Category: Writing Techniques

The Not-So-Stellar Book Reviews

On By dotluvs2writeIn blogging, Fiction Writing, Inspirational, Musings, News Events, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

open white pages book

Today, I received a two-star rating on my debut novel, Passage of Promise. It was my first two-star review out of twenty that have been mostly five and four stars.

As a newly-published author, I expected to receive some ratings that judged my work mediocre. It is part of the life of an author.

Even top, best-selling authors get one-star and two-star reviews, some, unfortunately, with a few nasty remarks. It’s par for the course in the realm of the author’s world, as I said.

Experienced authors have always given the advice to newer authors that they must grow thick skins and not take reviews that aren’t spectacular to heart.

I found the two-star anonymous reviewer’s comments pretty fair. Not everyone is going to like my storyline or my writing style.

This is natural.

As a reader myself, I too, pick up books to read, and come to the same conclusions. Although, if I don’t like the writing style, I don’t buy the book, so I may be even more picky than my two-star reviewer!

The latest book I bought and am having a struggle getting through, I read the first few pages on Amazon and tended to like it because I thought the writing style was pretty good.

But I admit now that the storyline so far has been dragging, and I’m finding it easy to set down the book. The story just isn’t drawing me in to the point where I feel compelled to keep reading it.

Therefore, I understand everybody’s tastes are different, and that each author has her/his niche readers. And that’s good enough for me.

New writers out there and newly-published writers, don’t be discouraged if or when you may get a negative or lower-starred review. Count it as a good thing.

There are three things good about even two-star reviews that are somewhat negative, especially the one I received:

  1. The comments weren’t really insulting.
  2. The person took the time to leave a review.
  3. You learn what each reader gleans from your novel.

For someone who doesn’t really have a high self-esteem, I do know my writing is good, that my stories are worth sharing, and I appreciate the feedback.

Newly-published writers, keep writing and keep publishing your work. There are enough readers out there for each of us.

 

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Radio Talk

On By dotluvs2writeIn blogging, Fiction Writing, Inspirational, News Events, Past Life Activities, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

 

This is my newest radio interview on John’s radio show. There’s a bit of a skipping sound in the call that we don’t know what caused that, but you can hear us well, in any case. Thanks so much, John! Hope you all enjoy listening and learning a bit more about me, my novel, my writing, and other upcoming works.

 

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Pick up your copy of Passage of Promise  via Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Me with PofP final print copy April 27 2020

 

On the Bookshelves

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, blogging, Fiction Writing, humanity, Inspirational, News Events, Past Life Activities, Religious, Travel, Writing Techniques2 Comments

Passage of Promise closeup bookstore pic

 

Once there was a twelve-year-old girl who used her index fingers to peck the keys of her dad’s electric typewriter to write her first book, A Stuffed House. Then in her mid teen years, she wrote a historical romance trilogy set during the US Civil War. She went on to write a novel in her early to mid twenties, took a long seventeen-year hiatus for marriage and family, and came back to writing in 2014. She wrote her debut novel, Passage of Promise, in 2015 and finished revising and editing it in 2019. It was published May 1, 2020.

Passage of Promise midview bookstore pic

Today, she stopped by the local bookstore in her town and saw her book on one of their bookshelves. This was a new experience for her. A joyful and proud experience. She’s thankful to Sudden Fiction Books for carrying her work.

Passage of Promise local authors pics bookstore

If you are in the Denver, Castle Rock, or Colorado Springs area, stop by Sudden Fiction Books in Castle Rock if you like to help local bookstores. You can buy my book there or online via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound.

 

Thank you, God, for giving me this talent to share with others.

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Pick up your copy of Passage of Promise  at Sudden Fiction Books in Castle Rock, CO, if you’re local. If not, try Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Me with PofP final print copy April 27 2020