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I don't necessarily believe in review swaps between authors just because another author might not like your subject matter or genre. Yet I also believe that we should support one another and, if we are interested or write the same category of book, seek out independent authors and give them a go.

Personally, I've had pretty good luck with the authors I've met. I've read books from others who would not be a good fit for what I write and others have done the same for me. All of the reviews I've received from them have been honest, both glowing and critical. As long as you can back up that low score, I take it on the chin and learn from it.

But many of my author friends tell me that if they post an honest review of a book they've read from another author that the same author will then give them a rating score one lower than what they've posted but then can't back up the reason why. As a result, they don't buy books from fellow indie authors and will never post reviews.

Have you ever gotten a bad review from an author out of spite? And, if another author gives you a bad review, how do you react?

I had another author give me a very low review simply because she thought I wasn't old enough to be writing in the same genre as her (she is over 60 and I am 24). She said things like 'You're a stunning writer, but when you're older this work will have more credibility' and 'I know this is unfair, but...'
If you know it's unfair, why are you doing it to me???
I simply tried to thank her for her time anyway and politely said that I didn't agree with her ageist views!

I love reviewing on Amazon, and it's clear from my Amazon profile that I am a published author as well... so I always worry about leaving negative reviews because I am afraid that they will leave negative comments in return. It seems so childish, but I know that it might happen! Eep! So far, it hasn't happened to me (yet!)

They should have a website dedicated purely to authors defending such things.. like rate a professor professor fights back but authors... haha

Skillian wrote:They should have a website dedicated purely to authors defending such things.. like rate a professor professor fights back but authors... haha

Hahaha, nice.

Yes! This happened to me a few months ago and it was so ridiculous. I reviewed a woman's short story, and I admit, I gave it a low rating. But I explained why I rated it the way I did and suggested ways she could fix it. The grammar was awful, the story didn't have a clear plot, and the minimal descriptions involved just weren't working. So she went and reviewed everything I had on that site poorly, no actual reason just a rating and some comment along the lines of "This is such trash" or something. I confronted her about it and she was acting out because I had offended her. I apologized but I mean, if you're going to post things on a public site where people can review them you should expect both positive and negative feedback and know how to respond in a diplomatic manner, not throw a tantrum like a child.

hareid03 wrote:Yes! This happened to me a few months ago and it was so ridiculous. I reviewed a woman's short story, and I admit, I gave it a low rating. But I explained why I rated it the way I did and suggested ways she could fix it. The grammar was awful, the story didn't have a clear plot, and the minimal descriptions involved just weren't working. So she went and reviewed everything I had on that site poorly, no actual reason just a rating and some comment along the lines of "This is such trash" or something. I confronted her about it and she was acting out because I had offended her. I apologized but I mean, if you're going to post things on a public site where people can review them you should expect both positive and negative feedback and know how to respond in a diplomatic manner, not throw a tantrum like a child.

wow. Did she come come to her senses? Like can she go and edit her ratings or are they stuck like that forever? I'm amazed. People are crazy. I am too.. but I like to think my crazy is the fun kind.

hareid03 wrote:Yes! This happened to me a few months ago and it was so ridiculous. I reviewed a woman's short story, and I admit, I gave it a low rating. But I explained why I rated it the way I did and suggested ways she could fix it. The grammar was awful, the story didn't have a clear plot, and the minimal descriptions involved just weren't working. So she went and reviewed everything I had on that site poorly, no actual reason just a rating and some comment along the lines of "This is such trash" or something. I confronted her about it and she was acting out because I had offended her. I apologized but I mean, if you're going to post things on a public site where people can review them you should expect both positive and negative feedback and know how to respond in a diplomatic manner, not throw a tantrum like a child.

Ugh... sounds like something I have seen on fictionpress years ago.
And who knows... maybe she really was a child?

There is a character on "Creative Writing Forum" who routinely does this. He is abrasive on the forum and when you confront him about anything, he goes to Amazon and gives you a bad review.

Andres_Montoya wrote:There is a character on "Creative Writing Forum" who routinely does this. He is abrasive on the forum and when you confront him about anything, he goes to Amazon and gives you a bad review.

Thanks for the headsup... I guess I will stay away from there!

There are lurkers everywhere. Political discussions tend to get emotional and stupid people do stupid things.

Woa! Luckily I don't have anything on Amazon... I should go give them a piece of my mind! haha jk. That is sad though. Why can't people have calm respectful discussions with each other? Can't take anything personally.

Skillian wrote:Woa! Luckily I don't have anything on Amazon... I should go give them a piece of my mind! haha jk. That is sad though. Why can't people have calm respectful discussions with each other? Can't take anything personally.

This is why I joined this forum to give reviews and not to get them... though I worry that giving a negative review will lead that person to search me out and find me on Amazon and do the same for me. Eep! Such drama!