Friday, December 18, 2009
A dilemma.
Today I didn't feel good, so I didn't do (much) day job work on my work-from-home-day. (Not much of a sick day if you spend your waking hours checking email and doing work, which is what happened . . .) Anyway, when I woke up after going back to bed this morning, I still felt like crap so I started reading this book. A Romance. Because I do enjoy Romance a lot. And this was one I bought because it's clear my historicals need to be lighter in tone if I'm to continue publishing them. And this one had the elements that have been under discussion.
This book started out well. The writing was rock solid. But the whole thing kind of took a left turn quickly and I soon realized that the very early signs of a conflict between logic and Authorial Need weren't just minor issues I could overlook, but signs of a writer who was not in control of the internal logic of her story.
In the opening, the heroine is being kidnapped and she's running through an internal monologue that has nothing to do with fear or worry. Nothing explained or hinted at why she wasn't in fear for her life. Then later when she's mostly naked, drugged and tied to a bed in a brothel, the hero comes in. And for the entire rest of the scene, despite being drugged, she is able to converse with him with absolutely no sign of mental impairment. She is witty and amusing!
I admit I kept thinking, but she's been drugged! The bad guys wouldn't send the Hero up to have his way with her if they didn't know the drugs would have taken effect by then. They were experienced bad guys. It was obvious they'd done this sort of thing before.
But the hero was kind of cool and awesome and I kept thinking all of this would be explained somehow. It wasn't. And this disconnect between logic and what the author needed to happen continued.
Characterizations were horrifically shallow. The characters all felt about two inches deep and I was fast loosing interest. I began to actively hate the hero and the heroine was giving me a sugar high. In a not so good way.
Then I had to take my son to tennis because Mom duty doesn't stop just because you don't feel good. So I sat in the car and read the book until finally, I'd had it. I tweeted that I hated the book I was reading. (Without identifying the book.) Then the hero did something so tremendously stupid and illogical that I tweeted about that, too.
Long story short, I ended up tweeting about the parts that struck me as lacking interior consistency; a plot that hinged on motivations that were thin as air or actions that made no sense. Sometimes the characters' convictions changed from one chapter to the next without explanation.
And people were following along, asking questions or otherwise remarking. Many wanted to know what book it was. Because of this feedback, I actually finished a book I was planning to throw away unfinished.
At no time did I tweet the title or author of the book.
A lot of people asked what book I was reading. And therein lies my dilemma. To tell or not to tell?
I have to say that on a personal level, I don't care to see someone pointing out perceived flaws in my books. Even when I realize Ohh, point! (Maybe even especially then.) As an author, I've have had my share of bad reviews. I'm pretty confident in saying every author gets them at some point, probably for every book. Few books are universally and unreservedly loved. You shrug and move on. You have to because the other way lies madness. Few books are universally loathed, by the way.
I read a lot of books. All kinds of books. And I often talk about them on this blog. If I read and did not like a non-Romance book, I have no problem saying so and identifying the book and author. I thought the Gargoyle, for example, was a breathtaking bit of writing yet so horrific in the details of the protagonist's near fatal burning and recovery therefrom that I very nearly had to stop reading. I also thought (think) that the book's heroine was an example of how male authors can fail to see the world from any point of view but that of their privileged gender. Their books suffer when that happens. And this heroine was, I felt, particularly stereotypical, cliche and shallow, which you'd think shouldn't be tolerated in Literature. The heroine was nothing more than a male fantasy of female sacrifice on his behalf. I was, in fact, offended. But he's still a brilliant writer and his was a debut. He can only get better and, one hopes, more mature in his portrayal of women.
So, see? I can say that because when you write a book, you're inviting readers to respond. Some of us do respond in writing or on a blog or in other formats. Reader response and opinion, by the way, is not always sweetness and light.
I don't do this with Romance novels I didn't like. I blog happily about Romances I loved. There are a lot of them. Some of the finest, edgiest, funniest (you name it) writers today are writing Romance, only no one's paying much attention because hey, it's Romance. But if I don't like a Romance or think it's flawed or unfinishable, I don't blog about it.
Why?
Because I know (or know of) a lot of these authors personally. I might well meet them at RWA one day or end up sharing a publisher with them. I have had wonderful conversations with authors who wrote a book I did not care for. I'm not a professional reviewer, rather, I'm their colleague, and it doesn't feel right to me to blog a negative response to a colleague's book.
I understand that opinions differ. There are people who loved books I didn't and who hated books I've loved. I don't usually hold difference of opinion against people. The more reasoned and thoughtful the analysis, the less I hold it against them. As for Amazon reviews, hey, readers are always entitled to their response to a book.
