tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post609211790366447785..comments2011-01-03T10:15:46.671+00:00Comments on The Self-Publishing Review: Collision of Angels: Michael CarverJane Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-1453491013877078852009-08-25T15:56:01.931+01:002009-08-25T15:56:01.931+01:00Nancy, thanks for clearing that up. Providing hon...Nancy, thanks for clearing that up. Providing honest reviews for a few mostly-dreadful books is nothing like committing acts of violence on children with congenital diseases, and to suggest otherwise is distasteful in the extreme.<br /><br />I'm glad you like the blog, by the way. It's quiet over here, but my main blog (How Publishing Really Works) is much more active. I hope to see you over there too.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-61941170636900347282009-08-19T00:58:51.556+01:002009-08-19T00:58:51.556+01:00Just in case Jane or anyone else was wondering...&...Just in case Jane or anyone else was wondering..."Jerry's kids" refers to Jerry Lewis and his support of helping kids with muscular dystrophy. I don't know if it's on TV anymore, but there used to be a day-long telethon for money.<br /><br />Love your blog.Nancy Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06214579721075450777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-72603851769798013032009-05-02T18:35:00.000+01:002009-05-02T18:35:00.000+01:00Anon--sorry, I missed that second post of yours.
...Anon--sorry, I missed that second post of yours.<br /><br />You're misquoting me, I'm afraid: none of my novels have yet been published, but then I've only submitted two and many writers write a few before finding a publisher for them. I'm not too concerned, and am confident that I'll find a publisher for my novels soon.<br /><br />However, plenty of my non-fiction (about 20 books, and a few hundred articles), poetry and short stories have; then there are all the books I've edited: there are plenty out there. I make my living as a writer. Just so you know.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-86178929680303794872009-05-02T18:31:00.000+01:002009-05-02T18:31:00.000+01:00And in turn, I find it "kind of sucky" that Anonym...And in turn, I find it "kind of sucky" that Anonymous is prepared to be very hostile to me, but isn't prepared to own his words by posting under his real name.<br /><br />I don't go looking for books to review: they are all sent to me as a result of the authors approaching me, and offering me a review copy. I make no secret of how I work: if writers don't like it, they don't have to submit. <br /><br />Anonymous's objection to my only reading a few pages means that he's missing the whole point of my review: I used to be an editor at a mainstream publishing house. So I read these books as if they were submissions: if they are good enough to hold my interest, then I read them to the end and review them pretty fully; if they are not good enough (and I give them more chances than most editors or agents would), then I explain why they failed in my review here. <br /><br />As for what's good enough: it depends. I note everything that would cause an editor to reject a manuscript, from frequent errors in punctuation to dull or confusing writing. Most books fail on a combination of those things, but there's usually a tendency to one main issue (like an over-reliance on exposition; poor punctuation or spelling; head-hopping) which I try to point out here. <br /><br />Next time you post here, Anon, do please have the guts to use your own name. Oh, and who on earth is Jerry, and why are you so worried about his kids?Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-19289450939305016682009-05-02T18:26:00.000+01:002009-05-02T18:26:00.000+01:00"None of them have yet been published."
These are..."None of them have yet been published."<br /><br />These are your words describing your own books. NONE of which have been published. You, haven't even left the gate yet and you are criticizing writers? I bet you have stacks of rejections from REAL agents and publishers though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-79513773682074534832009-05-02T18:08:00.000+01:002009-05-02T18:08:00.000+01:00I want to agree with this site but I find it kind ...I want to agree with this site but I find it kind of sucky that you RAPE books publicly then admit you only read a few pages. That sucks. You would have my full permission to skin them alive if you weren't so lazy. I agree that most self-published books bite and bite badly, but this is like beating up on a Jerry's kids. I can promise you this, PUBLISHED authors have agents and editors who clean up their work for them. I know these books suck but considering you only read a few pages of this book I find the fact that you are naming this book publicly to be pretty shameless and unprofessional considering that you have not even attempted to read it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-12372952716649718552009-04-29T16:57:00.000+01:002009-04-29T16:57:00.000+01:00Paige, thank you. As with so many self-published ...Paige, thank you. As with so many self-published books, this one is in desperate need of revision, and could have been good if the writer had taken his work a little further before publishing it. It's a shame.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-75283434184142249202009-04-29T16:11:00.000+01:002009-04-29T16:11:00.000+01:00After reading the post, I was just about to say th...After reading the post, I was just about to say the same thing that Barb said. <br /><br />It's already been said, so I'll just add my echoing agreement - it has the potential to be good, just, as you say, needs a good editor.Paige Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15579058823079691230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-64662219083942655582009-04-26T09:04:00.000+01:002009-04-26T09:04:00.000+01:00Barb, like so many other books I've looked at here...Barb, like so many other books I've looked at here, this book had the potential to be good: but it was published long before it was ready to appear in print. <br /><br />It needs a lot more revision and thought put into it to make it really readable. It makes me realise just how valuable an ally a good editor is.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550459552528920427.post-70948842767353777002009-04-23T15:04:00.000+01:002009-04-23T15:04:00.000+01:00This could have been quite a good story. What a pi...This could have been quite a good story. What a pity they didn't get a beta review, or maybe consult a few texts on writing.<br /><br />Like the cover though.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972925629235261913noreply@blogger.com