Some Reviewers Really Are Assholes. Ignore Them

The general rule is true that you should never respond to or criticize someone who reviews your book in a negative way. We all have different tastes in books, and not everyone is going to like your particular book. But in general, I think I will say what many believe should be unspoken: Some book reviewers are assholes. Some are incompetent. Some believe that, though they have far less experience and training in writing than the author of a book that they can lecture the author on how to write in a condescending way. How should an author react to a negative review by an incompetent or a troll?

First, do not respond to the reviewer, even if the reviewer made personal comments about how crazy (or stupid) an author is for writing "a book like that." Ignore sarcastic reviews. Although the reviewing community should call out assholes themselves or not allow them to write reviews for their blogs, generally they do not. Your task as an author is to hold your temper and not write a nasty response to a negative review. Some troll-like reviews may still have some valuable criticisms that you can use to improve your work. If a review has no useful information and is totally personal, you are dealing with an asshole--ignore the review. It is only rank amateurs who count the number of "5" and "4" reviews on Amazon and judge a book on that basis--it is far better to read the sample of the book in Amazon and make your own judgment. One or two or three troll reviews won't hurt you--readers usually recognize trolls and simply ignore such reviews. You should, too.

Why are some reviewers assholes? Who knows? Who cares? Their issues are their business. You tend to yours, which is writing. Write. Read good fiction. Go to workshops. Finish another book. When that book comes out, don't sweat the bad reviews--if you put an effort to make your book the best it can be, you'll get some good reviews. Assholes can be left to themselves to be, well, assholes.