Dec 19, 2023·edited Dec 19, 2023Liked by Fernando Sdrigotti
All I was thinking, the entire time I was reading, especially the hyperlink to the bad behavior-tantrum&cancelling du jour is who has the time?! Either everyone writing has a trust fund or what they are writing must be so straightforward and easy that they can literally do it in their sleep because seriously who has the time?!
As for reviews, it’s the entire review industry that needs to burn. Because no one can be honest and no one can take the honesty.
I bought some costume jewelry on Etsy for my niece a month and a half ago. Nothing too pricey since she is at an age when things may break easily etc. Lo and behold, two weeks later, the chain snapped. No biggie. She kept the pendant.
I wasn’t that impressed with the faux gold plating anyway. The item looked cheap. Not a craft or artisan made-at-home, but made-in-China with a U.S. address situation. Didn’t have time for writing a review.
But I got very sick of Etsy sending me reminders to write a review. I couldn’t “dismiss” these. Finally, I just gave it 3 stars (generous) and said quality was not as expected.
The person decided to engage in a back and forth with me and eventually even said they will reimburse me fully if I could change the review! That it will hurt their business!
I stopped engaging. But what if someone did what their 20 quid back?
Replace $20 with feelings and that’s our criticism and reviews industry right now.
I finally read a critical analysis, which was received as a “bad” review, of a novel everyone thought was the second coming of Christ (2018) and many had silenced themselves to say nothing bad about it.
I HATED the writing. I was angry that anyone could even publish it. Even a teenagers’s blog posts are better! But nope! Our savior has arrived were the reviews, while the what’s app chats had memes.
You know what that review holding that book and writer to account did? It made me re-read the book with different things to dislike which led to appreciating why someone may even like it.
You know what, that seller contacting you to tell you "this will harm my business" was more sincere than any writer reacting to a negative review by pulling the "personal attack" defence.
You can find time to write on benefits. I'm on disability benefits, permanent. I have plenty time to write and I'm poor. When I worked self-employed, I had a lot of time off due to schizophrenic illness, so I found time to write in the months I had off. But I imagine it's not so easy to write if you work full time. Or at least it must be a lot slower. But it's doable. You just have to devote time to it that you'd otherwise waste on shit TV, scrolling shit www, and other things. But I get what you mean. It's certainly more difficult, slower and you're exhausted n'all.
I hate the way everyone is so feeble now. So easily offended. Can't accept criticism. It's pathetic.
I think you are in a minority, Rob. Most people these days — as always — approach writing from a position of certain economic privilege. Ergo they've got too much time on their soft, manicured, hands!
I agree with all you said here. One of my favourite reviews of my last book is, "Man, that was grim"
Among a load of lengthy praising 4 and 5 star reviews, I have an odd 1 star, says, "Trigger warning for rape and sexual abuse badly written"
Strangely, there are no scenes of rape or sexual abuse, badly or well written. What can you do? It annoys me because it's not true. At the same time, it amuses me because anyone who needs trigger warnings for that, or anything at all has no place reading my books, so if any idiots don't get the gist from the cover, this will put them right off. My books ain't for the feeble hearted.
All I was thinking, the entire time I was reading, especially the hyperlink to the bad behavior-tantrum&cancelling du jour is who has the time?! Either everyone writing has a trust fund or what they are writing must be so straightforward and easy that they can literally do it in their sleep because seriously who has the time?!
As for reviews, it’s the entire review industry that needs to burn. Because no one can be honest and no one can take the honesty.
I bought some costume jewelry on Etsy for my niece a month and a half ago. Nothing too pricey since she is at an age when things may break easily etc. Lo and behold, two weeks later, the chain snapped. No biggie. She kept the pendant.
I wasn’t that impressed with the faux gold plating anyway. The item looked cheap. Not a craft or artisan made-at-home, but made-in-China with a U.S. address situation. Didn’t have time for writing a review.
But I got very sick of Etsy sending me reminders to write a review. I couldn’t “dismiss” these. Finally, I just gave it 3 stars (generous) and said quality was not as expected.
The person decided to engage in a back and forth with me and eventually even said they will reimburse me fully if I could change the review! That it will hurt their business!
I stopped engaging. But what if someone did what their 20 quid back?
Replace $20 with feelings and that’s our criticism and reviews industry right now.
I finally read a critical analysis, which was received as a “bad” review, of a novel everyone thought was the second coming of Christ (2018) and many had silenced themselves to say nothing bad about it.
I HATED the writing. I was angry that anyone could even publish it. Even a teenagers’s blog posts are better! But nope! Our savior has arrived were the reviews, while the what’s app chats had memes.
You know what that review holding that book and writer to account did? It made me re-read the book with different things to dislike which led to appreciating why someone may even like it.
You know what, that seller contacting you to tell you "this will harm my business" was more sincere than any writer reacting to a negative review by pulling the "personal attack" defence.
You can find time to write on benefits. I'm on disability benefits, permanent. I have plenty time to write and I'm poor. When I worked self-employed, I had a lot of time off due to schizophrenic illness, so I found time to write in the months I had off. But I imagine it's not so easy to write if you work full time. Or at least it must be a lot slower. But it's doable. You just have to devote time to it that you'd otherwise waste on shit TV, scrolling shit www, and other things. But I get what you mean. It's certainly more difficult, slower and you're exhausted n'all.
I hate the way everyone is so feeble now. So easily offended. Can't accept criticism. It's pathetic.
I think you are in a minority, Rob. Most people these days — as always — approach writing from a position of certain economic privilege. Ergo they've got too much time on their soft, manicured, hands!
Yeah, you're probably right. That's probably why many of them are so feeble n'all. And why they mostly say the same things.
About the unbearable Alain de Botton, I can't forget Charlie Brooker's column about him:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jan/01/tvandradio.screenburn
brutal!
I agree with all you said here. One of my favourite reviews of my last book is, "Man, that was grim"
Among a load of lengthy praising 4 and 5 star reviews, I have an odd 1 star, says, "Trigger warning for rape and sexual abuse badly written"
Strangely, there are no scenes of rape or sexual abuse, badly or well written. What can you do? It annoys me because it's not true. At the same time, it amuses me because anyone who needs trigger warnings for that, or anything at all has no place reading my books, so if any idiots don't get the gist from the cover, this will put them right off. My books ain't for the feeble hearted.