You Asked: What is the Criteria for Rating Books in a Review?

January 5, 2016June 7, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 10 Comments

Welcome to the first, You Asked, the Experts Answer Segment, for 2016. A number of blog posts this week covered reviews and their value to the authors. The post from Kristin Lamb, reblogged here yesterday, is a good example. However, the question I’ve heard the most often when discussing writing reviews is, “What criteria or rating method do I use when writing a book review?”

Although, I’m not a professional reviewer or an expert. Fellow writers and authors have asked me to read and review their books and I make every effort to give helpful and honest feedback. Every reviewer has their own methodology. Yours may be different from the one I have developed, but the important thing is to have a system that effectively communicates your thoughts to the author and reader, alike. I use the 5 stars method for my reviews based on the following 5 criteria.

5 Criteria For Book Reviews:

Entertainment – I love reading. It’s an escape and adventure. I want a book to transport me to another place and time. I want to feel as if I’m at the dinner table or on the run with my characters. When I’m reading I want to forget the time. So, for me the first and most important aspect of any review is the entertainment value. Was I entertained?
Characters – I want to connect with the characters. I don’t have to like them, but I want the personality, physical attributes, and motives of the characters to come through loud and clear. I want a character I can visualize and relate to. Give me a character that makes me laugh or pisses me off, but don’t bore me or give me a superhuman (unless you’re writing Sci-fi or fantasy).
Plot – Does it make sense to me? Is it credible? Are all the loose ends tied in a pretty bow at the end, or am I left hanging wondering what happened to Suzy Q? I love a plot with twists, turns and surprises, but don’t overdo it. I don’t want to get drunk or whiplash from those twists and turns. Give me a plot that moves forward, creates change (in the character or even me), and a plot that takes my breath away.
Writing Style/Voice- This one is as important to me as the entertainment aspect. Point of View (POV), the way sentences flow, and word choice plays a major role in whether I like or connect with a book. If the writer’s voice captivates me, I can often overlook other weaknesses.
The Finished product – Was the book well-edited? Covers are not going to affect my reviews. It’s the content, the structure, voice, style, and story. But please, proofread. Screwed up formats are not going to win a star. The occasional grammar slip-up is okay, but repeated errors pull me from the story and make me stop reading.

Assign the Stars

5 Stars – a check in all the boxes.
4 Stars – I liked the plot, characters were okay, but something about the writing style or finished product pulled me out.
3 Stars – It was okay entertainment, but I found it lacking in more than two of the elements.
2 Stars – lacked credibility in either plot or characters; the writing style/voice was lack luster and rather than entertained, I slogged through the story.
1 Star– I have yet to rate a book 1 Star. If a book is missing the majority of the elements above, I won’t waste my time finishing the book. I read to be entertained, not tortured. Okay, maybe tortured is a little strong, but you get my drift.

As others have pointed out, reviews are the lifeblood of every writer/author. I review books to make others aware of the book, give the author feedback, help me remember the book, and to show respect and support to the author. You can find my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

I hope you found this information and method helpful and the next time you read a book, write a review. The authors will appreciate hearing from you.

Do you have a method to your madness? Do write reviews? I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

I hope you found this information and method helpful and the next time you read a book, write a review. I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

You Asked: Can You Explain Backstory?

December 11, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

phineasandferb.wikia.com

Welcome to another, You Asked, the Experts Answer, segment. This week ‘s question is: Can You Explain Backstory?

Well, I can’t, as I’ve been as confused about this topic as you have. I’m in the process of writing my first novel and how or when to use backstory has been as clear as mud to me, until now. So, let me introduce the expert.

Lisa Cron is the author of Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence.

At Writer Unboxed, Lisa discusses the topic of backstory, in her article, “What We’ve Been Taught About Backstory . . . and Why It’s Wrong.”

I won’t repeat everything she said, you’ll want to visit Writer Unboxed yourself and trust me, you’ll want to read this article. I will, however, share a few highlights. I’ll let Lisa give you the details.

