Raine Balkera - Romance Author

Not going to apologize to anyone for this particular post. Then again, I can't recall having ever apologized for anything I've ever written in a blog post of this nature (meaning, my having discussed something others may deem as butt-hurt inappropriate and anti PC). 😉 Today someone pressed my last-straw button and so here I am... venting. It was this... Which is a far more common occurrence than one might think, along with remarks such as this... I'm thinking at this point that anyone possibly reading this Post might not be as quick to jump up and down crying foul now, am I right? And I know what you're thinking... that I'm not being fair and considering ALL of the possibilities and circumstances surrounding such thoughtless instances as these, right? Yes, yes I am, actually! Seriously, on what planet is it acceptable and common knowledge to offer up 1-star (not rotten apple or devil face, mind you) as bein...

Reading is what everyone can do and writing is what some are capable of doing. But, not all writers are capable of doing it correctly. Which is where reader's feedback comes in handy. Honest feedback is essential to our craft and what helps us improve, so it is a necessary evil in our line of work to not only receive reviews but to read them objectively in order to learn from  our   mistakes. I subscribe to BookBub , which alerts me daily to Free and discounted E-books via Amazon, and while I agree with Collette Cameron about the idea of free and cheap being a potential detriment to us authors, I also see it as a way for authors to gain valuable feedback. For a writer, it pays to understand what comprises bad writing in the same way that it pays to read outstanding works of art. We gain by learning from both. The reader, on the other hand, is merely screwed by the purchase and reading of bad writing, but in the long run, so is that...

It probably isn't a good idea to write a poor review about another author's work when I'm trying to make a living as one myself. Right? Yes, and no. Maybe? I've struggled with this for awhile now, and then came to the conclusion that yes, I should keep my opinion to myself if that opinion isn't going to be helpful. And no, there are times when I am more of a reader than a writer and my opinion needs to be heard, too. Maybe it is fine to voice an opinion when I am so moved to do it that it can't be helped, like honest, positive, or glowing reviews that will help generate sales for that author . . . or like today, when I stopped struggling through a Kindle novel and simply had to say what was on my mind in the form of a review -- because AS a writer, I'd like to know these opinions (good and bad) about my own work so that I can improve my craft. I won't give the author's name or the book title here because that would be mean, and I...