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While I still am quite firm that Authors shouldn't tell reviewers how to review, my thinking on the topic of authors responding to reviews in general has shifted a tiny bit.
We all know that responding to reviews is the Author's Big Mistake. And I agree that probably 95% of the time, it's a bad idea.
But I think this accepted wisdom has gone from being "generally good advice" to taking on the tone of a Holy Commandment Writ In Stone. People say things like "Authors should never respond to reviews," "I think it's wrong for an author to ever comment on a review," etc., and... well, I've seen authors comment on reviews and do just fine. I've had authors comment on reviews I have written of their books, and I was not offended, nor do I think they came off looking like asshats.
It should go without saying that you are taking your online life into your hands if you decide to respond to a review. Anything more than a simple "thank you" is risky, and if you decide to actually correct/take issue with anything said in the review? Well, you're asking for it.
But, I dislike the implication that it is actually immoral or inherently unprofessional even to say "Thanks for the review," let alone to engage in dialog with readers.
I also really dislike the sentiment I have seen some people express that it's "creepy" or off-putting to feel like an author is "looking over your shoulder" by letting you know publicly that they read your review.
As someone who has written my share of excoriating reviews, and who is a staunch advocate of telling authors who don't like nasty reviews to suck it up and cry in private, I still wouldn't write anything that I wouldn't be comfortable defending if the author called me out on it. If the author says "Hey, dude, that's pretty harsh, do you really want to feed me into a wood-chipper*?" I might say, "Okay, yeah, maybe that was a little over-the-top." But I wouldn't cry that authors have no business responding to my reviews because I want to pretend that I am talking about people where they can't see what I'm saying.
Yes, review spaces are for readers, but authors are there too. It's a not "safe space" for you vent in a conseqence-free manner. Feel free to vent, rant, and discuss those authors who would make the finest mulch, but your words are public. Stand by them or STFU.
Honestly, I like it when authors engage in dialog. Ifind it very entertainingwince when they screw up and make fools of themselves, but I also like it when authors are willing to talk to readers. I am not advocating they should respond to reviews as a normal practice, but the occasional drive-by "Hey, thanks for the review, and by the way, I'm going to do what you mentioned in the next book" does not bother me. Yes, I've even had a couple of authors address flaws/criticisms I pointed out in their books, and they did so gracefully and without incurring my wrath or anyone else's. It can be done.
"Authors shouldn't respond to reviews" should be treated the same as pieces of writing advice like "Don't use saidisms" and "Don't start the story with the main character waking up and looking into a mirror" - it's good advice, and you should be damn sure you know what you're doing if you decide to go ahead anyway, but that doesn't mean no one ever can get away with it.
* I have never actually advocated feeding an author into a wood-chipper.
We all know that responding to reviews is the Author's Big Mistake. And I agree that probably 95% of the time, it's a bad idea.
But I think this accepted wisdom has gone from being "generally good advice" to taking on the tone of a Holy Commandment Writ In Stone. People say things like "Authors should never respond to reviews," "I think it's wrong for an author to ever comment on a review," etc., and... well, I've seen authors comment on reviews and do just fine. I've had authors comment on reviews I have written of their books, and I was not offended, nor do I think they came off looking like asshats.
It should go without saying that you are taking your online life into your hands if you decide to respond to a review. Anything more than a simple "thank you" is risky, and if you decide to actually correct/take issue with anything said in the review? Well, you're asking for it.
But, I dislike the implication that it is actually immoral or inherently unprofessional even to say "Thanks for the review," let alone to engage in dialog with readers.
I also really dislike the sentiment I have seen some people express that it's "creepy" or off-putting to feel like an author is "looking over your shoulder" by letting you know publicly that they read your review.
As someone who has written my share of excoriating reviews, and who is a staunch advocate of telling authors who don't like nasty reviews to suck it up and cry in private, I still wouldn't write anything that I wouldn't be comfortable defending if the author called me out on it. If the author says "Hey, dude, that's pretty harsh, do you really want to feed me into a wood-chipper*?" I might say, "Okay, yeah, maybe that was a little over-the-top." But I wouldn't cry that authors have no business responding to my reviews because I want to pretend that I am talking about people where they can't see what I'm saying.
Yes, review spaces are for readers, but authors are there too. It's a not "safe space" for you vent in a conseqence-free manner. Feel free to vent, rant, and discuss those authors who would make the finest mulch, but your words are public. Stand by them or STFU.
Honestly, I like it when authors engage in dialog. I
"Authors shouldn't respond to reviews" should be treated the same as pieces of writing advice like "Don't use saidisms" and "Don't start the story with the main character waking up and looking into a mirror" - it's good advice, and you should be damn sure you know what you're doing if you decide to go ahead anyway, but that doesn't mean no one ever can get away with it.
* I have never actually advocated feeding an author into a wood-chipper.