A Mixed Bag

As time goes on and I get more reviews I realize what a mixed bag they are (I just spelled realize American so that somebody doesn't go "grammatical error!" on my ass (or arse). It's not even grammar it's spelling but it does seem to vex people. Some people go 'Wow! Brilliant!" and someone else says it's dire. I'm getting more ducklike with the water of criticism.

Someone left a review that went on a bit in a wordy, self regarding snarky sort of manner that said something like .... "There was the bones (sic) of a good haunting... of grammar - there was none, and much missed by it's (sic) absence."  Misused 'it's' for 'its' twice and had a disagreement about number with his verb then he criticizes me for bad grammar. I was so tempted to respond but I didn't.

I have a hangover this morning from being at a wedding last night and I am listening to Rush from way back. Great pleasure with a cup of tea. Bit too windy to go for a mountain walk in case I get blowed off (note my ironical mistake with the participle there).

I plan to trawl through old copies of the Parasychological Review for ideas. I was reading some good blogs about Lester Dent's method of writing short stories as exposited here by +Karen Woodward and then leading onto the Michael Moorcock method of writing adventure books in 3 days. Again herewith set out by +Ghostwoods Books  here - no here. Old Mr Moorcock's article appears elsewhere but this is the prettiest blog version. It even made me start reading the Corum books which is just as fun as it was. (You think I'm giving a plural subject a singular verb? No! 'it' here refers to fun. Haha! Gotcha!). I'm also reading Vogler's Writer's Journey Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. I'm a long time fan of Jung and Campbell and I have actually read the Mysterium Coniunctionis - like twice - meaning I have known for a long time the secret of existence. I can also read the Latin too, decipher the Hebrew and have a good go at the Greek. So Mr bad review, stick that up your arse and smoke it. You fucking little cocksucking cunt.   Not that I'm bothered as I mentioned before. To me it's like a water/duck/back equation.

Of course I realise (see what I did?) that expositerize is not a real word but I can make words up here. I can do what the f*** I want with words on this blag (deliberate mistake too - very witty too I thought) because no one reads it!!! Haha! I win again!!

Of course I can't bring myself to write fuck  I have to write f*** instead, but that's my choice. And it's valid. That reminds me of a discussion I had with me (ex) wife (note the ex) where she said "Everyone is entitled to an opinion." and I countered. "Not if they're wrong..."

Not that I am. I'm off now to be ill.

Mysteriouser

Well I continue to struggle and travail (not sure if you can use that as a verb in English) with reviews and writing. One of my books is doing enormously well - 1375 (free) copies out since 1st April. We'll see if it continues to sell after it goes to 99 cents.

Regarding the Haunting - I have had 2 positive reviews on US Amazon. One looks like it's a put up because it's so good, but it wasn't. On Goodreads the ratings have been pretty ok 5stars, 4stars, 1 3 star. But on UK Amazon I got a 1 star (I think I mentioned this) and that gutted. Then yesterday I got a really awful 1 star. The book has now gone free even though it's not free anywhere else - because someone ratted on me that I had a free promotion on Smashwords. Idc about that. So this woman (I suspect it might be the same woman...) wrote a terribly horrible review. Given it's free she couldn't even say "don't waste your money" but resorted to "don't waste your time". The review is entitled Don't Bother!  I don't think I deserve that.

This is a hard game to play. If anyone loves me I'd be grateful for a positive review on UK Amazon for the Haunting; that is if you feel you can. If you can't, just email me and break it to me how bad it really is.

Weirdly I look at the good reviews, am pleased, but they don't go in. I say "it's just because the people are nice" -  I only believe the bad reviews, though I think the people are nasty! I wouldn't just trash someone. I've read some bad stuff, but I just leave it and move on.

Anyway, yous all have a great day.

Tony