About Reviewing
How did you get started?
Michael and I have both been avid readers since we were little kids. Michael is a professional editor and deals with a lot of indie authors, and I have been in the indie scene as a marketer and editor for years. We both saw how much reviews mean to authors and readers, so it seemed logical to go from being avid readers to reviewers.
How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?
We both make notes as we read the book. This means that we capture the essence of what we saw and felt immediately; nothing’s missed or forgotten.
What are you looking for?
In general, we’re looking for entertaining books which pique our curiosity with the blurb. We read most genres available and enjoy all of them in some way or another. In a good book, we’re looking for something which is well constructed, distinctly its own story with its own characters. An ideal book is one which will change our lives and stay with us for years to come.
If a book has a great plot and great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?
That depends on how bad the grammatical issues are and whether it’s myself (Shen) or Michael which is doing the review. If they’re little things which don’t throw me out of the story then I’ll mention it and make a quip about them needing to hire Michael. If they’re something serious which makes it difficult to read the book then I will make that crystal clear in the review. Michael puts on his editor’s hat and will make some jokes about it.
How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?
We’re both quick readers so that depends on our work schedule. It’s quite fair to say two days is enough time for that length of book.
How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?
We use the standard 5-star (heart) system, although we’re a little more demanding than some reviewers. A 5-heart book is one which is amazing in every way and changes our lives. It’s something that will stick with us for years to come and we just can’t fault.
A 4-heart book is something which is very good; it hits all the right notes and has no real problems within it, but might not have that transcendent meaning or depth to make it an instant classic.
A 3-heart book is something which has some big flaws in plot, characterization, or other ‘core’ factors, but remains readable and enjoyable on some level. For example, take a book with decent characters, good use of language, but little to no plot and meandering pacing. That would be a 3.
2 hearts is where the book is readable but far from enjoyable and needs at least one professional editor to help them bring it up to scratch. A 1 star book just isn’t readable.
What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?
Be polite and follow the instructions. The best thing the author can really do is polish their blurb so that it shines and really stands out. The blurb can be pivotal in the decision to review or reject.
Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?
Not at the moment, no. We have very nice comments on the social networks, but no emails to date.
My advice to authors on getting a ‘bad’ review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to argue with the reviewer – would you agree with that?
Absolutely. We are both very careful to write honest reviews that are helpful to the author and reader, but reviews are unidirectional communication.
About Reading
We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading. We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a pastime is dying – do you think that’s the case?
Not at all. I think that the mass adoption of e-readers has opened up the market and brought in a lot of new readers. As to why people love reading, it allows them to explore new worlds, to gain a better understanding of themselves, and to escape from their own lives for a brief period.
About Writing
What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?
I see a lot of authors who don’t put enough emotion into their writing. The characters fall flat and don’t grab me or make me care about the consequences of their actions. Michael says that there’s a lack of development in supporting characters, poorly thought out plots and, worst of all, poor to no copy editing.
We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?
If I’m reading for my own pleasure, then yes. I won’t read a book which hasn’t grabbed me after 5 pages. If I’m reading because I’ve been sent it to review, then I will read it in its entirety regardless. Michael, however, says no, he doesn’t put them down after 5 pages, because nothing grabs him after 5 pages.
Is there anything you will not review?
We don’t review humor, children’s fiction, poetry, or non-fiction. I also won’t read anything containing rape or child abuse.
About Publishing
What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?
We both agree that it’s partially true. The problem is, it seems to imply that that’s a bad thing, which I don’t think is the case. The elitist publishing model which eliminated such a tremendous number of authors in favor of safe, committee-designed pap so desperately needs the sort of unique pieces they leave in that pile.
Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?
This is a discussion that Michael and I have had many times. Attitudes are changing, that’s inevitable, but those attitudes are far less informed than people seem to think. The general public isn’t aware that indies are such a thing; they don’t know that authors can self-publish their work. On a more general note, people are looking to those like Hugh Howey and seeing the potential there within indies. Indies themselves are starting to take everything a bit more seriously and treat it like a business, which is coming together to improve everything.
Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can filter good from bad, aside from reviews?
Having authors support each other based on quality rather than friendship is a good place to start. Developing a community which, socially speaking, rewards talent, skill, and quality work in the vein of what we saw in Vienna or Paris in the 1800s, Italy during the Renaissance, or Prague in the middle of the 20th century is what creates that promotional filter.
End of Interview:
See Shen and Michael’s reviews at The Review Hart.
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