try to be as honest as I can, pointing out both what I like and don't like. Someone else reading the story may not agree with my assessment, but I have left enough specifics so he or she can identify with what he's/she's not agreeing
Authors can then decide for themselves what they will take from my review, if anything. Readers can do the same.