Reviewer: Too big for our britches

I once heard of a reviewer who was holding back their positive review until the author made a correction. A correction the reviewer deemed needing, not the author; not the editor; not the publisher.

Don’t get me wrong, no published book is perfect. Every book contains some error(s). But, some are opinion versus truth and that’s where we reviewers need to just shut up.

Again, don’t get me wrong, if the book is riddled with them; if the book is difficult to read because of them; if the book is that horrible to warrant a negative review then, yes, we are obligated to let readers know.

Today I’m talking the reviewer who holds a review hostage until the author and company bow down to the reviewer’s ruling. The carrot dangling as a reward for jumping through hoops.

We know every writer has – their own voice and style – and it’s not up to us to dictate what that should be. Acknowledge when it doesn’t agree with you, but that doesn’t make it wrong.

Reel in the ego.