Blog Ethics and Mentoring

Aspiring author Adrian with me
(photo by Charlotte Agell)

Last week Kristi@Story Siren, asked “Are author/reviewer relationships a good thing or a bad thing?” Many Young Adult book blogger are teenagers, although there are adults like Kristi (and me.) Kristi noted some interactions like: “Oh! You want me to review your novel! Let’s be BFF’s!!” Connections happen on Twitter and on Facebook or through e-mail privately.

An interesting discussion between YA bloggers and authors ensued in the comments, which Kristi summarized. One YA author felt like she was back in high school with the “cool kids” being the bloggers and the authors the “wannabes.” There were also many good friendships stemming from a shared love of books.

Most bloggers thought author/reviewer relationships were good and would not affect their own reviews. Nonetheless, there was also concern about favoritism on other blogs.  Many admitted to being "star struck" by authors, but the reviewers were striving for professionalism. Having read through the string, I found a code of book blogger ethics emerging, although there was a range of opinion on these issues:

1. Bloggers owe it to their readers to be honest and unbiased.
2. Criticism should be constructive and grounded in explanations.
3. Negative reviews should ideally include some positive feedback.
4. Transparency about personal relationships with authors is key 

(my comment.)
5. Reveal your review policy: what are your selection criteria?

It’s encouraging to see young adults thinking about ethical issues and striving for professionalism. With power to shape the market, comes responsibility. The maturity of the discussion impressed me since many participants were teens. Isn’t it fascinating that this initial discussion on review ethics is happening on YA book blogs instead of on adult book blogs?

These posts made me think about my book review policy as I'm reading an ARC of Dune Road (Girl Friday, UK) by my author friend, Jane Green. I'd characterize our relationship as more professional than personal. We teamed up last fall to be writing partners to offer emotional support on our next novels. I'm still working on mine. I have always been upfront about personal connections although I do try to retain objectivity in my reviews.

I straddle the author/reviewer divide because I’m both a writer and a book blogger. I read mostly adult and some young adult fiction. My reading time is limited so I only review books I like. I’d also find it hard to post a negative review of another novelist. I do value blogs that review all books and rate them, but that isn’t what my blog is about. My aim is to share the novels I’ve enjoyed and to learn by analyzing them critically. I’ve always held that the best writing teacher is a well-written book.

Adrian being mentored by YA author Charlotte Agell

Last week I was asked to share my experience of book blogging and writing with a high school sophomore. Adrian aspires to being an author or an artist. Through the mentoring program at her school, Adrian connected with YA author and teacher, Charlotte Agell. Charlotte is both a good friend and a writing colleague of mine. We give each other feedback on our manuscripts. The three of us went for a dog walk and shared our experiences at getting started.

The first step to becoming an author these days is finding a literary agent. When Charlotte first started writing and illustrating children’s books years ago, she submitted directly to publishers. It was a lot of extra work. Most publishers these days won’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. A good agent works on commission after the book sells to a publisher. Charlotte found her agent by getting on a bus to Maine. Just by chance, agent Edite Kroll sat beside her. I was lucky to connect with my agent, Jean Naggar, in New York City. It’s all about meeting the right person at the right time.

Adrian was very lucky to have Charlotte as a mentor for three days. It is so helpful for teenagers to connect with professionals, whether they make these connections through a mentoring program or through blogging. They are learning about how to follow their dreams and the hard work of making the dream a reality.

Blog Watch: for a really fine example of quality book blogging, visit dovegreyreader scribbles. The two best literary agent blogs are Miss Snark and Nathan Bransford. They’ll teach you everything you need to know about finding a reputable agent and getting started as a professional author.

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