Words Do Hurt!

Ever done a review for a book?  Did you like what you read?  Not always.  I think we forget we are putting words in print and there is a real live PERSON on the receiving end of what we send.  Writers put it all out there:  hours, tears, endless hours of thinking, running conversations and interactions between characters through their minds, sleepless nights, anxiety, and working 40+ hours at a REAL job. 
What about the family supporting or not supporting this author?  Wife/mother, Husband/father is locked away in a room with a computer, meals are sporadic, laundry piles up, and to-do-lists grow longer by the hour.  There is a stranger hiding in the house and they only appear to get a drink, snack or take a potty break. 
The day comes to go "LIVE" or to publish.  Nail-biting, pacing, nausea and butterflies waiting on reviews.
Reviewers read the book and publish their thoughts, not always using tact.  Do you write your review based upon what you wish you had read or do you honestly review on what was written?  There is a huge difference!  How do you write your review?  "I didn't like this book and the author should give up their dream of writing."  "Boring."  "Not my style of writing."  "Not enough sex and I had to get to Chapter 13 for the action to begin." 
What happened to being positive in what we say?  Cynicism is running rampant!  Fine. 
"I didn't like the book."   Why?  What could the author have given you to make it more your style.  Maybe the book was about romance, but you like vampires, why did you buy or put it on your TBR?  That is not the author's fault; it is written in their synopsis and those are free to read. 
"... the author should give up their dream of writing."  Uh, no!  Their dream is their dream and not yours! How can you help them get better.  Tell them what was missing and what could have helped you to like the story.
"Boring."  Why?  Not fast paced enough?  Couldn't connect the story to the characters?  Give an explanation!
"Not my style of writing."  Fantastic!  It would be a boring trip to the library if all the books were the same!  Something in all those pages and chapters kept you reading!  What was it?
"Not enough sex."  Maybe the fulfillment you are looking for is in your own life.  How much sex do you need in a book?  Let the author know!  They really do want to make readers happy!
I don't know about you, but every book written about sex is starting to get cliché and repetitive.  I've read about 85,000 shades of the color grey and I'm ready for the Crayola box to explode!  I'm tired of grey pants, grey skies, grey, grey, grey. 
Grey only makes me think of another book.  Authors:  Do you want me thinking about another book when I am reading yours?  Have I told authors this?  YES!  I didn't just throw out the statement, "I'm tired of grey."
Readers aren't all going to like the same thing.  I don't like seafood and I'm allergic to shellfish.  Do I hang out with people that do?  Sure do!  Do I read books with these foods being eaten by the characters?  Sure!  We would all be boring and bored if we all liked the same thing.
Be supportive. Give an author some positive encouragement!  Leave a review and throw in some helpful and positive comments about what you liked. 
(Ever made a meal and had someone say, "I don't like your ____."  (Fine, starve.  I don't want to hear it.)  (How did it make you feel?  Exactly!)
Answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; it really is basic English 101. 
Make an authors day and leave a 'like' on their Facebook page, a positive comment in their message box and 'follow' them!