Grammar is just as important as plot development and character development. A story may have many interesting facets, but if it is generally difficult to read we will be sure to comment on this within our review. Whether it is a self-published book, or a book released through a small publisher, the editorial process plays an integral role and is just as important as the story itself. 

Samantha Moore – 6 December 2012

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

OneTitle Reviews originally started as an online literary magazine. Between releasing issues of short fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, we began to delve into doing reviews of indie fiction after being approached by a few authors. Personally, I began to realize that I enjoyed reviewing far more than the editing process, and soon afterward OneTitle focused explicitly on reviews. Currently, we still offer our magazine free of charge for download, but a majority of our efforts are put towards offering indie authors exposure on their literary projects.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

When reviewing a book, I usually read through the entire piece and then make notes later. This way, I am fully engrossed in the material and the plot, giving the author my full attention. For particularly long books, I may write down a few notes that I feel would be important to remember for the review but I generally don’t do any formal writing until the book is finished.

What are you looking for?

Our reviewers are looking for just about any genre and style of writing. I prefer historical fiction and horror, but other staff members may prefer other genres, which is why our guidelines are open. The only thing we will not consider is erotica or children’s fiction.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

Grammar is just as important as plot development and character development. A story may have many interesting facets, but if it is generally difficult to read we will be sure to comment on this within our review. Whether it is a self-published book, or a book released through a small publisher, the editorial process plays an integral role and is just as important as the story itself. For this reason, we do look out for grammatical issues, though we realize that the editorial work is sometimes out of the author’s hands.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

This largely depends on external factors, such as how many other reviews are in progress. I usually try and have any review finished within one month, but for larger books it may take up to three months for the reading and review to be completed. Either way, I try to keep the author updated if a review will be late, or will take longer than one month.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

Our rating system is not what I would call “completely measurable”. We look at plot, characters, structure, and writing style, as well as grammar. We stay away from simple statements such as “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it”. Our reviews are in-depth, touching upon themes we can draw out from the material and critiquing the negative aspects. Thankfully, we haven’t had too many books which have merited a negative review. We also don’t rate the cover of the book. In most cases, the author has no control over this aspect of the publishing process.  Basically, we focus on the story, drawing out the negatives and positives.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

A great cover letter that catches our attention is always welcome. We want to see that the author genuinely wants us to review their work, rather than simply sending us a mass query which was obviously copied and pasted. Show us that you’ve explored our site, see our Facebook and Twitter pages for our latest news, and address reviewers by name. Like other reviewers, we want authors to care about what we do, and In turn we will offer the most exposure possible.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

Authors will often email us, thanking us for our time. As far as readers go, we usually get comments on Goodreads or on our website. Most of our readers are, in turn, indie authors who do their best to spread the word about our site. We always welcome any feed-back from authors, readers, and publishers.

My advice to authors on getting a “bad” review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to “argue” with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

Yes, I would definitely agree that authors should accept the “bad” with the good. Not every reader may enjoy an author’s work, and there is always a chance of receiving a negative review when an author releases work to the public. Unfortunately, authors must live with this aspect of the literary community. Even the most well established, best-selling authors have gotten bad reviews. The best course of action, in this case, is to keep your head up and keep your feet moving forward.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading? We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that’s the case?

As an author, reviewer, and avid reader, I don’t believe reading (as a past-time) is dying. While people may be reading more on their tablets, phones, and e-readers (possibly giving up paper all together), I think the act of reading is alive and well. There’s no question that readers are looking for quicker means in which to access their books. It is, after-all, a busy world out there. Short fiction that can be read on the go may be taking the place of lengthy novels, but I think that those who love reading will always find the time to read what they love.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

The most common mistake that I notice is repetition. Just about any author is able to self-publish and make their work available through electronic distributors. With this new age in publishing, it is easy to get lost in a sea of the same story that has been recycled again and again. We see this quite a bit with paranormal fiction, especially vampire and werewolf fiction. What I look for is a story that hasn’t been told yet, one that breaks the mainstream boundaries of what’s currently flooding bookstores and the internet. There’s nothing wrong with being original, and I think authors should always be pushing their comfort zones.

We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

If a book hasn’t grabbed me by the first five pages, I don’t necessarily stop reading altogether, but I do start to wonder “where it’s going” so to speak. I’m looking for something to drag me into the story. If the writing is bland, or drags on (perhaps a full page describing a tree, or some other mundane object), my mind begins to wander. I don’t need a thrilling fight scene right off the top, but I do need something that tells me the story will be good. Of course, this changes from genre to genre. I may be more patient with historical fiction or literary fiction (given the style of writing), in comparison to horror novels or thrillers, which are usually fast paced.

There has been a lot of talk recently about Agency pricing and Apple and the Big 6, what are your thoughts on that?

As far as agency pricing and the Big 6 go, I believe the author should be aware of the publishing options available on the market. From what I can determine, many authors are choosing self publishing and indie publishing routes over mainstream conglomerate publishers because this allows them more freedom with their manuscripts and higher royalties. In terms of the wholesale model vs. the agency model, I don’t claim to be an expert and limit my opinion to this: in the end, it is the author who must choose what is right for their manuscript. I am a supporter of indie publishing in that it gives the author more creative and economic freedom, but I also understand that mainstream publishers may offer some things that indie publishers cannot. It comes down to the author’s discretion to choose wisely and make the decision that is most comfortable for them.

Is there anything you will not review?

Children’s fiction, erotica, and hate fiction (by that I mean fiction that discriminates or subjugates a certain ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation).

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?

With the influx of thousands of self-published and indie titles available through electronic distributors, some authors, readers, and agents may feel that there’s quite a bit of “bad” fiction out there. Yet, I believe that there’s quite a bit of “bad” fiction released by major publishers as well, so I’m not fully inclined to agree with this argument. As I stated before, it really is a matter of making your book stand out among the thousands of other titles available. I believe that we are seeing a new way of publishing, and a new market that offers authors something different. I leave it up to the reader to decide what’s “bad” and what’s “good”.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

Attitudes toward self-publishing have definitely shifted. It was once considered “career suicide” to self-publish if authors were looking to be taken seriously within the literary community. Now, authors who self-publish are enjoying real followings, great royalties, and invaluable freedom, causing many to think again about what it means to self-publish. The same can be said for indie publishing.  There will always be those who believe these routes to be the “easy” way to get your work out there, but such means of publishing have become communities within themselves, boasting loyal readers, authors, and editors.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can “filter” good from bad, asides from reviews?

I will always believe that it ultimately comes down to the reader’s opinion. Aside from reviews, word of mouth is invaluable when a book first hits the marketplace. Sales are not always the best determinant in that improper marketing by the publisher could result in lower sales (if no one knows the book exists, who is going to buy it?). I think the electronic marketplace will continue to be flooded with both good and bad fiction, and there is no sure way to “filter” it out. In the end, the reader has control over which books are the most successful.