To Review or not to Review - that is the question
I've been reading through a thread on another forum where a reviewer was scathingly attacked by the author who felt they'd received a bad review. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have seen this type of behaviour.
As authors we need to develop a fairly thick skin - no matter how good your book is and it may even be a masterpiece there will always be someone who doesn't like it. This happens to EVERY author. A bad review, for an author, might sting a little, might even bring you down for a while but it's actually NOT the end of the world. Even a bad review from a 'professional' reviewer shouldn't be the end of the world either.
When an author reacts badly, especially in a public forum, to a negative review it simply gives all authors a bad reputation. Most reviewers today, on the internet at least, are doing their reviews in their own time, out of their own love of books. So what if they didn't like your book? It's just possible that the reviewer made some very valid comments - in that case a good author should learn from them, they'll probably write an even better book next time.
As a writer I love getting glowing reviews but I'm also not so egotistical [yes I'm using that word] to believe that I've written the greatest novel ever in the history of publishing. Personally I think my books are good, I think a lot of people would enjoy them but I cannot demand that they do, any more than I can vilify someone who didn't like it.
We, as authors, need to remember that reviewers are putting themselves out there just as much as we are by publishing our novels. Reviews, to readers, are extremely important and serve a vital function - I know many people who buy books by previously unknown or unfamiliar authors solely based on the reviews written about them.
I don't write reviews of every book I read - there's only 24 hours in a day - but when I do write a review I try to be honest and fair and if that means I didn't like it or noticed some plot errors or whatever the case may be I will point them out. Because I'm pretty busy I usually only write reviews if I either really liked the book or if I wasn't that impressed.
So to the more dedicated and braver reviewers out there than I am - I take my hat off to you and offer you a very big thank you.
To the author's whose books receive negative reviews I suggest, respectfully, that you take a long, hard look at the review - you might learn something from it or it might just be one person's opinion but try and remember we're supposed to be professionals - not kids in the school yard.
Cheers,
Trace
As authors we need to develop a fairly thick skin - no matter how good your book is and it may even be a masterpiece there will always be someone who doesn't like it. This happens to EVERY author. A bad review, for an author, might sting a little, might even bring you down for a while but it's actually NOT the end of the world. Even a bad review from a 'professional' reviewer shouldn't be the end of the world either.
When an author reacts badly, especially in a public forum, to a negative review it simply gives all authors a bad reputation. Most reviewers today, on the internet at least, are doing their reviews in their own time, out of their own love of books. So what if they didn't like your book? It's just possible that the reviewer made some very valid comments - in that case a good author should learn from them, they'll probably write an even better book next time.
As a writer I love getting glowing reviews but I'm also not so egotistical [yes I'm using that word] to believe that I've written the greatest novel ever in the history of publishing. Personally I think my books are good, I think a lot of people would enjoy them but I cannot demand that they do, any more than I can vilify someone who didn't like it.
We, as authors, need to remember that reviewers are putting themselves out there just as much as we are by publishing our novels. Reviews, to readers, are extremely important and serve a vital function - I know many people who buy books by previously unknown or unfamiliar authors solely based on the reviews written about them.
I don't write reviews of every book I read - there's only 24 hours in a day - but when I do write a review I try to be honest and fair and if that means I didn't like it or noticed some plot errors or whatever the case may be I will point them out. Because I'm pretty busy I usually only write reviews if I either really liked the book or if I wasn't that impressed.
So to the more dedicated and braver reviewers out there than I am - I take my hat off to you and offer you a very big thank you.
To the author's whose books receive negative reviews I suggest, respectfully, that you take a long, hard look at the review - you might learn something from it or it might just be one person's opinion but try and remember we're supposed to be professionals - not kids in the school yard.
Cheers,
Trace
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