Authors are readers too, though. In fact, they're some of the most die hard readers around. They read far more than average. Romance authors in particular read far more widely than most authors -- in part because they're not excluding Romance from their reading. Authors read with insight into the minutia of craft and that expertise can make for rich reviews and responses.
But I don't want to hurt a colleague's feelings and that's why I don't blog about Romances I didn't like. It's why I didn't tweet the author or title of the book I didn't like.
But should I? Should I have? That's the dilemma.
If a non-author had done that (and Jane at Dear Author has, naming the book and author as well) that can only be a legitimate response of a reader to a book. Readers are entitled to say what they think no matter what platform they use to express that opinion. What is the difference, really, if the flaws or merits of a book are reported in a review or in a series of tweets? There isn't one that I can see.
The distinction drawn has been between complimentary and not-complimentary remarks. It's nonsense to say the line is different depending on format (blog, tweet, etc.) Let's be up front and say people are getting all twisted about negative opinions. Makes sense. Girls especially are supposed to be nice. Those of us who are parents spend a lot of time explaining to kids why you have to care about other people's feelings. But that doesn't mean you don't get to express an opinion, particularly when it's invited. Publication is, de facto, an invitation to respond with one's opinion.
I'll have to write another post on the situation with Jane at Dear Author. RWA made a mistake, that's all I'll say right now.
Obviously, in my role as a reader, I had a strong response to the particular book I read today. The author in me was thinking about the how, why and how not, of what I felt were major flaws. The author's book was out there in the public forum, I bought it with my own money and I am entitled to my response. The reader in me was pissed off that I'd paid good money for a plot with holes big enough to hold New York City. My opinion!
I also think Romance gets more than its share of criticism, often from people who've never read a Romance in their life.
What do you think?
This book started out well. The writing was rock solid. But the whole thing kind of took a left turn quickly and I soon realized that the very early signs of a conflict between logic and Authorial Need weren't just minor issues I could overlook, but signs of a writer who was not in control of the internal logic of her story.
In the opening, the heroine is being kidnapped and she's running through an internal monologue that has nothing to do with fear or worry. Nothing explained or hinted at why she wasn't in fear for her life. Then later when she's mostly naked, drugged and tied to a bed in a brothel, the hero comes in. And for the entire rest of the scene, despite being drugged, she is able to converse with him with absolutely no sign of mental impairment. She is witty and amusing!
I admit I kept thinking, but she's been drugged! The bad guys wouldn't send the Hero up to have his way with her if they didn't know the drugs would have taken effect by then. They were experienced bad guys. It was obvious they'd done this sort of thing before.
But the hero was kind of cool and awesome and I kept thinking all of this would be explained somehow. It wasn't. And this disconnect between logic and what the author needed to happen continued.
Characterizations were horrifically shallow. The characters all felt about two inches deep and I was fast loosing interest. I began to actively hate the hero and the heroine was giving me a sugar high. In a not so good way.
Then I had to take my son to tennis because Mom duty doesn't stop just because you don't feel good. So I sat in the car and read the book until finally, I'd had it. I tweeted that I hated the book I was reading. (Without identifying the book.) Then the hero did something so tremendously stupid and illogical that I tweeted about that, too.
Long story short, I ended up tweeting about the parts that struck me as lacking interior consistency; a plot that hinged on motivations that were thin as air or actions that made no sense. Sometimes the characters' convictions changed from one chapter to the next without explanation.
And people were following along, asking questions or otherwise remarking. Many wanted to know what book it was. Because of this feedback, I actually finished a book I was planning to throw away unfinished.
At no time did I tweet the title or author of the book.
A lot of people asked what book I was reading. And therein lies my dilemma. To tell or not to tell?
I have to say that on a personal level, I don't care to see someone pointing out perceived flaws in my books. Even when I realize Ohh, point! (Maybe even especially then.) As an author, I've have had my share of bad reviews. I'm pretty confident in saying every author gets them at some point, probably for every book. Few books are universally and unreservedly loved. You shrug and move on. You have to because the other way lies madness. Few books are universally loathed, by the way.
I read a lot of books. All kinds of books. And I often talk about them on this blog. If I read and did not like a non-Romance book, I have no problem saying so and identifying the book and author. I thought the Gargoyle, for example, was a breathtaking bit of writing yet so horrific in the details of the protagonist's near fatal burning and recovery therefrom that I very nearly had to stop reading. I also thought (think) that the book's heroine was an example of how male authors can fail to see the world from any point of view but that of their privileged gender. Their books suffer when that happens. And this heroine was, I felt, particularly stereotypical, cliche and shallow, which you'd think shouldn't be tolerated in Literature. The heroine was nothing more than a male fantasy of female sacrifice on his behalf. I was, in fact, offended. But he's still a brilliant writer and his was a debut. He can only get better and, one hopes, more mature in his portrayal of women.
