#IWSG December: Do you review for the reader or critique the author?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Sign Up And Become a Member

Our Twitter handle Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post.
These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story.
Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Check out our founder Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Blog, and say hello!

IWSG HOME BLOG

---

Co-hosts for the December 6th posting of the IWSG are  
C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray!

---

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post.
These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story.
Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 
Remember, the question is optional!
December 6 question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book review, do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

MY ANWSER: 

I review for the reader. I appreciate when reviews help me decide if a book is worth my time to read and whether it will give me my reading fix. My TIME is precious and I am selective where I spend it. I don’t won’t to waste it reading something I won’t enjoy or get my reading fix.

Reviews in retail are for the reader, not the author, although the author can use what is liked and/or disliked or mention to help improve their stories. There is a place for critique, but reader reviews is not it. The review is about the reading experience (although how good the writing is affects this, but should be relayed in how it affected the reading experience, not what the author did wrong so much).

The review should tell if the book is something I will enjoy reading or not—sharing your experience allows the reader to make an informed decision/selection. Mistakes are not so important to me as GIVING me a GREAT immersive story—give me that and I can overlook A LOT and I will continue to read the author. Suck me in–Pull me in and make me CARE about your characters and I am there and happy.

---

#IWSG BlOG HOP or FIND IWSG ON Facebook!

Our IWSG Facebook Group,
Join Us!