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Originally Posted by VydorScope
@GraceKrispy : First I will state categorically none of the reviews on Amazon or Smashwords are plants (assuming you mean ppl who are not expressing their real opinions but are putting 5 stars because I asked/hired/etc them too). I understand how you could see it that way, and appreciate your honesty. 
I have 3 college degrees and I am working on a Master's degree. My professors tell me that I write my term papers, thesis work, and other school work at the "graduate level." I typically score 90% or better on those papers. That work of course is formal writing and not novels, and it is done under much stricter requirements, with much artificial style placed on top of it so I do not know if it applies at all here. I am assuming you have not read the book, so I am just mentioning it to give some baseline.
I am not sure what I would need to make the writing less "simplistic". Is it the verbiage choices? Is it the number of details? Something else?
In book two I have addressed the "main character is super powerful" problem, I do recognize that criticism was completely valid. I also have added more depth to the characters, because I do feel that was lacking in first book. I added more introspection, and background. My pre-readers tell me book two is a big improvement, so hopefully that is an indication of something.  I know that I enjoy book two more then book one. |
I did end up changing my original post, because I didn't want to imply you somehow *had* planted those reviews, just that they were the type of reviews that make me (as a reader) go "huh." I find reviews that are critical, pointing out both good and bad, as most helpful when I look for books to read. I write quite a bit of research in my "real" life, and I do agree it's a very different type of writing. I can write killer research, but I'm not sure I can make a fiction story come to life
I have commented before that some stories feel more simplistic or geared for a younger audience, and it's really hard to quantify that feeling, so I can see why it's difficult to know how to change it. I think adding depth to the characters, as you've done in the second book, does go a long way towards possibly rectifying the "ya" angle. For me, it's really about those word choices and the length and construction of sentences. As I haven't read your book, I wouldn't be able to comment on yours in particular, but I know some books I've read (intended for adults) have sentences that are all very simple and equally short, without variety in length, and lack some description. The only other thing I can think of that adds to simplicity is a lack of voice. Stories that lack voice, to me, are stories that are more difficult to really "get into." Details, really differentiating characters, and nicely flowing writing all help in that area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VydorScope
I guess I am putting to much faith in the reviews to help me improve? I have written a lot over the years, but this book is the first time I had exposed my writing to anyone but myself
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My personal opinions on reviews is this: consider every review that you get with regards to the positives and negatives, think about your own writing and whether any of it rings true (like you did with the main character), make changes if you feel it would improve your work, then let it everything else roll off your back. What's the saying? Opinions are like ....., everyone has one
We all have different things we like or don't like about the stories we read, and being open to honest feedback is a wonderful thing. In the end, the story is yours the way you want to tell it. And there's not a thing wrong with that!