Why is ignorance bad for authors?

Many authors complain about bad reviews because that is an unpleasant experience. It is not comfortable when you read bad critics about your books, that could be mockery or insults.

However, bad reviews have a positive side, your book is getting noticed. Somehow you touched someone's nerve, or your book really needs work so the reviewer is right. It means you will have a direction on how to fix your mistakes.

Unless it is trolling, bad reviews should not have always bad effects.

Ignorance is another problem that indie authors face.

You can see it in a few ways:

You promoted your book, and invested money, but your sales are low.

You asked for reviews, but nobody answered you.

You made a status about your book, but nobody clicked a link to buy it.

Sometimes, you will get a promise. It would be a promise that will never be realized. It means a polite rejection. "Well, you will have to wait. Currently, I have no time to read it."

When you were writing your book, you did not want ignorance as a result. Accord my personal experience, ignorance will make you angry. Once I deleted a guy who constantly promised me to read my book. I saw him posing with book covers from other authors, but never with mine. Instead of reviewing my book, he sent me links to his group, writer's courses, and seminars. I would prefer he said me clear NO.

What to do to avoid ignorance?

Talk to other people about their books, cooperate. Someone maybe knows different information to trade with you.

Try to be polite and have boundaries. Don't jump into other inboxes if you never talked with this person before.

Make an interview with the author. Read their books.

Talk to other authors in public, about problems in social media. Nothing makes people closer than mutual problems and interests.

Comments

Should we respond to negative reviews?

Recently I had a discussion in my social media about negative ratings. There was a situation in Goodreads, where I got two negative reviews on my two books. The point was in the way how the ratings were set up. First rating for my book "Body in the waves" was placed under 5-star review from another reviewer. While the reviewer praising my book, the troll came under to say "This is really bad book." Second rating was described as " Poor author needs writing lessons." Both reviews broke standards of reviewing, because there is no visible evidence that book was downloaded in Kindle unlimited or purchased. It was a clear troll act from a new page, without a profile photo and with a nickname. I reported this to Goodreads and they responded me they are processing this. Meanwhile, I heard from other authors that Goodreads failed to do anything about trolling. In these terms, Goodreads should delete such profiles and forbid the access because of breaking rules. T...

Why the refund is damaging indie authors?

I understand someone can be disappointed with a book. It is like I was disapointed with my trousers online and returned it. What makes a difference, my trousers were 40 euros. The book was 2.49 cents. This makes return funny, because what can you do with this money? Some readers don't understand story behind the refund. The author will get minus royalties. - 0.13 c in my Kindle report, that will vanish when someone else buy the book. The situation happens. Someone accidentaly clicked and bought a book. A random customer wants a refund. Maybe it was not a random move. Maybe the customer clicked, bought and did not like the book. When you don't like the book choose another options, instead of damaging authors. Write a negative review. Write negative one star rating. Don't purchase another books from this author. Or, maybe to reconsider and read it, again? If you write negative reviews or rate it with 1 or 2 stars, you are making a favor to authors. You are moving algorithms i...

Five myths about promo sites

Recently I asked for a featured Bookbub deal for one of my books. I got response that my book should be free priced and my expense would be 230 dollars. This is really funny, because I could expect people grab my book for free and give me one star (as it happens when books are available for everyone). To pay such amount of money would be waste and without a purpose. I am mix of traditional and indie author. Having a publisher, but not bestseller books, I am looking for ways to increase my book sales. Promo sites like Bookbub are very expensive and they offer their deals for 25% books from authors who applied for this. I had an insight to author's books who grabbed Bookbub deals. It works will authors who are already selling a good amount of their books. In general, promo sites are not working for favor of indie authors. These are five myths about promo sites: Promo sites give many readers. It is not true, because you will get visibility and many trolls, but not readers. Promo sites...

Rebelious rules by Kristina Gallo

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