Monday, July 25, 2005

A CBA Divided

Last week I decided to stop posting arguments within the industry on the blog. I have so much more to discuss and share, then other people's opinions about something they haven't even prayed about before they began ranting.

Yet, this weekend I read a post that struck a nerve. Of course, it related to the validity of reviews. And--of course--that meant the validity of Dee.

Well, my divaliciousness has been validated by my Lover, my Lord-Christ, so I'm cool. :)

But...I think referring you to a link about this new watercooler issue can keep you abreast of this ungoing saga inside our industry.

Moreover, you will understand the response I have for it below:

Why Christian Reviews Matter: Explained Yet Again.

The whole notion of CBA being sub-par didn't come from JoBlo critic. It came from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and so forth. And the reason for it--we know--is that the genre is young and growing. CBA, to me is in an adolescene phase. It doesn't want to stay young, but it doesn't want to grow up just yet either.

How can you say this, Dee?

1. Authors are arguing with advid readers over the validity of their work. Authors are arguing with their own market about the validity of their work. Unwise. Adolescent.
2. Some authors do not understand that publishing house do find value in reviews that has nothing to with how great you are as a Christian, but in will this book get across kitchen tables. Reviews help them determine how will we market this book? Is this book sellable? Your publicist uses reviews to, in order to find an angle for good copy. If you're published, I'm sure you know this.
3. But catch this...This system is also why Amazon is important. Authors may not like it. Reviewers like me feel robbed by it, but it is the largest indicator for your book by your market. If a book isn't good, most of its reader reviewers aren't good. JaneBlo doesn't read publishers weekly or her local papers book section, they logon or flip their phone and see what book is getting all the buzz. Reviews light the buzz match. Good or bad. Life. The growing up part.
4. Christ didn't give a hoot about whether a few people who attended the sermon on the mount disliked his parable. He said if they don't receive you, dust your sandals off and keep stepping. Do we know if anyone disagreed with Christ's teaching? Yes. But did they disagree with his delivery? No. Why? Because he stayed in the trenches. And he tweeked and explained it so well that a fool could understand. Good writing reaches fools. And until we writers, reviewers, and believers understand that where Christ is so is where the least of us are, then we are going to continue writing superhero fairy tale novels that don't mean a hill of beans to a scared mother in London wandering what kind of world has she brought her child into. And we're going to keep bickering over old wives tales about why criticism isn't godly. If we read our bible more, we'd see that would be a flat out lie.
So let's stop majoring in minor details and do the job.
I can give my own Amen on this one.
Amen.

Dee.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not even sure where to begin. But we do need to gently correct some misimpressions.

1. Authors are arguing with avid readers over the validity of their work. Authors are arguing with their own market about the validity of their work. Unwise. Adolescent.

No, authors do not argue with readers--in fact, I don't know any authors who argue with anyone who reviews on Amazon.com. It'd be a waste of time. Neither are we arguing with our market, which supports us very well. Christian fiction is the fastest-growing segment in any bookstore, Christian or general market.

2. Some authors do not understand that publishing house do find value in reviews that has nothing to with how great you are as a Christian, but in will this book get across kitchen tables. Reviews help them determine how will we market this book? Is this book sellable? Your publicist uses reviews to, in order to find an angle for good copy. If you're published, I'm sure you know this.

This is not true. The reviews that count (PW, Booklist, SLJ) are in MONTHS before the books are released. Marketing plans are made months before books are released. Reader reviews are really only reader opinions and frankly, let people love my books or hate 'em, it's all okay. The only thing I don't like to see is a BORED reader.

3. But catch this...This system is also why Amazon is important. Authors may not like it. Reviewers like me feel robbed by it, but it is the largest indicator for your book by your market. If a book isn't good, most of its reader reviewers aren't good. JaneBlo doesn't read publishers weekly or her local papers book section, they logon or flip their phone and see what book is getting all the buzz. Reviews light the buzz match. Good or bad. Life. The growing up part.

Reviews on Amazon.com can vary widely, as can readers' subjective tastes. Sure, some readers read those Amazon reviews, but others could care less. They buy an author because the author has proven himself/herself a good storyteller in the past.

4. Christ didn't give a hoot about whether a few people who attended the sermon on the mount disliked his parable. He said if they don't receive you, dust your sandals off and keep stepping. Do we know if anyone disagreed with Christ's teaching? Yes. But did they disagree with his delivery? No. Why? Because he stayed in the trenches. He knew what his market responded to and wanted. How? He listened to his reviewers--his disciples, who questioned everything he said. And we're going to keep bickering over old wives tales about why criticism isn't godly. If we read our bible more, we'd see that would be a flat out lie. So let's stop majoring in minor details and do the job.

I'm sorry, but there is no evidence at all that omniscient Jesus had to get his disciples' approval before he spoke on any topic--in fact, most of the time they didn't have a clue what he meant, and they were constantly begging for behind-the-scenes explanations. He was way over their heads.

You are free to offer your opinion--as am I. But criticism? The Bible has a lot to say about that. Look at Romans 14: "So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit."

You and I have been redeemed by the same Lord. We probably have a lot in common. I appreciate your willingess to read Christian fiction--if you are reading it. But I'd also ask you to ask yourself if your comments are helping to build the body or wound it. I have to ask myself that every day.

Thanks for blogging!

Unknown said...

Thanks anonymous for being anonymmous:) I love good feedback and I thank you for yours.

Let me answer your question:

But I'd also ask you to ask yourself if your comments are helping to build the body or wound it.

I hope that I am doing the purpose God positioned me on Earth at this time to do well. To help others do their purpose well.

Many believe I do; others just don't know me, yet:)

thanks again for the great comments.

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