So, see? I can say that because when you write a book, you're inviting readers to respond. Some of us do respond in writing or on a blog or in other formats. Reader response and opinion, by the way, is not always sweetness and light.
I don't do this with Romance novels I didn't like. I blog happily about Romances I loved. There are a lot of them. Some of the finest, edgiest, funniest (you name it) writers today are writing Romance, only no one's paying much attention because hey, it's Romance. But if I don't like a Romance or think it's flawed or unfinishable, I don't blog about it.
Why?
Because I know (or know of) a lot of these authors personally. I might well meet them at RWA one day or end up sharing a publisher with them. I have had wonderful conversations with authors who wrote a book I did not care for. I'm not a professional reviewer, rather, I'm their colleague, and it doesn't feel right to me to blog a negative response to a colleague's book.
I understand that opinions differ. There are people who loved books I didn't and who hated books I've loved. I don't usually hold difference of opinion against people. The more reasoned and thoughtful the analysis, the less I hold it against them. As for Amazon reviews, hey, readers are always entitled to their response to a book.
Authors are readers too, though. In fact, they're some of the most die hard readers around. They read far more than average. Romance authors in particular read far more widely than most authors -- in part because they're not excluding Romance from their reading. Authors read with insight into the minutia of craft and that expertise can make for rich reviews and responses.
But I don't want to hurt a colleague's feelings and that's why I don't blog about Romances I didn't like. It's why I didn't tweet the author or title of the book I didn't like.
But should I? Should I have? That's the dilemma.
If a non-author had done that (and Jane at Dear Author has, naming the book and author as well) that can only be a legitimate response of a reader to a book. Readers are entitled to say what they think no matter what platform they use to express that opinion. What is the difference, really, if the flaws or merits of a book are reported in a review or in a series of tweets? There isn't one that I can see.
The distinction drawn has been between complimentary and not-complimentary remarks. It's nonsense to say the line is different depending on format (blog, tweet, etc.) Let's be up front and say people are getting all twisted about negative opinions. Makes sense. Girls especially are supposed to be nice. Those of us who are parents spend a lot of time explaining to kids why you have to care about other people's feelings. But that doesn't mean you don't get to express an opinion, particularly when it's invited. Publication is, de facto, an invitation to respond with one's opinion.
I'll have to write another post on the situation with Jane at Dear Author. RWA made a mistake, that's all I'll say right now.
Obviously, in my role as a reader, I had a strong response to the particular book I read today. The author in me was thinking about the how, why and how not, of what I felt were major flaws. The author's book was out there in the public forum, I bought it with my own money and I am entitled to my response. The reader in me was pissed off that I'd paid good money for a plot with holes big enough to hold New York City. My opinion!
I also think Romance gets more than its share of criticism, often from people who've never read a Romance in their life.
What do you think?
Labels: What do you Think
posted by Carolyn @ 12/18/2009 09:41:00 PM Permalink
Comments:
Romance is overly criticized - romance authors and readers alike get their fair share of ridicule that's for sure.
Since you typically don't blog about romances you don't like I'd just let it pass. Lately there's been some sh*t storms from authors against comments on everything from newspaper, blog, even Amazon reviews and tweets. As for the distinction, as an author it's the old double standard. Maybe authors would think since you're an author, your accountability is different from the average reader because you have knowledge of the craft and the industry.
Since you typically don't blog about romances you don't like I'd just let it pass. Lately there's been some sh*t storms from authors against comments on everything from newspaper, blog, even Amazon reviews and tweets. As for the distinction, as an author it's the old double standard. Maybe authors would think since you're an author, your accountability is different from the average reader because you have knowledge of the craft and the industry.
I think you made the right decision. It is indeed bad form to negatively comment on a collegue's work by name. I couldn't distinguish from your tweets whose book it was, so I think either the plot was generic enough or you sanitized it enough that others couldn't tell. It was a good lesson in what not to do when writing light historical romance.
I do want to make one comment not related to that topic. Why do you feel your historicals must be lighter? I enjoy a dark historical very much (in fact, I write them), and I enjoyed yours in particular. I think, if it isn't your instinct to go light, then it will affect the quality of your work--if you are just trying to write to the market. But that is my opinion, of course, FWIW.
