Dreading ★ Reviews: ROW80 & #IWSG

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for my Insecure Writer's Support Group post. A huge thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for putting together this group. I appreciate the opportunity to share my insecurities on the #IWSG therapy couch and to read how others are doing. 
Last week, I ran my first free KDP promotion. It was amazing. My book, Chasing Memories, hit #36 in the Kindle Free store and #1 in two categories.

Two reviews have come in from new buyers since then--a five and a four star review. Although I'm excited to get my book into more readers' hands, I've read too many stories lately about authors who finally get more book visibility only to draw the attention of trolls--reviewers who begin a campaign of scathing one-star reviews.

As a long-time book club member, I quickly learned one truth--no one book will ever be loved or hated by all readers. I would come to book club all excited to discuss a book I loved, only to have half the members hate it with a passion.

My books will get some one-star reviews, and there will be readers who legitimately don't like them. It's not my favorite feeling to see a ★ sitting all by itself, but it's part of the writer's journey.

Still, I don't look forward to ever drawing the attention of some of these trolls. Most of their reviews don't list any pertinent information. In some cases, they are obviously wrong. An author friend of mine had reviews condemning the faeries in her book when there weren't any. I've even heard of authors getting a slew of one-star reviews on GoodReads before their book is even published.

It too often seems to happen to indie authors who finally break through the barrier and begin to see the light of success. How sad--nobody should fear success because it will draw haters.

But what's a writer to do... dread checking on her book and scrolling down to the review area and seeing that first glaring ★? No, I will choose to hold my head up high and focus on people who bring positive energy into my life. Just don't judge me if I eat an entire coconut custard pie when it happens. It's good for the soul.

Criticism is something we can avoid easily by
saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. Aristotle
I'd rather be, and then eat my pie when the time comes.

It's Wednesday, so it's also time for my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update. On Monday, I declared my new goals for December. Really, the focus is on polishing Chasing Memories 2 to send to my editor and editing another writer's novel. I spent some time on each. But I have a double date with Starbucks and progress on Saturday morning.