|
|
Post by beaker on Oct 13, 2018 0:48:18 GMT
Yesterday I got a review from someone who said my book is a great mystery, and I'm a great mystery writer, but 2 stars because the editing was so bad. I don't write mysteries! That book is nothing like any kind of mystery, and it's had many thorough edit passes.
Yesterday I had six sales before that review, and then none since then. Some page reads though from a few brave readers. I reported the review to Amazon, but I doubt they'll remove it. This is why the Amazon review system makes it so hard for new authors.
Why Amazon, why? 
|
|
|
|
Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 13, 2018 1:20:21 GMT
*hugs* beaker sales can be really sporadic, especially when you're new, so it's possible the drop in sales and the review are not connected. I would imagine that since your book is clearly labeled as a very different genre and the blurb doesn't mention anything mysterious that smart shoppers would be able to tell the review was left on the wrong book because this happens across amazon in all departments. It's super annoying and it would be great if amazon was more pro-active about removing reviews like that, but they usually don't. If sales don't pick up in a few days, pimp your book out on social media again, maybe try getting an email promo. Publish the next book! Being new is definitely hard, and when you can count your sales on your fingers, every negative review feels like a knife. The only thing you can do is keep writing, keep publishing, and eventually your sales should increase to the point where you could get 10 negative reviews and you wouldn't even notice. |
|
|
|
Post by beaker on Oct 13, 2018 1:50:14 GMT
Thanks K'Sennia. I know you're right, but yes it's very frustrating. :/
|
|
|
|
Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 13, 2018 1:57:41 GMT
Thanks K'Sennia. I know you're right, but yes it's very frustrating. :/  |
|
|
|
Post by beaker on Oct 13, 2018 2:09:39 GMT
Exactly - haha
|
|
|
|
Post by davidvandyke on Oct 13, 2018 20:49:58 GMT
If you don't have many reviews, then I suggest republishing with a different ASIN.
Alternatively, politely comment on the review, asking if the reviewer reviewed the right book, and pointing out that it's not a mystery. I wouldn't mention the editing; it would sound defensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by beaker on Oct 14, 2018 21:08:04 GMT
If you don't have many reviews, then I suggest republishing with a different ASIN. Alternatively, politely comment on the review, asking if the reviewer reviewed the right book, and pointing out that it's not a mystery. I wouldn't mention the editing; it would sound defensive. I don't want to republish because I have some nice reviews that I appreciate from people who liked the book, and I don't want to just dump them. Even though they're all down at the bottom because some people (from KBoards, I think) voted all my negative reviews up to the top and all my positive ones down.
Your idea about replying to that review might be good, but I think it's time for me to stop fighting what I can't control and move on to finishing my next book that I'll publish under a secret pen name. I'll try to be one of those people who don't look at their reviews. I've learned from this that even if I use a new pen name and make future books as perfect as I can, people can and probably will put some bad reviews on them for any reason they want to.
|
|
|
|
Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Apr 8, 2020 20:50:22 GMT
Also, replying to reviews is very rarely a good idea. Reader mistakes happen, but few wish to admit them, and will not thank you for pointing it out. Authors politely correcting reviewers is how Goodreads wars start. Additionally, it is possible for people with two different minds to read the same book and interpret it entirely differently. And one or two typos can easily be exaggerated into dozens or "the editing was so bad I couldn't finish it" if the reader has had bad experiences before and chooses to assume things about the author based on past books from different authors. Reviews aren't something we should try and control. Let's make our books as good as we can and the be like beaker and move on! Although, I know some authors reply to reviews anyway and have had good experiences from it. No rule is absolute. Do what feels right to you. |
|
|
|
Post by writeway on Apr 9, 2020 6:36:02 GMT
Yeah, replying to reviews is about the most unprofessional thing you can do. As a reader, I don't like the idea because I don't want to think that the author is looking over my shoulder whenever I write a review. If an author ever responded to a review I wrote, it would make me not want to write another one. Even if they left a nice comment, nope. Look, reviews are for readers. Authors needs to stop stalking their review pages and go write. I don't even read my reviews anymore. Haven't in about three years and have had nothing but peace since. Commenting on a review (especially if the author is being defensive) is the easiest way to lose readers.
|
|