Interesting post.
TJB
I do want to make one comment not related to that topic. Why do you feel your historicals must be lighter? I enjoy a dark historical very much (in fact, I write them), and I enjoyed yours in particular. I think, if it isn't your instinct to go light, then it will affect the quality of your work--if you are just trying to write to the market. But that is my opinion, of course, FWIW.
Interesting post.
TJB
Great post. I agree 100%. There's something about pointing out flaws in a colleague's work that feels presumptuous to me. Esp for me, not even officially pubbed yet. But in readers, I never feel it's out of line; in fact, I really appreciate it. But I see that you still wanted to talk about it LOL- I don't blame you! I just dnf'ed a pair of UFs that are really popular - I just stalled on them bc the heroines lacked, IDK, a character arc, vulnerability, interiority - it was all reactions to monsters, and I was like, damn, I'm fascinated with this subject and I can't talk about it!
I loved Indiscreet by the way. And I'm not just saying that!
I loved Indiscreet by the way. And I'm not just saying that!
I read your Tweets and was tempted to DM you and ask who/what you were reading, but then I couldn't be arsed.
I don't see anything wrong with your reluctance to blog about Romance books you don't like. Depending on how much I didn't like a book I do that for all of them (when I can be bothered to write up a post). I tend to post on negative points in a general way (character inconsistency, or Authorial Plot Requirements vs Logical Plot Development) rather than specifically pointing to the guilty book in question. On the other hand I'll name names when I love a book.
Lastly, I'm saddened to read this:
"because it's clear my historicals need to be lighter in tone if I'm to continue publishing them."
I love the complex angsty/dark thread that runs through your books & characters. It's a mark of your voice. If I want light/frivolous there's already plenty of choice there. :-/
I don't see anything wrong with your reluctance to blog about Romance books you don't like. Depending on how much I didn't like a book I do that for all of them (when I can be bothered to write up a post). I tend to post on negative points in a general way (character inconsistency, or Authorial Plot Requirements vs Logical Plot Development) rather than specifically pointing to the guilty book in question. On the other hand I'll name names when I love a book.
Lastly, I'm saddened to read this:
"because it's clear my historicals need to be lighter in tone if I'm to continue publishing them."
I love the complex angsty/dark thread that runs through your books & characters. It's a mark of your voice. If I want light/frivolous there's already plenty of choice there. :-/
I would err on the side of remaining mum. You cannot be too careful these days; the advent of online reviewing has made even the most respectful "negative" review fodder for flame wars. I don't bother to discuss anything I read in a public forum since things are so dicey.
Thanks, everyone, for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts and kind words.
As to my historicals, well, I am a midlist author -- EXACTLY the sort of author who is not getting new contracts. And despite the near universal critical praise for Scandal and Indiscreet, the truth is sales have been disappointing to say the least. So, really, why would any publisher want more of the same poor performance? They wouldn't.
So, I can either write the same kind of historical and be unable to find a publisher, or try something a little different.
As to my historicals, well, I am a midlist author -- EXACTLY the sort of author who is not getting new contracts. And despite the near universal critical praise for Scandal and Indiscreet, the truth is sales have been disappointing to say the least. So, really, why would any publisher want more of the same poor performance? They wouldn't.
So, I can either write the same kind of historical and be unable to find a publisher, or try something a little different.
Dang, Carolyn. That is a shame, because your kind of books are exactly what I like to read. Light historicals just aren't my thing, and I'm always searching for a great dark historical. They are becoming harder to find.
Have you considered writing urban fantasy? That skill in world-building seems to translate well, and dark is definitely in for that genre.
It used to be in the day that midlist was not considered "poor performance." I think publishers are really going to regret the fact that only blockbuster sellers are getting the treatment. They need to grow authors to replace the next generation, and where do they think those authors are going to come from? Eventually, today's blockbuster novelists will retire, and then what?
Sorry to hear about the slow sales of your very, very good books. I just discovered you, and I was hoping to read more. I think you were building an audience with these books, and it is a shame they aren't willing to give you time to find them.
TJB
Have you considered writing urban fantasy? That skill in world-building seems to translate well, and dark is definitely in for that genre.
It used to be in the day that midlist was not considered "poor performance." I think publishers are really going to regret the fact that only blockbuster sellers are getting the treatment. They need to grow authors to replace the next generation, and where do they think those authors are going to come from? Eventually, today's blockbuster novelists will retire, and then what?
