Tag Archive | Pride and Prejudice variation

What Should Authors Do With Reader Reviews?

Jan19

There’s a lot of debate among authors about how much you should read your reviews on Amazon and Goodreads (although there’s a definite consensus that you shouldn’t respond to reviews).  Some authors say they never read their reviews and I can understand that.  It can drive you crazy if you feel like you have to satisfy every reader.  There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like your work.

At the other extreme, I have a friend (who writes in a different genre from me) who I think must have read every review ever written about her book.  She’s looked up other reviews of the people who gave her one star so she knows what other things they don’t like.  While I can totally understand that impulse (wouldn’t you want to discredit or at least discount someone who didn’t like your work?), I don’t think it’s a good idea to get that worried about reviews.  Like I said, someone will always dislike your work.  Does it matter who they are?  Plus, I simply don’t have that kind of time.  I’d rather be writing my next book.

That said, I’m not in the camp that says you should completely ignore reviews.  They are particularly useful when there is a consensus of opinion. In the reviews of my last book, a couple of comments cropped up in a number of reviews and I thought they had merit.  It’s not as if any book is perfect or any writer can’t improve his or her craft.  One of the ways you get better is to get feedback.  And readers are a great source of feedback.

I come from a playwriting background, which is pretty unusual in this business.  When you write plays, you have staged readings where you invite an audience to a reading of the play (in which the actors read from the script rather than have it memorized) and then ask for their feedback afterward.  Getting that feedback is very valuable.  It tells you when the pacing of the play is dragging, when you’re confusing the audience, or if they find a character unsympathetic.  Of course, you have to discount some of the audience comments you get — not everyone is going to like everything about your play.  Sometimes you say, “thank you for your comment,” and move on.  I know that if Shakespeare had a reading of Hamlet, there would be people telling him they didn’t like the main character because he was too indecisive or that they thought the language was too hard to understand.

Readers’ comments are similar.  They can help you figure out what really works about your book and when you’re confusing or (God forbid) boring your readers.  I’m grateful that my readers’ comments have been overwhelmingly positive.  I’m grateful that people are buying my book 🙂  Yeah, the negative comments bother me.  But just about everything helps me become a better writer.

What do you think?  I’m interested in other authors’ opinions as well as readers’.

A New Year Thank You to My Readers

Jan11

In many ways 2014 was a difficult year.  My family moved.  My son has a mysterious digestive problem that has caused him to miss a lot of school.  My daughter started high school and encountered new difficulties caused by being a bright kid with a learning disability.

But 2014 was a great year too.  When I published The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth, I had no idea what to expect. I considered it entirely possible I would sell 100 copies and no one would ever hear about it.  I wasn’t at all prepared for thousands of people buying the book and hundreds of good reviews. There are times I still can’t believe it :).

So 2014 was a great year because of my readers.  I am very grateful to everyone who bought, read, and reviewed my book. Thank you!

And I’m humbled and thrilled that I may have brought fellow readers the kind of pleasure other authors have given me.

I am hoping 2015 will be just as good (or even better!).  I am working hard to publish my next Austen variation, Pride and Proposals, as quickly as possible. And I’m germinating the ideas for the next story.  Stay tuned!

Fireworks-5thNov2011-Banbury

Why Do So Many People Want to be Writers?

Sep20

Recently I’ve read two blogs by published authors talking about annoying reactions they have gotten when they have told a casual acquaintance that they write novels.  I’ve been a creative writer my whole life and I’m familiar with the scenario.  A lot of times you get a reaction along the lines of “I’m working on a novel too!”  or “I’ve always wanted to write” or “I’d write if I had more time” or “I have this great idea….” Many people seem to think that with a little time and effort, they too could be a writer just like you.

I always wonder if this happens to people in other creative professions. My guess is that if you say you’re a ballet dancer, you don’t get 45-year-old fellow party guests who say, “I’ve been meaning to take up a professional ballet career.”  You might get someone who used to take (or even is taking) ballet lessons, but they don’t have aspirations to greatness in the field.  Okay, but that’s an age thing.  What about music or art?  Although you can do some guitar playing or drawing with little or no instruction, most people would recognize that if you want to seriously pursue music or art (either as a professional or a serious amateur), you need to undertake a lot of studying and practicing.  In other words: hard work.

