Tag Archives: Positive Feedback

Reviews

Reviews. Something we all love to have as authors and business people. We need them to show other people’s opinions about our products and services. They are important.  The last thing we do is delete them. Especially if you are learning your trade.

My muse, Chloe King is an erotic author who writes on Inkitt. (she left Wattpad in disgust)  Inkitt is an on the ball writing app for computers and phones. You can read and comment on stories and you can also REVIEW.  There is even a guide to review by. It is really good.

One thing I noticed on Inkitt is there are a lot of English as a second language along with those learning to write. Many have excellent plots though need assistance, hence the reviews to help them move forward. We have all been learners in the art of writing at some stage. I know I was terrible when I started my first fiction which was Regency Romans… 

We review honestly and nicely. Not that you’re allowed to be mean, it could get you kicked off the app.

Anyway, you do your review. Giving their grammar three stars. It needs improving, it doesn’t flow and they sure need some research or they will get laughed out of their genre. How do I know? Been there and done that in the same Genre, which is why that particular book is still not published. The author comments…and reviews your story giving you bad grammar and spelling star wise. Two Stars…I laughed. My grammar and spelling aren’t that bad, maybe a four at the least. I can get the different types of English grammar and spelling mixed up due to working internationally.  This is not an excuse.

Several days ago I read a new chapter of her story. She obviously wasn’t interested in what I’d said so I decided not to continue reading.  I noticed yesterday she had deleted my review of her book.

SIGH

Why ask if you are going to delete it?  I can’t read a story that doesn’t flow and I will mention this in reviews. They didn’t use speech marks and the few I found were in the middle of…well never mind…  The historical aspects were due to an obvious lack of knowledge. I mean what Regency woman would slouch on a couch…They wore corsets and many had trouble breathing… Honestly, the list goes on.  However, the storyline was really good. I also stated it was and told them to continue writing.

My main point is why ask for a REVIEW if you don’t or won’t listen to others and then turn around and give a bad review of the REVIEWERS story…is just plain odd. (Yes I have left the review up)

They have a lot to learn in this industry as a writer and reviewer.  As a publisher, I wouldn’t touch this book. It’s a pity she didn’t know my muse is a Publisher…Though not saying so means you find the real writers who wish to go places.

Industry Standard Group for Indie Publishers

As a Independent Publisher which is a Limited Company, I always tell my author friends and clients to make sure they don’t pay first and to look at prices…some are horrendous. A deposit is one thing, full payment…Hell no… they tend to be Vanity Publishers. Needless to say if you have a set of standards for one then you need them for authors as well. Not all authors are great to work with. I’ve had some damn right nasty ones who nearly made me give up helping others.

It does cost to get published. It doesn’t matter if you go trad or Indie. Traditional take part of your royality for the life of the book, which could be millions and they will only publish you if they can make a profit from you work. Also remember they have control of your manuscript – you don’t! Indie Publishers get paid a one off amount so if you make millions you don’t need to pay them anymore.

What I would like to see is a list of or group of Indie Publishers who assist each other like Indie Authors do. They must have at least five 5 star reviews/testimonials …remember we all have to start somewhere.

In fact, I’ll start a group on Facebook of LLC companies with 5 or more positive testimonials.  Let people know and we will build this together for everyone to look at and use. 

What information I will need.

Professionalism
Proof of LLC
Proof of your reviews and testimonials.
Genre you work with
Royalty Share – if you work that way
Deposit Amount – if needed
Contact details

Companies without Reviews/Testimonals will be added as pending
when they start up.