Sorry to hear about the slow sales of your very, very good books. I just discovered you, and I was hoping to read more. I think you were building an audience with these books, and it is a shame they aren't willing to give you time to find them.
TJB
Boy, I could have written this post (though not so eloquently!) I have no problem discussing books in other genres, but when it comes to romance, I have a hard time being critical when it comes to specific authors' works.
But one thing that really struckt me recently as a reason to not get too harsh about another author's work? Well, I recently got a harsh review, and another author (one whose books I'd liked and actually defended in the past) left a rather snarky remark in the comments about my book (she hadn't even read it.)
Well, I've since received two emails from readers who said they will never read that author's books again because they found the comment to be in poor taste -- because the comment was from another author.
It was a real eye-opener for me.
I think that in this genre, we have such loyal, friendly readers and authors that it makes us a little more hyper-aware that what we say and do can really stand out.
Anyway, I'm probably not making any sense. There was a point here somewhere, but I've hand two eggnogs...
But one thing that really struckt me recently as a reason to not get too harsh about another author's work? Well, I recently got a harsh review, and another author (one whose books I'd liked and actually defended in the past) left a rather snarky remark in the comments about my book (she hadn't even read it.)
Well, I've since received two emails from readers who said they will never read that author's books again because they found the comment to be in poor taste -- because the comment was from another author.
It was a real eye-opener for me.
I think that in this genre, we have such loyal, friendly readers and authors that it makes us a little more hyper-aware that what we say and do can really stand out.
Anyway, I'm probably not making any sense. There was a point here somewhere, but I've hand two eggnogs...
I enjoyed your tweets that day--not because they were mean, but because I found the criticism educational. I don't need to know who wrote it--just hearing why it wasn't working for you was enough for me.
I have learned a lot from you. From your books, your blog, your tweets, and personal correspondence. You are a class act--if you aren't comfortable with giving bad reviews, you should trust your instinct.Likely, if I had come to you and said "I'm having this dilemma..." you would have told me there is no reason to name the book or the author. Really, it could only serve to create a brewstorm or hurt someone's feelings. You don't have the same responsibility as a reviewer because you don't tout yourself as one. Jane from Dear Author has a different set of responsibilities than we do.
Again--you are a class act all the way.
I have learned a lot from you. From your books, your blog, your tweets, and personal correspondence. You are a class act--if you aren't comfortable with giving bad reviews, you should trust your instinct.Likely, if I had come to you and said "I'm having this dilemma..." you would have told me there is no reason to name the book or the author. Really, it could only serve to create a brewstorm or hurt someone's feelings. You don't have the same responsibility as a reviewer because you don't tout yourself as one. Jane from Dear Author has a different set of responsibilities than we do.
Again--you are a class act all the way.
Thanks for the wonderful post Carolyn. I feel the same way you do. I always have a hard time criticizing romance novels and there have been plenty that I've wanted to.
I too saw your tweets and wanted so badly to know the book to save me the read or to see if I had read it and felt the same way.
But I do think as another romance author it is best not to criticize publicly in a harsh way as I think it may cause problems later.
I too saw your tweets and wanted so badly to know the book to save me the read or to see if I had read it and felt the same way.
But I do think as another romance author it is best not to criticize publicly in a harsh way as I think it may cause problems later.
Gah--that should be "struck" not "struckt." Sigh.
Larissa: Your comment makes complete sense. And yes, Romance has wonderful, loyal readers who are well aware when someone (author, reviewer reader or what have yo) has behaved badly. You've made an important point for authors.
Gwen, thank you very much. I'm very flattered.
Kwana (and others) Thanks for adding your thoughts. All very heplful.
Gwen, thank you very much. I'm very flattered.
Kwana (and others) Thanks for adding your thoughts. All very heplful.
I think it is never wrong to err on the side of kindness and discretion. I have a special needs child, and things are hard enough for him without people being overly critical in public. Romance authors are sort of the special needs kids of the publishing industry: everyone loves them even while being a little embarassed by them. They are already being undervalued and dismissed. Why make it worse?
I love your books! I am sending all four of them to my niece in Iraq to share with her "book battalion." I've turned a lot of people on to some of my favorite authors (Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Tanya Huff, Gena Showalter) this way - now it's your turn!
I love your books! I am sending all four of them to my niece in Iraq to share with her "book battalion." I've turned a lot of people on to some of my favorite authors (Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Tanya Huff, Gena Showalter) this way - now it's your turn!
Ooops! I didn't mean to say "all" four! I meant that I'm sending the four that I have!
Joanna: Thanks very much! If you'd like to send more than just the 4, send me an email and if I have copies, I send more your way.
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