I've been following a discussion on Dear Author about the relationship between the reader and the author, and whether authors should comment on or thank reviewers, what reviewers owe authors if anything, and so forth. In the comment thread it's all got a bit hostile, which is par for the course I find when there are 100+ comments, but the whole debate has really got me thinking, and opened my eyes in some ways.
Until recently I had no idea that thanking a reviewer for a review was undesirable. I cottoned on, thankfully, and I don't do it anymore, but I suppose I wish I could. I did it to begin with out of politeness, even if the review was bad or even atrocious, simply because I am thankful that someone took the time to not only read my book, but to offer her opinion on it. Honestly, I think for most authors, that's it. We're not trying to turn reviews into some kind of commodity.
But after thinking about it for awhile, I realized that I have thanked reviewers because really, I would love to get into a discussion about one of my books, NOT to explain to the poor, stupid reader how she didn't get it but so should have, but to have an honest, lively debate. I had a terrific email exchange with someone who HATED my book. Hated it so much, in fact, she wrote Mills & Boon and asked them to make me stop writing. I am not kidding. But you know what? I addressed the problematic parts of the book for her, and we emailed back and forth, exchanging ideas about why she'd hated the book so much, and in the end we came to an agreement of sorts and she went back and finished it. I didn't enter into the email exchange to convince her my point of view was right, or she shouldn't have hated my book. I simply wanted to tell her where I was coming from in writing it, and she told me where she was coming from while reading. Really, it's been a highlight of my experience with readers, and she still doesn't like the book. Totally fine.
I think part of the problem with interaction between readers and writers is they do not come to a discussion as equals. And it might be that the perceived inequality is only in people's minds, but as long as someone feels it's there, it might as well be. To have a proper (and by that I mean respectful, interesting, and engaging discussion) you need to come to it accepting and believing that everyone has a right to express her opinion, and the reader's perception of the book is as valid as the writer's intent. It's not a session to convince someone of your rightness; it's a discussion of different views. Of course, it helps if you come into that kind of discussion with an open mind, willing to change your opinion--on both sides, readers and writers.
Anyway. That's a lot of my rather flabby thoughts. I'm procrastinating, clearly! But as a reader I love having those discussions with authors. Love, love, love it. And I'd love it as an author too. Tear my book apart! Tear it to shreds if you like, only do it respectfully, allow me a chance to respond, and be willing to engage in a two-way conversation. (And I'm not meaning to imply that this needs to happen in a review setting, which is a different thing altogether.)
Labels: readers, reviews, writing life
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I agree! At the end of that thread, I suggested to Jane that DA could host 'Author Discussion Threads', separate from reviews, where readers were invited to discuss books with the author. She loves the idea, so hopefully we'll see something happen.
I was always thrilled when an author stopped to comment on my review blog, especially when they were willing to engage in discussion. But I can see where readers are coming from, especially given the way that some authors behave these days...