Yes, I know how to spell poisonous. Yes, I have been following the latest author freakout over a so-so review. And no, I don’t think vitriolic, misspelled comments aimed at the reviewer (“You are a big rat and a snake with poisenous venom.” “Now get this review off here!” “F*ck off!” “F*ck off!”) are a good idea.
But yes, it’s hard to look away when somebody sets herself on fire online.
However, I’m going to try. If I want to read good stuff about venomous snakes, I’ll keep up with the adventures of the Bronx Zoo’s Cobra.
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Before my daily dose of ‘Lying for a Living’, I’d already been reading the Bronx Cobra’s Twitter, and, after a pointer from Stephen Fry, had just visited BigAl’s Books and Pals blog. The former made me smile, the latter made me laugh out loud. Poor Ms Howett. She really doesn’t have a clue. In her post (about no. 8, I think), where she really starts to rant that her writing is fine, there are getting on for half a dozen typos. Now I know it’s only a blog response, but nevertheless!
I just heard about her this morning. She should have just moved on.
I came across that yesterday from Scalzi’s Whatever. It is hard to look away into the dark and cold of the Web when you have the brightness and warmth of the self-immolator, but I suppose we should try.
I should also point out that the excerpts posted from The Greek Seaman were both appalling and highly amusing in their sheer awfulness. I shall try to stop giggling now.
First of all, Meg. I’m trying to work today. You’re not helping. Second, I would never open the book in the first place: Greek Semen? I’d never stop giggling. Finally, wanna bet a lot of those folks writing reviews on Amazon never bought the book? but just hopped in the free-for-all?
People, there are editors out there (me, for one). Use them!
There was quite a bit of supposition that the glowing reviews were written by members of the author’s family.
I personally think the worst thing is not the fashion in which she responded, but the fact that she responded at all via comments. Doing so would make anyone else who wants to review the book in an unbiased way feel unsafe. It would make future reviewers think the author is standing over their shoulder waiting to rebuke what they just wrote. What a tactless move by this author. Thank you for this post
Meg – This prompts me to ask if you have any strong opinions about the current state of ebooks and self-publishing. I’ve been following Joe Konrath’s blog, “A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing”, which seems to be a hub of activity on the subject. Very interesting stuff.
Greg — I have plenty of strong opinions and lots to say. So much, in fact, that a quick comment won’t do it. I’ll blog about it soon.
Short answer: e-books are bringing huge change to publishing. Writers need to see this as a huge opportunity.
Ha!
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Oh my word just how cool is that, now I feel this odd visceral need to be published, you know, for the cathartic meltdown..like an ol’ fashioned good cry I figure, but without the slimy nose thing.
But wait, there’s more….
And as an added bonus, no need payin’ for expensive therapy…well, that’s what I’m thinkin’