Writing, on the other hand, looks easily accessible as an artistic pursuit.  Everyone knows the English language, right?   You can take it up when you’re 45 or 60 or 75.  You don’t need to buy a tuba or oil paints.  Here’s the problem:  Yes, anyone can write.  However, writing well takes a lot (and I mean a lot) of practice.  I’ve been writing creatively for more than 20 years and I don’t feel like I’ve perfected it.  It also helps to get good feedback from a support/critique group and instruction. (yeah, I know some people say creative writing can’t be taught, but you can teach the techniques of effective writing in the same way you teach brushstrokes or  reading music.)  Feedback and instruction help you hone your technique, but there’s no substitute for practice.  You wouldn’t expect to go to a basketball game for the first time and sink every shot you make.  Or do a perfect pirouette at your first (or fifth or fifteenth) ballet class.  Or sculpt a coherent statue out of a hunk of marble without help.  Just because you know the basics of writing — or even if you’ve been doing writing at your job — it doesn’t mean you have developed all the techniques you need for writing a novel.

Actually, I think a lot of people know this (at least subconsciously), but don’t want to believe it.  I believe this is why writers encounter a lot of people who want to be a writer.  There’s no age limit, so it’s something you can always aspire to be.  But a lot of would-be writers have tried writing the Great American Novel and found that it’s more difficult than they expected (hence the “I’m working on a novel too” syndrome).  It’s discouraging to have a vision and then discover that your writing isn’t up to the task of creating that vision perfectly (believe me, I understand!).  But, rather than practicing their writing by sitting at the computer every day (even for 15 minutes) or honing their skills with feedback from a group or instructor, a lot of these people would rather tell themselves and imply to everyone else, that they would become great writers if only they had enough time.  It’s scary to write.  I know!  But the only way to become a good writer is to write.  A lot.

Anyway, that’s my opinion.  What do you think?

Giveaway Hosted at More Agreeably Engaged Blog!

Jun26

Janet at the Jane Austen blog More Agreeably Engaged graciously hosted me as her guest this week and is sponsoring a giveaway of three copies of The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth.  Check it out!  http://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-secrets-of-darcy-and.html

In Defense of Mrs. Bennet

May13

Okay, Mrs. Bennet is an airhead and an embarrassment to her daughters (the intelligent ones at least).  I mean, I wouldn’t want her for my mother.  However, unlike some of the other ridiculous characters in P&P I have a lot of sympathy for Mrs. B.  Really there’s no excuse for Lady Catherine’s behavior or Mr. Collins’ sniveling.  However, Mrs. Bennet has a very real basis for the concerns she expresses and the goals she espouses — although she goes about achieving her objectives in embarrassing and pushy ways. 

After all, if Mrs. Bennet were to die, Mrs. Bennet and the daughters would be homeless and virtually penniless — that’s what happens to the protagonists in Sense and Sensibility.  I’d be scared in her position as well–not just for myself, but for my children.  Since the daughters have no socially acceptable means of earning a living, they must marry and the sooner the better.  No wonder all of the girls are out in society!  It maximizes the family’s chances of finding a husband who can support one daughter–if not the whole family–in the event of Mr. Bennet’s death. 

So, for Mother’s Day, I will say–I can find it in my heart to excuse Mrs. Bennet’s pushiness and anxiety.  The hypochondria and complaining, on the other hand….Well, the less said the better.

You’re Never Too Young for Jane Austen

May4

Okay, well, maybe I’d draw the line at toddlers.  But I have given both of my children the Pride and Prejudice graphic novel by Nancy Butler and they have loved it.  The graphic novel retains much of the language from Austen’s original, but even my ten-year-old (who, admittedly, in my unbiased opinion is a genius :)), had no trouble with the plot.  However,  I tend to focus on the story’s romance, while my son relishes the humor (since, naturally, romance doesn’t interest him).  His reactions help me remember how incredibly funny characters like Mr. Collins are.  After a while, I have gotten so used to some of the absurdities in the story that I begin to forget Austen’s satirical edge.  It’s great to see Austen through fresh eyes! 

Now, my children and I are watching the 1995 miniseries version of P&P and we’re really enjoying viewing it together.  My daughter (also a genius :)) has seen it before, but is just as entertained as my son, who is seeing it for the first time.  I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve seen it, but watching it with my children has been a revelation.  Truly Austen is an author for all ages!

Review on Warmisunqu’s Austen!

Apr29

Another review — this one in Spanish!  But there’s a pull down on the top of the screen where you can have it translated into English.  Warmisunqu’s Austen gave The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth four stars!  (or four Jane Austen profiles in this case).  She also gave a nice review to the book’s cover.  Check it out!

Mi foto

Warmisunqu’s Austen

Third Week on Amazon Bestseller List!

Apr25

For the third week in a row, The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth is holding steady in the top ten on Amazon’s Bestsellers in Regency Romance.  It’s also been consistently at the top of Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Regency Romance — currently at number 3!  To say I’m overwhelmed by this response would be an understatement.  It has been gratifying that so many readers have been enjoying the book.   And it has inspired and energized me to start writing my next P&P variation. 

Thank you to all my readers!