What do you make of a one-star review?
What do you do with bad reviews?
I'll be the first to admit it. I'm just a bit sensitive. Especially when it comes to reviews of my books. Oddly enough, I'm not nearly as sensitive to reviews of my paintings or photography. But there is something about struggling with a novel over the period of time that it takes to produce such a thing which makes me just a bit sensitive. The toil, the rewriting, the process of putting your "baby" through the process of editing, before it even gets a cover, and then - it finally hits "the streets" - it seems I can't help but hope people like it.
And then the "real world" happens. There are critics out there who don't get it. I can understand how a person might not "like" a particular work, or how it might not trip their proverbial triggers. But that, unfortunately, is not the world of internet criticism. It is a world of unrestrained volatility, and it kind of reminds me of drivers on the highway. There you are, in your little cocoon, all safe and secure, when someone does something like cut you off in traffic, and you become "the beast" within, and you yell, you cuss, and you might even give the offending driver the finger.
It is much the same with the internet. There you sit, behind your veil of security, provided by some degree of anonymity, and you are free to say whatever you want.
Let me tell you, though, that there are persons out there, who are real, true persons, who have real (albeit often exaggerated) sense of who they are, and what they are. And I would plead with you, if you really think that an author deserves a one star review, that you think twice about putting it on the internet. Better not to have reviewed it than to give it one star - even if you happen to be an anonymous person from Libya.
So, what I have to say to authors who get bad reviews online. I do know just how you feel, but I have nothing more to offer, other than the best thing to do is to keep writing, and hope that your own success might be just a bit of appropriate revenge.
Happy writing!
I'll be the first to admit it. I'm just a bit sensitive. Especially when it comes to reviews of my books. Oddly enough, I'm not nearly as sensitive to reviews of my paintings or photography. But there is something about struggling with a novel over the period of time that it takes to produce such a thing which makes me just a bit sensitive. The toil, the rewriting, the process of putting your "baby" through the process of editing, before it even gets a cover, and then - it finally hits "the streets" - it seems I can't help but hope people like it.
And then the "real world" happens. There are critics out there who don't get it. I can understand how a person might not "like" a particular work, or how it might not trip their proverbial triggers. But that, unfortunately, is not the world of internet criticism. It is a world of unrestrained volatility, and it kind of reminds me of drivers on the highway. There you are, in your little cocoon, all safe and secure, when someone does something like cut you off in traffic, and you become "the beast" within, and you yell, you cuss, and you might even give the offending driver the finger.
It is much the same with the internet. There you sit, behind your veil of security, provided by some degree of anonymity, and you are free to say whatever you want.
Let me tell you, though, that there are persons out there, who are real, true persons, who have real (albeit often exaggerated) sense of who they are, and what they are. And I would plead with you, if you really think that an author deserves a one star review, that you think twice about putting it on the internet. Better not to have reviewed it than to give it one star - even if you happen to be an anonymous person from Libya.
So, what I have to say to authors who get bad reviews online. I do know just how you feel, but I have nothing more to offer, other than the best thing to do is to keep writing, and hope that your own success might be just a bit of appropriate revenge.
Happy writing!
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That would be acceptable, Christine if the 1* review were an actual review. If one could learn something from it, so much the better. And I do feel that 1* reviews are really appropriate if the circumstances warrant such. For really there is so much out there that might warrant such. But, as you say, you don't do reviews for the authors, but for potential readers, and "the reason I dislike it may be the reason they read it." If that is the case, then I believe you owe it to the readers to explain why. But I do not feel that just a 1* rating does anyone any good. Anyway, I do appreciate your very thoughtful comments.
Timothy: I would not rate any book without also providing a review with the reasons for that rating. Other than the books I originally setup when joining Goodreads (several hundred - they were all rating only), I now do a full review of every book I read.
You are very thoughtful, Christine. And I know what you mean, as to the original set-up. And periodically, I get reminded of another book that I read too long ago to give it a "decent" review.
Are you saying I should lie or simply ignore my own opinion to preserve the emotional well-being of the author and in doing so mislead or ignore the needs of the readers.
I'm an honest reviewer and every writer knows that reviews are subjective and there is the possibility someone won't like you work. I think an honest review is far more important to your readers. The reason I dislike it may be the very reason they read it.
I never felt a need to coddle Steven King or James Patterson, why would a self-published author feel he is entitled to special consideration. When a writer releases a book, he throws his hat into the literary ring and if he can't accept that someone may dislike his work - he's in the wrong business.