tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post7216039151924193776..comments2024-03-10T05:18:37.521-04:00Comments on Stories From A Starry Sky: The Sock PuppeteersTeresa Cypherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-58467680017476032502012-09-11T19:13:48.765-04:002012-09-11T19:13:48.765-04:00Love this comment, Owly! "Besides, omg, I ta...Love this comment, Owly! "Besides, omg, I talk to myself all day long anyway! What the heck would I want to do it online for??" Too funny.<br /><br />"I want to publish to move other people, to change them even in small ways, to make them think about themselves and the world around them. So, it's kind of a no-brainer that I want to hear from those people. " You're book has such a wonderful goal! And it's all wrapped up in that great story. :-)<br /><br />Thanks for visiting and weighing in! :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-44995225289604809652012-09-11T19:11:35.610-04:002012-09-11T19:11:35.610-04:00Well said, Marie. The rating system is dicey, at ...Well said, Marie. The rating system is dicey, at best. I've come to assume that almost every writer has some friends and family who will put up a five star review for a book that, ahem, is actually less than a five star book. In all fairness, though, sometimes friends and family aren't actually doing it as a shill. They perhaps aren't regular readers--and can't believe that someone they know and love has written a book and they really think it is all that. I know, as an unpublished writer, when it comes to family and friends alpha reading my books? It happens. And I've yet to have one of them tell me that a story is lousy. They rave. THAT doesn't mean my books are actually rave-worthy. But it does mean that they think it is and they would leave such a review from their hearts--not from their heads. That leads me to believe that you really can't trust the first dozen or so reviews (at least). So,directed at your comment about buying books in the past... I too have seen this phenomenon. I like to hear about a book word of mouth, or see 50 reviews before I judge it as something I want to read. BUT, I read indies all the time and quite often find gems among them.<br /><br />Haha...I guess it's hard enough without dealing with the trickery. :-) <br /><br />Thanks for visiting and weighing in, Marie. You've brought up some valid points. :-) Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-85042004117550364402012-09-09T10:59:53.669-04:002012-09-09T10:59:53.669-04:00Great post, very thought provoking, even if I am l...Great post, very thought provoking, even if I am late to the party! <br /><br />I'm not published yet, but I like to think that I've got better standards than opening multiple accounts to praise myself. I've got a sense of dignity. <br /><br />I want to publish to move other people, to change them even in small ways, to make them think about themselves and the world around them. So, it's kind of a no-brainer that I want to hear from those people. <br /><br />Besides, omg, I talk to myself all day long anyway! What the heck would I want to do it online for?? <br /><br />If I opened accounts in my characters' names and started conversations about my book with me, I hope someone would do an intervention. That's a serious signal that I need to step away from the computer, the book, the characters, all of that for a while and figure out what the heck went wrong with my moral compass. I'm just sayin'.Owlladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12989152304836466124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-15085063951528611852012-09-08T15:08:08.002-04:002012-09-08T15:08:08.002-04:00For me, that is just a logistical nightmare. Not t...For me, that is just a logistical nightmare. Not to mention unethical. I've bought books in the past based on 'glowing' reviews and realized after the first chapter that either A... those reviews were written by friends, or B... those reviews were written by the author themselves. Because there's no way something so poorly written and edited could garner 20 five star buzz. I've grown savvy and have begun reading the peek inside option. It's just too easy to be fooled now. :(<br /><br />I get excited every time I get a real review, yes, it's slow going waiting for real readers to give me reviews... but at least I know I haven't orchestrated to give myself a ton of undeserved 4's and 5's. <br /><br />The whole practice disgusts me and makes me sad quite frankly. There's so many readers now that are distrustful of an Indie book if it's got too high a rating. I read a fantastic book the other week, the book's been out since '11 and has over 20 reviews, none of which are 3's. I nearly passed over the book because I started wondering if those reviews were bogus. Then I sampled it, downloaded it seconds later, and fell in love. It's just too bad that writers feel the need to do this. Let your books stand on their own merits, if it's good, you'll find your audience withour resorting to trickery.<br /><br />*shrug* Just me. :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09899243599516908136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-37616354895378574552012-09-06T16:16:18.727-04:002012-09-06T16:16:18.727-04:00Oh Millie, I know what you mean. No matter how we ...Oh Millie, I know what you mean. No matter how we tackle building our platforms, it seems like we are laways running behind. <br /><br />I think you have a wonderfully healthy perspective of what you want your book to do. Entertain--yes. Make a million--maybe not. But, we are all in this together--it is bad form to tear down someone else.<br /><br />I guess some people have to learn that the best way to the top is not knocking other people down to use for them steps. :-)<br /><br />Thanks for visiting! And for the follow. I got you back. :-)Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-38287288551568810072012-09-06T10:36:08.459-04:002012-09-06T10:36:08.459-04:00Well, I personally think it's distasteful. I ...Well, I personally think it's distasteful. I have probably gone about this whole thing the wrong way, because I got so excited about finally publishing, I didn't remember I'd need to market. No platform built, no preview copies for readers to review...none of that. But, I've felt like I'm a little snowball at the top of a hill. I'm small now, but as I roll down the hill I gather snow, snow that sticks, and real folks who read my book and enjoy it, will tell others. Will I make a million? Nope, probably not. But, will I continue to market my book honestly and professionally. That's just my humble little two cents worth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551671528722336812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4696914224277711875.post-81383307894021095372012-09-06T00:09:51.800-04:002012-09-06T00:09:51.800-04:00From Twitter:
Karen Jones Gowen @KarenGowen
@Te...From Twitter:<br /><br />Karen Jones Gowen @KarenGowen<br /><br />@Teresa_Willow Hey I know, how about actually spending all that puppet time writing more books? Great post! <br /><br />Dr Veronica Anderson @DrVeronicaEyeMD<br /><br />@Teresa_Willow There are always people who scam the system. Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.com