Don’t Lose Your Damn Mind Over Negative Reviews
TweetPosted By Scath on December 16, 2009
This is a response to something I personally find pretty disgusting: authors attacking book reviewers, either under a pseudonym or their real name.
Repeat after me, writers: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Fact: Your writing isn’t going to appeal to every single person who reads it.
Also fact: There will be readers who do enjoy your writing.
This thinking that ‘any publicity is good publicity’ is bullshit. Look at Tiger Woods. Yeah, negative publicity really worked for him, didn’t it?
If you are so thin-skinned that you have to scour book review blogs, Amazon and message boards where readers talk about the books they’ve read and defend yourself by responding, you are in the WRONG BUSINESS.
Yes, there will be some who read and then post something along the lines of ‘OMG, it sUxored! Dont bUy!’, but hello? Ignore it.
Some will also read and post ‘OMG, the best book evar!’ (just like they do for every book they read and ‘review’). Again, ignore it.
Responding to negative reviews, or rather, picking a fight with the reviewer (and anyone else who weighs in), is a quick trip to showing the world your ass. And that you can be one.
If you want to comment on negative reviews, pick those that give a thoughtful, well-written negative review – and just say ‘thank you, I’ll keep your criticisms in mind’.
You’re not doing yourself, your career, your publisher, editor, etc. people involved with each of your titles any favors by acting like an ego driven, screaming harpy.
Readers ARE entitled to their own opinions. You’re entitled to yours, but you don’t have to air it publicly when it comes to reviews.
Of course, I guess if you don’t have anything better to do, like say, writing, well…go ahead and make an ass out of yourself for all to see. 
About the author
Scath
I'm a gun-toting alien with a fetish for fur and four-legged creatures who writes fiction & tweets. Bonus! I have a katana. Indie author/self-publisher.Comments
3 Responses to “Don’t Lose Your Damn Mind Over Negative Reviews”
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there is no need to re-submit your comment.
Subscribe to my blog in your choice of reader
| 
| 
I´ve made an ass of myself a couple of times, I´ve also learned from them as well. Every professional (well close to it anyway)review I´ve received has been negative. One was even vile and it was this one I had made an ass of myself, more for the fact I had had it up to my ears in picky/not-up-to-scratch feedback mixed with troubled life.
Harsh reviews challenges a writer´s perception regarding their stories and abilities. I believe that those who have a lot to gain are also the ones who get knocked down a lot, and this is when their stories should start to evolve into something great.
My advice, if you make an ass of yourself vent the experience in a diary/notebook and keep it aside for later when you find yourself stuck or need to add in some complexity to a character or situation. This is what I´ve done.
Learn from the experiences and strive to be greater than you first aimed to be. You´ll soon realize, other peoples´ opinions matter less or not at all if it´s not to better the story and your skills.
Tiger Woods can make an ass out of himself all he wants as long as he keeps winning the tours right? LOL!
.-= veronica´s last blog ..Five Minutes =-.
I admit it can be hard not to lose your shit when someone really goes after one of your babies, LOL.
Guess I’ve been fortunate that no one has really shredded any of my babies – yet.
But I’ve trained myself to vent privately to you & our other writing buddies instead of blasting out a response.
Most of the criticisms I do get are from you guys anyway, and it’s always been constructive, not remotely negative.
We have a good crit relationship! Lucky us.
The few crits I’ve gotten from readers has also been well-written, and so far, usually a matter of personal tastes rather than technical stuff (aside from pointing out my misspellings, which is fine by me!).
There was only one crit that really ticked me off, and it wasn’t *mean*, but struck me as sort of a ridiculous criticism in this day and age.
Especially after Jo had me read an excerpt from something that won a Pulitzer. I laughed off my indignation and responded politely to the crit.
Not that I expect to win a Pulitzer, LOL. Or care if I do. It was just the right funny at the right time!
Oh, I fibbed.
Jo did threaten to bash me with a cast iron skillet one time in a editing crit.
Forgot about that!