A Bad Review about Grammar - A Rant

[TheLemmaLlama]

I meant like someone who's already read your work, and is about to write a lengthy post nitpicking all your grammar mistakes; you clearly don't like them just writing that nitpicky comment, but would you be okay if instead they asked you first if you wanted their feedback?

[cherrystark]

I understand your point, but for this particular series, no. I don't know anyone who has read it all the way through. I'm still trying to convince friends and family to read it.

[TroyVSTheWorld]

Respond to the review with "lmao nerd"

[TheLemmaLlama]

... do you understand my point? I feel like I still haven't conveyed it successfully

Okay, how about this:
Think about this particular reviewer, who left a review criticizing your grammar (which obvs means they've read at least some of your book.)
What if, instead of leaving the nitpicky (and rude) review, they came up to you and asked 'hey, I've noticed some grammatical mistakes in your book, would you like me to point them out to you?'
How would you feel and/or respond?

[cherrystark]

I hope that I'm getting on the same page as you. I'm really trying.

If this particular person contacted me privately to let me know they've read the story and found X problems, instead of the negative review. I would look at the parts in question, see if there actually was a problem, address it if needed, and then reply back with a customer service style response of "thanks for letting me know" etc. Authors have done that to me before and I always look into it.

The core of my issues with the review and random comments about grammar/punctuation is that they're uncalled for. If there was something terribly wrong with it, privately message me. I would happily take a DM or a mean review. A typo or a misplaced comma doesn't make the story incomprehensible. You wouldn't review a traditionally published book lower because a typo slipped passed the editors or the writer had a different style of English. But a lot of readers seem to think with the rise of indie published work that they have to pick everything apart.

I would rather hear people liked a particular story arc or that they related to the characters over comments about typos. I know that those kinds of reviews "should" come with time but I'm impatient. haha.

[SoftWonderBun]

At this point, wouldn't it be hard to take a DM from them seriously? I've read the review and it's just someone venting their spleen over what they seem to perceive as wasted time, as well as commenting on a good review left MONTHS prior to theirs criticizing the positive review the person before them gave. For me, it would be too little, too late. It would feel like they were just trying to save face.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Ah, I meant like if they did that INSTEAD of writing the review. I've been badgering @cherrystark about this question because it seemed to me like they were answering the question of how they're respond to someone promising to proofread their work, instead of my actual question which was about someone who's ALREADY read their work. (Thanks btw @cherrystark; I think I get your stance now :])

[cherrystark]

It came off the first few times as if why hadn't I asked someone I already knew or who had already read my work to do a peer edit. If someone privately messaged me about problems with any of my work, I might not be "happy" about the news but I would try to respond like a professional.

Grammar/proofreading comments bug me because a typo shouldn't ruin your reading experience. The bad review on the Kindle Vella version was at least was hopeful for future improvement. I can improve on reviews like that, not so much with ones about grammar.

The Vella review: