What Price Glory, Fame, and the Like

     I recently read this article in the New York Times about paid online reviews of books, and I was— how shall I put this delicately?—perturbed. Granted, thanks to the internet, there are more opportunities for writers to get their work out there, some of whom would find it difficult to get published in the traditional way. Granted, it looks like e-books are here to stay, like it or not, as they are an easier route for writers and convenient for readers. But, as always, ease and convenience come with negative baggage. I won't go into it all here, as the Times article is thorough.

     After reading it, I came away with the depressing thought that too many people would pay anything to gain recognition and readership in a field which history has proven to be of powerful influence: the field of the written word. I truly believe "we are what we read," that our opinions, views, philosophies, and in turn, our decisions, actions, and reactions, are all in large part formed by what we ingest through the written word, or the written word communicated through aural media. It doesn't matter if that word comes in the guise of fact or fiction, classic literature or today's equivalent of the dime novel; it is an indisputable factor in the shaping of our thought. Choosing what we read to nurture our minds should therefore be as discriminating a process as choosing what we eat to nurture our flesh. Paid reviews undermine that process. Not to mention the fact that they deprive the writers being reviewed of honest critical assessment of their work. How can they hope to grow and improve in their craft, if they're only told they're fabulous? Even the best writers need constructive criticism.

     Speaking for myself, I have never seriously considered self-publishing, either print or e-book. Call me a dinosaur, but I choose to submit my work the traditional way, enjoy seeing it in print when it's accepted, and be satisfied knowing someone, somewhere, has read it. I don't care about throngs; if only a handful of people are moved by my poetry, I'm grateful. When editors reject my work, I'm grateful for any honest, considered feedback they're willing to give. However, I do have several poet friends who have gone the self-publishing route. I support them in their decision and have even written brief cover reviews for those who have asked me—after, of course, having actually read their books, which some paid reviewers can't even claim.

     I guess what I'm really mourning is the demise of integrity—not only that of reviewers, but of writers as well. Self-publish if you want; more power to you. Ask your family and friends to write reviews on Amazon. But paying people to say your book is fabulous seems a cheap sort of acclaim.