What do all successful authors have in common?
Answer: Bad reviews!
What do all successful authors do about it?
Get over it!
The first one stings a little, but most successful authors (having already employed an editor, beta readers and proof readers to iron out all the little niggles,) soon learn to deal with the fact that no-one can please everyone all the time. Just make certain the "Hey – I love this book – when's the next one due out?" reviews out weigh the "This story sucks and I barely managed to read it through my yawns" type of reviews, and hope to please most of the people most of the time. By the way, this advice is given by mega successful authors, not just me!
In case any regular blog readers are wondering what brought this little "tough love homily" on, it's because I happened to read a post written by someone who appeared to be in pieces because of one bad review. I meant to compose an uplifting "there there my dear, cry on my shoulder" type post. But really, "get over it" and "move on" makes a better author – and a shorter post.
So on to the next common trait of a successful author –
What else do all successful authors have in common?
Answer: Parodies!
I can't speak for other authors, but two recent parodies of "The Griffin Cryer" have had me rocking with laughter. The first has been a very public shameless rip-off by the great Randall Peterson, via his Twitter account @itsonlymeandyou. The second came from my own editor – it's too rude to re-produce here, but if you're over eighteen, and you'd like a copy of "The Griffin Cryer – The Alternative Version" (approx 300 words) email Mervyn@talonpublishing .com, with the subject line "TGC Alternative" – I sincerely hope everyone reading this takes advantage of this offer! (That'll teach him!)
Finally:
Third and last common successful author trait –
(or if you prefer successful author common trait)
"Write the first draft with the door closed, the second with the door open." (Stephen King – who else?) With this in mind, Sean & Daniel Campbell who are currently working on the long awaited sequel to their chartbusting novel " Dead on Demand " are seeking beta readers. Zoom on over to their site now, before demand exceeds supply, or drop them an email at Early Look @90daysnovel.com (join the spaces).
What do all successful authors do about it?
Get over it!
The first one stings a little, but most successful authors (having already employed an editor, beta readers and proof readers to iron out all the little niggles,) soon learn to deal with the fact that no-one can please everyone all the time. Just make certain the "Hey – I love this book – when's the next one due out?" reviews out weigh the "This story sucks and I barely managed to read it through my yawns" type of reviews, and hope to please most of the people most of the time. By the way, this advice is given by mega successful authors, not just me!
In case any regular blog readers are wondering what brought this little "tough love homily" on, it's because I happened to read a post written by someone who appeared to be in pieces because of one bad review. I meant to compose an uplifting "there there my dear, cry on my shoulder" type post. But really, "get over it" and "move on" makes a better author – and a shorter post.
So on to the next common trait of a successful author –
What else do all successful authors have in common?
Answer: Parodies!
I can't speak for other authors, but two recent parodies of "The Griffin Cryer" have had me rocking with laughter. The first has been a very public shameless rip-off by the great Randall Peterson, via his Twitter account @itsonlymeandyou. The second came from my own editor – it's too rude to re-produce here, but if you're over eighteen, and you'd like a copy of "The Griffin Cryer – The Alternative Version" (approx 300 words) email Mervyn@talonpublishing .com, with the subject line "TGC Alternative" – I sincerely hope everyone reading this takes advantage of this offer! (That'll teach him!)Finally:
Third and last common successful author trait –
(or if you prefer successful author common trait)
"Write the first draft with the door closed, the second with the door open." (Stephen King – who else?) With this in mind, Sean & Daniel Campbell who are currently working on the long awaited sequel to their chartbusting novel " Dead on Demand " are seeking beta readers. Zoom on over to their site now, before demand exceeds supply, or drop them an email at Early Look @90daysnovel.com (join the spaces).
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