Another IWSG has rolled into view. We writers
eagerly wait for IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group). Started by Ninja
Captain Alex Cavanaugh, this group makes it easy for us to vent our
frustrations, insecurities, anxieties, fears and doubts with other writers who
completely get it. The first Wednesday of every month is IWSG day. Click here
for the IWSG website.
Of late, I have been doing many book reviews for the
newspaper I write for. Not every book I have reviewed has been great. Some have
had bad writing and some weak plots. But they all have one thing going for
them: they have all been published by one of the Big Five publishers.
I mentioned in two of my reviews about the writing
being mediocre and in another review about the glaring errors in the book. In
both the books I mentioned the shoddy editing. My heart would not let me gloss
over or ignore these errors. And unfortunately for me, both the books I
reviewed and pointed out the mistakes in had been edited by the same editor.
And this particular editor has five chapters of one of my manuscripts.
For a few days I was a bit anxious. Had I
jeopardized my chances with this editor (because I clearly mentioned in the
review about the not so great editing). My worry was whether the editor would
reject my manuscript based on my criticism of her work.
Last week, summoning all my guts, I called up the
editor and spoke to her. She was really sweet. She asked me not to stop
reviewing the books and to be as honest as I wanted to be while reviewing, as
the publishing house liked all my reviews (even where I am pointing out their
mistakes).That was such a huge relief. I did not want my reviews to clash with
my submission’s outcome.
Have you ever had a conflict of interest, where you
are worried about the future of your own work? Do you think I am doing the
right thing by being honest in my book reviews? What would you have done in my
place?
It's difficult to juggle two different roles - that of a reviewer, and of an author.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, since I publish reviews of movies and books in my own blogs, I decided not to review anything that I didn't like. Who knows, others might like it or I am not good enough to review it! Fortunately, since it's my own blog, I can do that.
Destination Infinity
Very tricky. You're basically at the mercy of the editor's mood. If she was having a bad day she could easily have taken it out on you. But then would you really want to work with someone like that? These things tend to work out the way they're supposed to, so I would just be true to yourself, and just be tactful. As long as you don't use insulting language (which I'm sure you didn't) I think only a petty person would take umbrage.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
You've got to be true to yourself, first and foremost. You have to live with yourself after all. :)
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
How very brave of you, and yes, you did the correct thing.
ReplyDeleteContinue being honest in your book reviews. Maybe the editor will hold it against you and maybe not, but being dishonest will do you and your reputation far more harm than offending one editor.
ReplyDeleteI think you would have done a disservice to readers and them to gloss over the errors. The right thing is the right thing, no matter what. Good for you for begin brave and honest! :D
ReplyDelete*being* :(
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe in honest reviews. Your credibility as a writer is involved: If you give a glossed over review of a book, what does that say about your judgement as a writer? What does that suggest someone should expect from your own writing? The fact that the publishing house likes your reviews means they trust the writing you'll submit to them.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with S. K. Anthony: You'd do a great disservice to the reader by implying a book is better than it is. I would be really annoyed if a good review inspired me to buy a book and it turned out to be a bad read.
It was reminded to me recently somewhere (I believe it was in a Writing Excuses podcast) that sometimes errors enter into a book not because the editor failed to find them, but because the writer refused to take the editor's advice. So, it's not always the editor's fault (although in many cases it is). Be honest in your reviews, for sure. I've had people chose either to read or not to read a story I've reviewed based upon my reviews. If I didn't writer truthfully about them all, someone could end up disappointed.
ReplyDeleteHi Friends, I am glad that all of you agree with me that I should be honest in my book reviews and not gloss over the errors trying to brush them under the carpet. And I hope the editor sticks to her words and does not judge my five chapters on the basis of my not so favourable reviews.
ReplyDeleteGood thing she was understanding! I would've been worried as well.
ReplyDeleteI would have freaked out too. Good for you for being honest and I'm glad your editor was understanding!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is a hard conflict of interest situation to be put in. And you were brave in being honest in your reviews and in calling the editor. Glad it worked out for you.
ReplyDeleteI've occasionally had to back off from things I've been tangentially involved in online to avoid that kind of conflict.
ReplyDeleteI only review books I like now for that reason. I'd rather avoid any potential conflicts. It's great you know it's okay for you to write those honest reviews.
ReplyDeleteProfessional honesty and integrity should not be compromised, if one has to see the best, Rachna is my humble view:)
ReplyDeleteWow, that would make me nervous. Especially, since some people have definitely not liked my reviews of their work. But you were honest and should never be ashamed of that:)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I've never had that kind of conflict of interests, although I made a comment on my publishers page that I regretted. We were celebrating the edition of new editors and I joined in and added "now all we need is an amazing marketing guru". I had forgotten they did have a marketing department! I wanted to hide in a hole.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great they want you to continue being honest. Those are the best reviews in my mind.
If a book review isn't honest it's not worth anything- go with your gut on this one! And is sounds like the editor may actually be smart enough to benefit from your constructive criticism and maybe improve her craft because of it!
ReplyDeleteWow I am impressed by the editor at least to encourage you to be honest. I don't think all would have done that.
ReplyDeleteI review books and sometimes it is someone that I know in rl or through blogging. My rule is that I only buy books to review (no freebies) so that I feel like I can give an honest opinion with no strings attached.
Absolutely! I freelance write as my full-time job, and I consistently turn down jobs that require me to review books under my name. I also avoid any writing assignments that involve alcohol or any other illegal substance. I just feel as a children's writer, I have to keep what's out there on the internet as clean as possible.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a tight spot you were in, better yet, how they weren't holding it against you! I hope this editor does better in in her work, Rachna!
ReplyDelete<3
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Eeech, that's a tricky situation! I edit French translations and many a time I have had to tell the client "Translation needs to be redone; willing to do it if you are willing to pay". One has to be honest and professional, there's no way around it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like quite a fix. But honesty is the best policy!
ReplyDeleteAnd it worked out in the end.