I never intentionally give a bad review, but if I didn’t like the book then I didn’t like it. An author arguing with me about it isn’t going to change that I didn’t like it.

Alicen Scott – 1 November 2013

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I got started doing reviews because I have several author friends who asked me to review their books. I’ve always been a heavy reader and once I realized how important reviews are for indie authors I knew I had to help as best I could.

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

I read it then make notes of the things that stood out to me.

What are you looking for?

I look for books that are unique. I like YA and Paranormal the best but if an idea gets my attention I will read and review it.

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

I will mention it in my review and take away a star. As an editor, I am pretty strict on grammar in the books I read.

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

If it’s a book that really grabs my attention, I can finish it in a week or less. If it doesn’t capture me completely it can take me two weeks.

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

My rating system is pretty simple. 5 stars means the book totally blew me away, was well written, a good plot and the storyline was unique. 4 stars means it was well written but there were either some plot holes or typographical errors. 3 stars means that there were errors in the writing, it wasn’t very interesting, and/or not unique. 2 stars means that there were lots of errors in it, the plot was bad and/or predictable and I didn’t find anything interesting about the book at all. 1 star means it was so horribly written I couldn’t finish it or that it had some sort of discriminatory slur in it. I do not review books that have any kind of disability, gay or racial slur in them. That’s the one rule I won’t ever bend. I will mention in my review why I rated a book at any level that I rated it.

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

Read a reviewer’s review policy and keep trying. Every reviewer has different rules about what they will and will not accept. Someone will review you, you just can’t give up.

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

Sometimes. Mostly I get authors thanking me.

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. As a reviewer, I can only give my opinion. I never intentionally give a bad review, but if I didn’t like the book then I didn’t like it. An author arguing with me about it isn’t going to change that I didn’t like it.

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?

I think people love to read because it takes them into a different world and allows them to escape their real lives.  In this day and age of technology all around us, I don’t think reading is dying. I just think the way that people read has changed. Instead of having to go to the store and buy a book we can have one in our fingertips in a matter of seconds.

About Writing

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

I see a lot of authors getting their ideas from popular books, TV shows, etc and trying to express those ideas in a new and different way. Often times this fails because it feels like a copy rather than a new and unique idea. It really peeves me when I read a book that sounds exactly like another book or a movie I’ve recently seen.

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?

Sometimes I will put it down and sometimes I will force myself through it. I really think that if an author has spent a lot of time writing their heart and soul into something that I, as a reader, should respect it and therefore finish it.

Is there anything you will not review?

I won’t review any book that has any kind of racial, gay, or disability slur in it. Other than that, if the synopsis gets my attention, I’ll review the book.

About Publishing

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

I think that’s partially true. With the internet anyone who wants to be published can be. But at the same time, there are many really good authors that are passed over by big publishing houses and decide to publish as an indie author. Those authors usually do very well.

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

I hope so. Some of the best books I’ve ever read have been indie or self-published books.

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

I think a good author can be found solely based on the synopsis. If it is poorly written, then chances are the book is written similarly.

End of Interview:

You can read Alicen’s reviews at AlicenScott.com.