Why I Love Goodreads

This last week has been eventful and positive, yet more whiners whined. Sometimes, their noise can be distracting. Take Margo. She’s written three books and a novella. She hasn’t published anything in nearly a year. Writing clearly isn’t her passion. When success didn’t happen with her first few books, she turned bitter. Her newest target is Goodreads.

I adore this site. From reading reviews, I’ve learned so much about writing. I changed Blue Davison after following a reader I’ll call Aly. She hated how every YA heroine was a virgin, waiting to be deflowered by the manslut bad boy. I decided to switch up Blue based on reading so many reviews with the same criticism. The character and series is stronger because of her reviews. Aly and I became friends later, but I was a fan of hers long before she knew I existed.

Recently, I met someone I’ll call Motorcycle Mama. She and her husband are in a real motorcycle club and she’s offered to give me insight for my future series. Where did I meet her? On Goodreads, where readers can safely talk with authors. After all, if I ever piss her off, she can always block me. The site allows for a friendly atmosphere, even if people like Margo don’t utilize it.

I sense Margo uses Goodreads to pimp out her books and join review swap groups. She USES the site, instead of enjoying it. She makes friends who will help her, instead of bonding with people she finds interesting.

When you come to a site like Goodreads with a greedy state of mind, you’re bound to be disappointed. It’s not a site for authors as much as readers. I enjoy the site in both ways. I’ve found many books for Mustang Sally to read. I’ve also learned a lot about writing from reading reviews of books I hated and loved. All of those different perspectives in one place.

With people like Margo, there’s no helping them. I suspect she’s probably as miserable in real life as she seems online. Writing for her isn’t about expressing a passion, but stroking her ego.

After all, I wrote before I indie published. I am always writing. In my head, ideas are always churning. If Margo loved writing and she hadn’t found success with one series or genre, she might try another one. Or she could just accept how most authors never find success. She might write her books and publish them for the few people who stumble upon them in the millions of books on Amazon. If she loved writing, she would keep writing. If she writes to stroke her ego, it explains why she wants the readers on Goodreads to serve her.

Margo and I are on the opposite sides of the readers’ rights battle. She’s not a newbie like M. Lauryl Lewis though. My foe turned friend allowed her ego to act out against negative reviews. Through events on Goodreads, we bonded. The difference between M and Margo is that my fellow zombie-loving mom of three has talent. She loves to write. She’s always working to improve her craft. She is a professional who uses Goodreads to talk about writing and books. She makes friends because she wants friends, rather than minions. She’s a sweet doll like my Monchichi while Margo is an evil doll with creepy eyes.

The best evidence that Margo has made bad choices is who she became friends with on Goodreads. Through my blogs about BBA, I met Marvelous Miranda. Through Margo’s whiny blogs and angry attacks, she met Scammer Mouse. Put positive energy out and you are rewarded with a sweet chick from the Netherlands. Put negative energy out and you end up with someone who treats you like their "asshole of the month" project.

Happy thoughts = Agent M

Ugly thoughts = a mean-spirited user.

Nuff said.

A year from now, Margo will still be miserable. How do I know? She’s clearly unhappy with life. Her blogs are always negative. She never has anything positive say. The world is out to get her. Three books (four including the novella) later and she’s lost interest in writing because no one high fived her for showing up.

A year from now, I can’t be sure how my books will fare (Thanks, Athelissa). I do know I’ll still be writing. I’ll still be a positive person. I didn’t publish my books to have my ego stroked. I write because I love writing. I published because I love the idea of someone else living in my worlds. In a year, I’ll still love knowing someone – anyone - met a character I created.

On Goodreads, ninety nine percent of the readers and authors love books. The one percent like Margo can’t ruin the experience for the rest of us. While she’s temporary, Goodreads and its fans will keep on truckin’.