What do readers owe authors?

[CWatkinsNash]

The only thing I owe an author is to respect their copyright by obtaining their book legally.

I stopped taking books in exchange for reviews a long time ago. I think I did a total of three back then. It was awkward so I stopped signing on for that type of obligation.

The linked "Care and Feeding" graphic was... interesting. Couldn't help but notice that actually READING the book wasn't on the checklist.

I also (because I can't stop myself) read the comments. The one from the publicist was... um, enlightening. There's mention of creative incentives to get readers to write reviews, such as one author who offered up a personal Skype call to reviewers. This would likely not be an incentive to most people, unless he was already very well known, or really, really hawt.

[mr_nihilism]

As someone else said already, if a author is giving work out for free, I generally feel obligated to at the very least give the book a rating if not a whole review.

As for everything else, shelling out hard earned money is obligation enough.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I've been seeing a number of articles lately talking about what readers owe authors. I've seen this graphic (more at the link too) in FB, about what I as a reader owe my favorite (particularly indy) authors.

I do like to support favorite authors, but I dont tend to write reviews or publicize what I'm reading (unless, like "Mr. Penumbra", I'm totally enthralled by a book, but that's rare.).

Do I as a reader owe my favorite indy authors reviews? or FB comments (I don't tweet)? I can see the point, but I really hate writing reviews.

The day I get to put together a list of what authors owe readers, I'll give a damn what they think I owe them.

1. Books that don't suck
2. On a reasonable release schedule
3. Books that don't suck
4. Series that proceed until they are complete
5. Books that don't suck
6. Complete sentences, strung together in to coherent paragraphs, that tell a story that makes sense.
7. Books that don't suck.

And it'd be really nice to get books that don't suck.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

I owe the author nothing but the price of the book.

Not even necessarily that, especially on paper books.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I owe the writer nothing. The writer owes me.

I would also disagree with the author owing me, or you, anything as well. These are arm length transactions. Once the transaction is made, everyone's obligation is met. That's the libertarian in me, I guess.

[piperclassique]

I owe the author the cover price. Maybe. I get library books, paid for by my taxes. I get PD books. I buy books. I owe the author not to pirate their books.
If an author chooses to give me a free book, that is their free choice. It is my free choice if I leave a review. I might choose to do that. It won't necessarily be favourable.
If someone writes poor books with no glimmer of hope that they will ever write something worth reading then I don't believe I should give that person false hope.
While I am on my soapbox, will all the wannabe writers please take note. Proofreading for correct spelling and punctuation is not an optional extra. A halfway reasonable cover image is also a good idea. If that is impossible, then a legible title on a plain background is acceptable.
Thank you

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Do I as a reader owe my favorite indy authors reviews? or FB comments (I don't tweet)? I can see the point, but I really hate writing reviews.

Good question. I feel like I don't owe an author anything but respect. I write reviews only on books I feel need one. If I am over the moon about a book of course I am going to tell like-minded readers about it. Not to support the author but because I want to them to experience what I have by reading it.

Some of these Indy authors' demands make me roll my eyes.

[LovesMacs]

The only circumstance I can think of where you might owe an author more than the purchase price is if you directly contacted the author or publisher and said, "Could you please give me an advance copy so that I can review it?" And that circumstance could make the objectivity of the review suspect.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

While I am on my soapbox, will all the wannabe writers please take note. Proofreading for correct spelling and punctuation is not an optional extra. A halfway reasonable cover image is also a good idea. If that is impossible, then a legible title on a plain background is acceptable.
Thank you

While you may not owe me good spelling and punctuation, Or possibly even a GOOD reading experience beyond telling a good story, if you have any respect for what you are doing, it remains a good business practice.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I would also disagree with the author owing me, or you, anything as well. These are arm length transactions. Once the transaction is made, everyone's obligation is met. That's the libertarian in me, I guess.

As the reader, when I invest my time and/or money, I expect a product to meet certain standards. The author owes me a product that is at least minimally acceptable.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Catlady

As the reader, when I invest my time and/or money, I expect a product to meet certain standards. The author owes me a product that is at least minimally acceptable.

I have to agree here...especially after paying $10 or more

[jgaiser]

Pretty much what everbody else said..

I'm not much of a reviewer, but I do leave star ratings on both Goodreads and LibraryThing for every book I *finish*. If the book is bad enough not to finish, it doesn't deserve even a 1 star rating.

[Martyn Taylor]

Totally agree with mr ploppy on this one, there is no obligation to review, if you like an author's work and want to share what you enjoyed then a review is one way, and it can be as long, or short as you like.

[Freeshadow]

As others have already pointed out:
Assumed the author is a reasonable, well behaving person I don't owe him or her more than every other person fulfilling these criteria: The amount of respect deserved by every other reasonable and well behaving person. That's honest.

What does the author owe me (and the rest of potential readers): the content should match the description. That's honest too.

@ authors thinking differently:

If you write, you do so by your own choice. I didn't force you to.
Or as Holly Lisle says: "Write with joy."
(my 2¢: Should you write with the purpose of being somehow sanctified instead - can it please. We have several editions of that stuff and there's already enough ado about which is the right one)

You say - "Not everybody can write." (let us assume you DO *cough*) - Sure.
Guess what's about painting, surgery, carpentry... Just the same. Would you like every plumber expecting you to blow sugar up his ass before fixing your loo? Nope?
I see.


I might! give more than just respect: Recommendations, a fan's loyalty, admiration even.

But I do so because I chose to.
Because I got so much more than the owed minimum.
Because I got something to laugh and something to cry.
Something to care about, to love.
A book which makes me trade my sleep for, because life is so short.
A book which doesn't leave me moved when I'm done, but leaves me shaken.
A book where it isn't me conjuring its realities in my mind; but where the book itself summons me into them.

If YOU show me such a piece of your writing we might discuss this again.

[Ravensknight]

Readers already give authors the most precious thing in the world: their time. They spend hours reading any given book. Isn’t that enough?

Emphasis mine. I thought this article was great.

I do think authors owe me a grammatically correct, error-free read. If some of the indies I've read had been contractors, I'd have had to report them to the BBB and sue them for breach of contract and shoddy workmanship.

That being said, I've also come across some gems. Michael J. Sullivan being the best so far