Were I to pay James to review one of my books, what would I have contracted James to do?
James is, after all, in that matter and at that time, working for me, not any hypothetical reader.
I can only want one of three things -- 1. praise, reliably if not fulsome; paying to be told my book sucks is not a business model that shall prosper James 2. an increase in sales (James' reviews do result in an increase in sales), which is what "a good review" actually means 3. the kind of critical feedback that it is Too Damn Late to apply when the book exists as a book
None of those things can lead to good results; either I don't care about reality, I'm trying to recruit James into a scam, or I've entirely messed up the production process.
For James' opinions about books to be widely valuable, they have to be consistent and they have to be addressing the utility of the book to a reader. The utility of the book to the author can't come into it because the objectives of the author and the objectives of the readers are in conflict.
no subject
James is, after all, in that matter and at that time, working for me, not any hypothetical reader.
I can only want one of three things --
1. praise, reliably if not fulsome; paying to be told my book sucks is not a business model that shall prosper James
2. an increase in sales (James' reviews do result in an increase in sales), which is what "a good review" actually means
3. the kind of critical feedback that it is Too Damn Late to apply when the book exists as a book
None of those things can lead to good results; either I don't care about reality, I'm trying to recruit James into a scam, or I've entirely messed up the production process.
For James' opinions about books to be widely valuable, they have to be consistent and they have to be addressing the utility of the book to a reader. The utility of the book to the author can't come into it because the objectives of the author and the objectives of the readers are in conflict.