Top 5 Highlights

“Backstory is the fundamental “why” people do the things they do.
Our own life experiences are backstory.
The backstory and the present should be layered as if you’re making a great dish of lasagna.
Think of Newton’s Law: “For every action there is an equal and/or opposite reaction.” We make choices based on our experiences and so do our characters.
“Backstory is the first half of your story” and guides your character as clearly as a roadmap.

Lisa does a great job explaining what backstory is, how to use it and when to use it. Her examples make the issue crystal clear. So, check out her article, and let me know what you think. Did it help?

I’d love to hear your comments. Tell me your story. And as always, you can find me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Contently,
and Twitter@sheilagood. Say hello and pass it on.

You Asked: Secrets That Will Help You Get Published

November 12, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

Welcome to another, You Asked, the Experts Answer, segment. This week ‘s question is: Is there a secret to getting published in literary magazines?

Well yeah, sort of. Lincoln Michel, a Buzzfeed contributor, takes us behind the scenes in his two-part article, The Ultimate Guide To Getting Published in a Literary Magazine.

This is one of the most in-depth articles on getting published I have ever read. We’ve all heard the tips :

Submit often
Read the magazines
Follow the guidelines
Proofread

But, we’ve never understood what happens behind the scenes or how literary magazines actually select those they choose to print. Well, now you will. Lincoln goes into great detail about editors, readers, the slush pile, solicited and non-solicited work, and even “carpet bombing.”

“Most editors would probably consider at least 60% of the slush pile to be unpublishable, period. Twenty percent shows promise but needs some work, and 10% is publishable but not in the journal being submitted to. That leaves 10% of work that might deserve real consideration.”

Here’s a few important things I gleaned from the article, but I still encourage each of you to read it in its entirety.

Submissions go first to the slush pile.
60 % of those in the slush pile are unpublishable.
Acceptance rates are about 1% for good magazines.
Submissions are sometimes solicited by editors or through agents (I had no idea).
20-100% of works published come from the slush pile.
Connections are important.
Editors are not the first to read your work, readers are (typically 2).
Readers are volunteers, or students.
The first paragraph and page is important in making it past the readers.
Persistence in submitting is one of the main keys to success.
Know the Cover letter No-No’s (see the article).
Selective your top 3 to 5 magazines and go for it; again & again.

Where to Find the Right Market for Your Story?

Many sites offer information on Magazines open for submission. Here are my top five resources.

I’ve only given you the teasers from the article, but I can tell you it’s one worth keeping for the files. What do you think? Are you seeing submission success? Do you have a favorite market site?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

You Asked: 7 Things You Can do to Identify Your Genre

November 4, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 16 Comments

Welcome to another, You Asked, the Experts Answer, segment. This week ‘s question is: How do I know If I’ve chosen the right genre?

Choosing a genre is something many writers struggle with and the biggest reason is being unfamiliar with the different genres. Unfamiliarity breeds confusion, which in turn makes it difficult to know which to choose.

Whether you plan to self-publish or go the traditional route, selecting the right genre is essential for success. After all, you want people to find your book.

Why is Genre so Important?

It gives you clarity for pitching to the right agents.
It’s how the publishing world will view your work.
It’s easier to find your target audience.
Makes it easier for readers to find your book.
Helps you write a succinct pitch.
Helps the industry know how to market your book.

7 Easy Steps to Find Your Genre

Ask yourself: What readers would like my story? What books are similar to mine?
Review Amazon’s bestseller list and check out the list of genre’s.
Go to your neighborhood bookstore, look at where the books are shelved. Fantasy? Mystery?
Select five-six books and read the descriptions; make a note of the core story in each. What stands out?
Look at titles – can you determine the genre?
On what shelf do you see your book?
Know what your story is about and be able to verbalize it in a succinct manner.

The Downside of Getting it Wrong

You will get rejected and your book will end up in the slush file.
You won’t know how to market your book, which in turn makes it hard to sell.
You’ll miss your target audience and, likewise, they will miss your book.
Getting it wrong will make agents think twice about you and your work.

We all want to see our books on Amazon or our local bookstore shelves. But, in order to do that, we must not only write a compelling story but know who our audience is and choose the correct genre. For more information, check out these great resources for writers on writing in your genre.

Resources:

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.