Reading and Writing with a Reviewer’s Eye

I am thrilled to welcome award winning author Jodé Millman to the Miss Demeanors. Jodé reviews books for Booktrib.com and she was generous enough to share her insights as a very prolific reviewer.         

            This past summer was the perfect example of my book diversity challenge, as I had five book assignments in the hopper including: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, We Solve Murders by Richard Osman, and Killing Time by MC Beaton. Traditionally, publishers stack their books for September or October release to prepare for the holiday gift-giving season. As a reviewer, I receive Advanced Readers Copies (ARCs) of the books at least three to four months ahead of publication. This allows me adequate time to read the book, write my review, and submit it to my editor for review and publication on the novel’s publication day. (FYI, pub days are predominantly on Tuesday. I do not understand why, but they are.)

The Rules

            I have a few rules about selecting books for review. First, I never write a negative review. There is no point in bashing another writer who has worked their tail off and dedicated their life to create this manuscript. That means if I dislike a book, I will not review it, and most likely, I have quit the endeavor about page fifty into the manuscript. This situation has only happened a few times, one of them being a highly touted mystery, which received numerous awards. But I did not like it. This difference of opinion makes the book industry interesting and diverse, as not everyone is going to agree on the next bestseller.

            Next, I select a book based on my familiarity with the author, the series, or the subject. Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Tana French, and MC Beaton sit at the top of my list, if I am fortunate enough to be selected by the Publisher to receive an ARC. Sometimes, I miss the boat, but another terrific book is always waiting around the corner to be discovered.

The Craft

             As a writer, I have discovered that being a reviewer has helped develop the crime fiction writing skills used in my Queen City Crimes series. By reading books in the mystery/crime/ thriller genre, I have witnessed the craft successes and failures, which has helped me observe the winning formulas and avoid the losing pitfalls. For example, dialogue, pacing, story structure, character development, and plotting all jump out at me as I am reading a book. The story and characters must grab me from the start, and keep me invested until the last page. Another key issue is plot predictability; whether the author telegraphed the narrative’s twist or climax, or whether I was surprised by the outcome. I get goosebumps when I am stymied by the “big reveal,” and I cannot wait to share the book on Booktrib.com. and social media.

            Also, being a fiction writer has taught me the “value” of book reviews. As previously mentioned, I do not write bad reviews, but I have written lukewarm ones. I am not afraid to suggest that a book is flawed, but enjoyable. And regarding my writing, it has taught me to search for the hidden gems in a lukewarm Publishers Weekly review.

Perspective

            I have also learned to keep the importance of reviews in perspective to my long-term goals as a writer. Good or bad, reviews are the opinion of one person. While it is flattering to receive a glowing Amazon review, do they influence readers’ buying habits? In fact, does mine? One lousy review will not make or break a book. Please remember that most Amazon readers are not professional writers and they do not understand the commitment and effort that the writer has invested in their project. So, their observations should be taken with a grain of salt. However, the opinion may provide insight into a plot’s weaknesses to help the author learn from the experience. After all, writing is a journey of growth with each new project.

The Pitfalls

            But BEWARE! Writing reviews has spoiled my pure enjoyment of reading. After eighty reviews, I now read everything with a reviewer’s eye. I even watch mysteries on television from the same perspective. My husband has grown weary of my remarking “They telegraphed that murder,” or “I saw that coming.”

            Ultimately, I read and write book reviews for the fun of it. My goal is to summarize the plot, provide a short analysis of the key themes, and support the writer. I hope readers will be intrigued by my “teasers,” and will support the author, too.

For Writers Getting Ready to Send Arcs

            So, what are the practical writer’s lessons I can share as a reviewer? First, get your ARCs prepared early so that you can distribute them to reviewers. The more lead-time provided, the better. Second, network. Do your homework and become familiar with the reviewers, book bloggers, and bookstagrammers. You might be surprised to discover that you have met them at conferences or book events.

            Third, do not take reviews too seriously. Don’t let them affect your mental health or create writer’s block. Forget about the trolls. Keep writing. And finally, make lemonade out of lemons by uncovering the gems hidden inside your lousy reviews. It only takes a single word in quotes to make your next book cover sparkle.

Jodé Millman is the multi-award-winning author of the true-crime inspired mystery series, “Queen City Crimes” Series. She’s an IP attorney, a reviewer for Booktrib.com, and creator of The Writer’s Law School. Jodé lives with her family in the Hudson Valley, where she is at work on her next legal thriller. Find out more about Jodé at https://www.jodemillman.com